Spring Insight Week Review

It was a fun and informative placement that captured your attention through a vast array of interactive sessions and insightful tasks. These tasks were well structured and thoughout and this made them thoroughly enjoyable. Throughout the placement, we were exposed to all areas of the Global Banking and Markets divison speaking to a number of different people throughout the busiess, allowing us fascinating insights both int the world of investment banking and of the diverse culture at HSBC.

Everyone else on the placement were first or second years at university, with the large majority doing finance related degrees. Regardless, of degree everyone seemed to get on very well and it was very easy to relax and chat to the other people on the placement which help to make the rest of the programme all that more enjoyable, especially at the end of programme dinner.

The staff running the programme were very friendlyand always willing to talk. The programme was very well structured so that you knew what you were doing, when and at what time. If you did have any questions then itwas simply the case of asking one of the many staff members who were avaliable, and the staff were more than willing to answer any questions that you did have.

We were kept very busy during the days on the placement, but the days were structured so there was the right amount of talks and note-taking to interactive sessions that had us up on our feet and moving about. We also had a large amount of time during lunch and periodic breaks where we could relax but also had a good amount of time to network with various members of staff from different divisions within Global Banking and Markets

We were given a large amount of responsibilityin that we had to do talks etc but obviously as theplacement was an insight, there was a focus on different staff members talking to us and us listening to them. That said, there were always Q and A sessions where we could ask questions that we wanted.

There was a large focus upon networking skills and assessment centre skills that will be applicable throughtout life. Certainly the networking skills will prove invaluable throughout our careers regardless of what industry/job we go into.

The insight week was structured so that there were a lot of interactive sessions that were engaging, interesting and very enjoyable

I was very impressed with how slick the days ran and impressed by how well the tasks/talks etc were run. There seemed to be the right amount of interactive sessions to talks to rest breaks/ breaks for lunch.

HSBC organised networking drinks on the first day, provided vast amounts of food and drink for lunch/breaks everyday; there was a networking dinner on the last day as well as expenses for travel and accommodation. All in all, everyone on the programme was very lucky as it really seemed like HSBC went all out.

One of the best things about HSBC is the amazing amount of oppurtunities avaliable with the firm. By virtue of being on the Spring Programme you are automatically fast-tracked to an assessment centre just for spring insight week attendees which is held before the assessment centres in september forward, or if you cannot attend that assessment centre, you are invited to the first round of assessment centres in September.

Everyone seemed to get on really well with each other.

HSBC gave expenses so that everything was provided for.

Not really applicable for this insight week, but it is in London so the nightlife is fantastic. Also the bar that we went to for Networking drinks (Dockmasters in Canary Wharf) was very nice.

Not applicable - However, if you got a job with HSBC, then there are endless amounts of social aspects/activities to get involved with, with the firm.