Investment Banking Division Intern Review

My role was to provide support on the deals I was assigned. This varied from attending team calls internally to discuss the process or calls with clients discussing their aims for the deal. I would also work on Powerpoint slides for clients and internal presentations to management. I was also involved in administrative tasks such as creating a client profile and making sure other departments such as legal were kept up to date with anything concerning them.

In training, I developed my Excel skills specifically learning many shortcuts that help work much faster. The training also included accounting modules which help build a foundation for the remainder of the summer. In the team, I improved my ability to work in a diverse team as the age and background of coworkers varied greatly. Time managing and working efficiently were also tested as I was assigned many tasks with differing timelines. Finally, I learnt to use feedback effectively as I has weekly conversations with my line manager regarding my performance

Yes, I was working on live deals with important deadlines and my work was essential in making sure the presentations were ready for the managers to review and ultimately present to the clients. On occasion I also liased with clients and it was vital that I communicated clearly and accuratly to ensure smooth processing of tasks. Finally, I was involved in meetings and given access to company information which was confidential and I had to ensure I followed procedure regarding this information.

I was given a Buddy who was not a member of my team but a more informal contact to discuss general aspects of the internship. I was able to call him and message him freely and he replied very quickly on all occasions. I was also assigned a Buddy within the team who I could speak to regarding topics more specific to the team such as how to do something, I was also assigned a line manager in the team who supervised my workload and progress.

Very close team with friendly management. We were welcomed to the team with a team meeting. We also had meetings arranged with each senior member of the team allowing us to introduce ourselves and learn more about the wider team. We were focused on work but also encouraged to collaborate and communicate which made working much more enjoyable. There were many sessions arranged by HR focusing on well being and how to work effectively from home.

I really enjoyed my first experience working in a professional role. The training was extensive and helped ease into the culture of working from home. The team was welcoming and supportive when I had questions. I learnt lots of industry-specific concepts by working on live deals and being involved in client calls and emails. It would have been more enjoyable to be working in the office however that wasn't possible. Since other banks did have internships in person I don't know why Barclays chose not to.

Yes

Make sure you tick the boxes such as having good grades, extracurricular activities and showing an interest in Investment banking but also stand out by showing your personality and interest. They can find more than enough people who are qualified and smart but they want to find people they can work with for however many hours in the day. Also, make sure you stick to 1 page CV and correct formatting. Also, do your prep for interviews, one way to do this is to speak to people who work there.