Fundamental Equity Analyst Review

The work I was given to complete during my internship was significant (no mundane filing or photocopying) and interesting. I wasn't finding out the yield on mushroom farms in China, I was compiling research on topics with results that were actionable and, dependent upon the quality of the research, used by the team.

Every single company meeting that I asked to attend I was allowed to sit-in on even if it fell outside the reach of my research project. By being understanding of people's agenda and diary constraints it was possible to get a proper chat with anyone on the team, from the junior analysts completing their grad programme through to the team leader responsible for investing $bn's of investor money. No question was too stupid and nobody was ever too busy, it just required a re-scheduling.

My manager sat directly next to me and anytime I had a question I was able to lean over and ask. It's up the interns to decide the balance between invisible and a pain in the neck, but if you ask, then you shall receive. No one will proactively go out of their way to make your life easy for you because they are busy doing their own thing - but when you reach out for help, then they will make every effort to make sure that your question is answered.

They understand what the role of an intern is, and at BlackRock you have mutliple training seminars or days out of the office. You get given your project and a deadline, how you get there is up to you. If all you do is your assigned project then you will be able to complete it to a high standard. If you engage with roles within the team then you will have to balance your other obligations such as company meetings, intern events and intern challenges.

It goes without saying that you're not given enough freedom to bring the place to its knees. You're given your task and, like I said, you can do it how you want. I was given plenty of rope to just run with my project. Depending on the sort of person you are, you can either metaphorically hang yourself because there's not enough structure, or you can grasp the freedom and really get down into the nitty-gritty without having a manager over your shoulder breathing down your neck.

Networking with people (and not in a horrible slimey way), time management, self-discipline and motivation, presentation skills and their development. These are all things that you'll get a 10 week opportunity to hone in BlackRock, working with the smartest nicest people you'll probably ever meet, in a financial services firm in The City.

People know why they're there, and working in one of the most successful investment teams in the company you'd expect there to be a very serious amount of high-level work that gets done. It's not a dead-quiet office full of stiffs, by any stretch of the imagination, but if you're looking for water-cooler gossip then you won't find it here

Different strokes for different folks, but meeting all of the interns over the first 3 days before

Evening meals with Managing Directors, extensive seminars and workshops to improve communication skills, learning about all the other departments within the company. This level of investment is clearly coming from the angle of: they want to invite us back for a fulltime job with them if both parties agree. I never felt like any meeting or induction was a waste of time.

I can't say right now as the internship isn't over, however historically c.70% of the intern class are offered a full time job.

If you're outgoing you'll meet the right people. It's completely up to you how you want the internship to play out, but drinks after work, nights out and other social events all happen. We organised socials ourselves, so make the effort and it'll be rewarded.

It's London, so you're not expecting prices equivalent to that of an SU bar... The internship is well remunerated so you're not cobbling together a few quid for a pint at the end of the week. Standard London prices apply.

As above: It's London. The range of clubs is huge, the number of drinking holes is plentiful so you don't have to go very far before you find something that you like. Pubs, restaurants, bars, clubs. There's something for everyone.

It is what you make of it so if you have no interests then there's nothing for you to do, but if you're proactive then people at BlackRock are definitely doing things outside of office hours. The onus is all on you as an intern, but if you put yourself out there then you'll be welcomed with open arms.