Markets Summer Analyst Review

My summer internship was an incredible learning as well as personal experience for me. Due to the professional nature of this programme, our intern class was constantly challenged and guided to be able to maximize knowledge and expand our skill sets, which in return helped us understand the firm better.

Aside from the program-specific elements, I was actively involved in the daily business flow of my team. Having produced tangible results during a variety of projects, I felt that I could add real value through my work.

Through regular review sessions with my manager and HR, I received tangible feedback which allowed me develop further. I am convinced that this internship helped its interns grow as young professionals, and therefore strongly recommend anyone with an interest in Markets and news to apply for it. The buddy scheme presented an additional support system as I could ask my buddies personal and professional questions about their sales tips and experiences.

After the first few training weeks, daily business took over and we, the interns, became more involved in oufr teams while we also worked on an individual summer project. In my case, I had to work out a pitch for a real prospect client, through which I gained an even better understanding of the sales role. Juggling both activities was challenging but also an exciting learning experience.

I genuinely felt that my work was appreciated by my team as the material was used during client interactions. Naturally, interns could not have direct contact with clients, however, I was still able to join client meetings and learned about the sales job on various occasions. Further on during the internship, I had set tasks that I could carry out independently thanks to the good training offered by my (analyst) colleagues.

Despite the theoretical focus, finance knowledge was no prerequisite while critical and reflective thinking were desired skills, which is one reason why we had Aeronautics and Physics students among our intern class. Instead, the program taught us Markets theories, practical skills (Excel, Powerpoint) and the internal structure while it also demonstrated what working life will be like. Going forward, I will be able to apply this knowledge to become a better salesperson.

As I was working in quite a young team, I can definitely say that the atmosphere was dynamic, casual and open. My colleagues were generally very friendly and supportive as I felt that I could always approach them with questions. At the same time, they were extremely professional in their work and cultivated significant attention to detail, from which I could learn a lot.

The internship programme was professional and well organized for the duration of the ten weeks. In addition to the core internship program, HR had organized many social events and put us in touch with very senior employees. The onboarding, however, was a bit confusing as the main communication tool was via e-mail, which is why it was very fragmented.

J.P. Morgan truly demonstrated what it means to invest in its people. The first week consisted in pure training sessions which took place at a different location. Afterward, weeks two and three were filled with teach-in sessions to enhance our understanding of the business and to connect us with experts in those respective fields. Besides these formal trainings, we had practical training sessions for Excel and presentation skills.

Because of my active involvement in the team, I developed a good understanding of regular work life. The deciding factor was that I felt that I was adding real value to the team. This convinced me that I would be able to strike a healthy work-life balance here, which is why future employment prospects are definitely appealing. In addition, J.P. Morgan highlighted mobility opportunities within the firm.

There were regular social events and training sessions that brought interns together and build a solid foundation for further interactions. Conversations often related to the different areas we worked in. A smaller group also got together on Friday after-work hours and built lasting friendships, but that was not the case for every intern due to differing priorities.

Expensive- It's London after all

In Canary Wharf, prices could range from average to very high- but there was something for each income category and even inexpensive pubs.

There were clubs whose members shared a similar goal or had similar (ethnic backgrounds), which organized interesting events for members. Volunteer opportunities existed as well. Interns came together on a Corporate Social Responsibility day to experience it first-hand. J.P. Morgan also has a strong focus on sports events- during our summer, we participated in the corporate challenge, which is a large-scale running event organized by J.P. Morgan.