Spring into Finance for Non-Finance Review

I really enjoyed the insight week with J.P. Morgan. This year was special, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we could not do our Spring in their office in London. But all the team managed to organize the event on Zoom. I learnt so much about the company, its main activities and divisions. We had also online courses with ATM Training that helped me to understand key concepts in finance, and it confirmed me that I want to work later in financial markets. Students were in breakout rooms on Zoom so we could talk with people.

During my insight week at the company, I felt valued. J.P Morgan is considering its employees as its most important assets. Graduates receive a very good quality of training programme. J.P Morgan invests in their continued development. Thanks to the Spring Week, we had different online courses, that helped me to improve my knowledge in financial markets. We were working in groups, doing some exercises, and we received then positive feedbacks. During some conferences, they solicited our opinion also.

We had some conferences with the employees of the firm. As they told us, doing a Spring Week in a prestigious bank is a first step in our carrer. Some of them did also the insight programme, and now they are working for years in the firm, and that made me want to "follow in their footsteps" as they were really happy with their jobs. During the AMT programme, we received guidance and support, the instructor helped us to understand key concepts and did not hesitate to help us in our reasoning to find the solutions.

I am studying computer Sciences and programming in engineering school. Very few of my courses are about finance or financial markets, we are more focus on information technologies. I want to work in financial markets in the future, then the training programme we received, helped me to discover new concepts and to know on what I have to focus if I want to make a career in trading. We received also a lot of recommendations from different employees, such as how to make the difference during interviews for exemple.

The insight was really well structured. Because of Covid-19, we were not able to attend to the Spring Week in J.P Morgan's office. The Spring Week took place online and everything was well managed. Few days before the beginning of the Spring, we received e-mails with a brief schedule for the week sessions. We received also the links for AMT training if we liked to download the content. At the end of each day, we received an e-mail giving us details of the next day session. We received reminders also 1 or 2 hours before the beginning of each session.

The general atmosphere during the insight was good. Everything was closed where I was during the confinement, I could not see anybody so meeting new people even if it was online, was enjoyful for me. Obviously, meeting people in person would have been better, but giving us the opportunity to do our insight virtually is unique. The firm did everything to keep this insight and we were really grateful that it took place, then the atmosphere was pretty good. Thanks to this insight, I have met a lot of people.

The company invest a lot in us for this insight of one week. During this all week, we had the occasion to talk with graduates that did the Spring Week or the Summer before, we met employees that work in this firm for more than 10 years and that enjoyed their jobs. It help us to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with J.P Morgan. We had different online courses on investment banking and financial markets. I learnt a lot about finance. They did everything so that the event took place online and I am grateful for that.

I was not paid for this insight week. But several weeks before the beginning of the Spring, the campus recruitment team sent me an e-mail saying that they booked my accommodation as I am not living in UK. I had to book my travel to and from London with their travel provider, and they also paid for that. We did not have to pay the online programme with AMT training, a programme that was really enjoyful and interesting.

As the insight was on Zoom, I first thought that I won't have any interaction or not many. Actually I had a lot of interactions with other Spring weekers. Each day, we had courses on Zoom with AMT training. We were redirected in breakout rooms several times to talk about a subject, to do exercises, so at the end we always had time to get to know each other. Several weeks after the end of the insight, we had several events also with some employees where we could ask questions to learn more about their jobs.

I discovered that J.P. Morgan invests a lot in philanthropic activities. The firm leads volunteer service activities for employees in local communities in many different countries. Then employees in the firm can take part in these activities (including mentoring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, volunteering in charity shops) . I found this really interesting, this is an amazing opportunity to meet new people also. The firm has a very strong culture, diversity is their priority. There are different communities (Latino or Black communities, LGBT..).

I would definitely recommend this insight to a friend. This is an opportunity to know more about one of the most prestigious bank, its main activities, all its divisions and find one that can fit well with you. In addition, we had well-designed courses to learn more about finance. Finally, this is an occasion for you to talk with employees, and see if you want to make a career in banking. Finally, you can meet a lot of students from all over the world.