Global Advisory Spring Intern Review

It was a fantastic week - despite having to be virtual due to Covid, the week was just as if it would have been if we were in the offices. As well as learning lots about Rothschild & Co and the different business areas, there was social events and team working which enabled us to get to know the other Interns. I had the chance to aid in creating a virtual diary of the week which was a really fun element too, adding to my experience. On the whole, I have nothing but praise for my experience.

Extremely valued. As a Spring Intern, I did not expect to have as much engagement with graduates and senior bankers, but every single employee who I spoke to was genuinely interested and willing to help with any questions regarding teamwork or about their own experiences. The Graduate Recruitment Team ensured that we were all having a good experience through regular contact and making themselves available throughout. We were given virtual buddies which was an invaluable point of contact - truly showing how Rothschild & Co invest in their employees from the very start of their careers.

Being virtual, it was inherently more difficult to keep up contact, but during the Insight we received an amazing amount of help with any queries regarding technical issues and general questions about future application processes etc. We also had a group project to complete, which was intense but we received great guidance in terms of what was expected of us, and our buddies were great in giving us extra points of advice and reassuring us that we were on the right track.

Massively. My degree directly relates to finance, so in quantitative terms I have gained an enormous amount of knowledge within a short period of time, that has greatly helped in my studies so far. Beyond this, the team working, time management, assertiveness and general communication skills that I developed throughout the week will see me throughout my career and personal life. Because it was a very hands-on week with lots of networking and our group project, we had the opportunity to really test and showcase our skills physically - leading to a much more engaging learning curve. We also received lots of information/tips about future application processes, which was a huge help in preparation for further Summer Internships applications.

The structure was great. Each day we had a comprehensive timetable, with all of the required links to the video calls/chatrooms, as well as allocating adequate time to work on our project. There was a whole host of different speakers from all levels of seniority from all business areas, which allowed us to see how your career and life can progress within Rothschild & Co. Everything ran very smoothly, showing how much time and effort had gone in to preparing the week for us.

Being virtual it's hard to gauge an atmosphere, but overall it was great. Everyone's engagement and eagerness came through the virtual space, which is once more a credit to the Graduate Recruitment Team. Our group of Interns was a really diverse group, with people from all over the world and degree backgrounds, which meant that everyone you spoke to was completely different. It could be intense at times with the busy timetable and the pressure coming from the project deadline, but after all it is an Investment Banking Insight and it was a small representation of what life as an Analyst could be like, which increased the quality of the experience even more.

Rothschild & Co really invest in each of their employees. While we received no formal training from an external provider, the amount we learned through networking and creating our project was absolutely invaluable and goes far beyond what a textbook/online course could ever teach you. They equipped us with resources to prepare for future interviews, showing how they take a long term view of their workforce and individual progression. As a full-time employee we found out about the on-going training and personal development initiatives.

Hugely. Being able to speak to many gradates and senior bankers, I was able to get a big picture of what life would potential be like as a graduate. Having a Buddy enabled me to build a relationship with a graduate and so I felt like I could ask more detail questions, about the up and down sides, which you are not normally able to do when just meeting someone fleetingly. Everyone was very open and honest, further adding to my understanding. We were given lots of information about what the Graduate programmes entail, as well as the different networks and community initiatives which employees can get involved in.

The culture at Rothschild & Co is very unique and truly what makes them stand out from all others. From the on-going contact and communication, the meaningful networking sessions and the effort that went in to creating the programme, the culture of openness, support and inclusivity was evident. While many financial institutions talk about their culture being great, R&Co really demonstrated it, especially through how valued I felt as a Spring Intern. I had heard lots about their culture, but the Insight allowed me to experience it first hand.

Extremely valuable. Especially through our group project (an M&A deal proposal) I was able to see exactly the type of work I would be doing as an Analyst. From having that practical experience, I know that this is what I want to do because I have seen that my particular strengths suit it, as well as my enjoyment of the task. It's very rare to have such a deep insight into the future role, and it's something that has left me with no doubt about my future career path.

Due to the programme being virtual, there was no need to reimburse expenses. However when it was happening physically in London, my travel, accommodation and some food expenses were going to be covered as I do not live in a commutable distance. There was no limits on the amount that we could claim back which made it very accessible to anyone from any background and location, as there was no financial barrier - further showing the support which Rothschild & Co provide for all employees/interns.

Every day we had time to formally network with many different employees and also more informally with our Buddies, who we could contact at any time of the day. The value of networking was really encouraged throughout the week, with more than enough time to really build a rapport with each employee. Throughout the more formal sessions we were also asked to discuss certain topics on current affairs, which was a great experience to debate your viewpoint and hear the opinions of those who actually work in the industry.

There was a couple of social events throughout the week which was a great chance to get to know more of the interns, but was much harder due to the virtual aspect. Despite this, the events were very engaging and on the whole very fun, which was a really nice way to end a day of hard work and relax. There was always the chance to speak to the Graduate Recruitment Team after the events which was a really nice way to get to known them outside of an email.

Yes - there are activities such as sports clubs, women's and family networks, as well as pro-bono advisory and community initiatives. As an employee you are tittle to 2 days off per annum to partake in charity/volunteering causes which shows how much R&Co invest in the wider community.

Absolutely - without a doubt. I have nothing but good things to say about my experience of the Spring Week, and would encourage anyone interested to apply. After getting more out of the experience than I could have ever imagined, it is absolutely worth the hard work to get there.