Spring Insight Programme into Finance for Non-Finance studnets Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the insight, given the knowledge I was able to build on a variety of financial topics during Spring Week. Furthermore, the fellow interns and employees I met, were truly inspiring and very cooperative people. All in all, Spring Week 2020 was very value-adding for me, as I made the decision to pursue a career in Investment Banking, based on the vast opportunities and interesting daily business. It was an insightful and at all times pleasant experience to work at the firm.

I felt very valued at the firm throughout the entire process. The employees and fellow interns were very open-minded and always happy to help out one another. Furthermore, I was astounded by the dedication, which employees put forth to welcome us on board and give us background insights by speaking about JP Morgan's unique culture. I would very much encourage every applicant to try and approach all employees at the firm, as they will almost certainly be happy to help you.

I received the perfect amount of guidance throughout the process, which was very much complicated through the unprecedented occurrence of Covid-19. The EMEA Campus Recruitment Team did a fantastic job of keeping us up to date at all times, whether it was aiding us booking flights or providing us with guidance on online events, which unfortunately replaced the week in London. Not at one point though, I felt left alone and without any plan. Additionally, I never felt micro-managed and I feel like the Campus Recruitment Team did a fantastic job to make my Insight enjoyable.

The skills I developed benefitted me on various occasions. Next to a broad insight into the financial sector, I learned to communicate efficiently with people from different backgrounds, which benefits me on a daily basis, as I met people at the Spring Week, with which I have founded my first startup afterwards. Although the Insight could not provide in-depth understanding on every financial topic, as it was a one-week program, I very much cherished the spectrum of financial instruments and divisional insights I received throughout the week and I am convinced to continue to apply this knowledge in the future.

The entire week was very well structured. On the first day, we were welcomed by senior employees, taking the time to answer all our questions. The next three days were spent learning all about the divisions of Markets, Investment Banking, Asset and Wealth Management, which provided me with a greater idea of the day-to-day work and knowledge base of an employee in that respective division, which helped me ask them relevant questions in person. The last day was logically spent preparing us for the application process, which was very beneficial to me.

The atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly, despite the ongoing pandemic. I never felt like there was an employee, which was not happy to be present at any point, which amplified the flow of questions and the dialogue in general. Even though the event was online, the culture and welcoming atmosphere at J.P Morgan came across to me, which gave me the feeling to be a part of the organization from day one. I want to thank all employees for the inclusivity and friendliness I experienced throughout the week.

The firm provided me with excellent training sessions by online learning provider Fitch Learning, enabling us to learn from experienced finance professional and ex-trader Nick Dunmore. The investment proved to be fantastic, as Nick had the expertise and patience to answer all questions interns had. He did his best to make the sessions as interactive as possible, which enhanced cooperativity among fellow interns. The group sessions with Fitch Learning were extremely beneficial to me and I was very happy with the investment J.P Morgan made in us.

While the Spring Insight Programme above all is meant to improve your overview of J.P Morgan and its wide array of services, the Question and Answer sessions with J.P Morgan professionals was one of the best parts of the experience, as they were passionate about explaining their role in the company as well as their daily tasks, which helped me gain a greater understanding of their role and the possibilities, which would await me in an internship or full-time position in their specific division of business.

The content not only included different products, tasks and case studies on different divisions within J.P Morgan, but also allowed me to draw comparisons between them. Whilst Fitch Learning provided the theoretical base for us to understand the daily ongoings in a specific division, we were allowed to expand that knowledge by speaking to J.P Morgan employees afterwards, giving us a practical insight on their role. I very much found the confluence of interactive theoretical sessions and the reaffirmation of application on the job to be helpful in guiding me towards the right career path for me.

There were generous networking opportunities with some of J.P. Morgan professionals from Investment Banking, Markets and Asset and Wealth Management, enabling Spring Interns to ask them any question about themselves, their jobs and their career paths, in which it was not hard to get to know them on a personal and professional level. Furthermore, the networking opportunities with the Campus Recruitment Team were omnipresent, as Interns had the opportunity to contact them at any point in time, having to wait no longer than a few minutes for a response, which provided me with a sense of camaraderie I was very grateful for.

I would absolutely recommend this event to any friend, given he has a basic interest in finance and wants to explore the incredible amount of opportunities awaiting in the sector. The insight provides you with an understanding of the sector and knowledge needed to succeed in the field than could ever be taught at university or through online training. As a Spring Intern you are a part of the organization and treated that way, giving you the opportunity to find out if a career in the sector is right for you.