Investment Banking and Risk Review

I had a very enjoyable time because as well as getting spoken to by a number of bankers from across the IB product and sector teams, we got to network with the bankers and other IB candidates over tea and lunch periods.

I feel like we had many opportunities to ask bankers and recruiters questions and chat with them more casually during break periods. For this reason, the recruitment team got to know all the spring-week candidates by name which made us feel valued!

I could have done with more guidance about my progress and whether my calculations were correct when learning bank valuation techniques. However, we were supported if we actively outreached for help.

The skills I developed and info I received will not apply directly much to my degree (Geography) however the advice given about being successful at J.P. Morgan will help me realise what is important for academic and work life in general. I am now even more aware of how much time management, hard work and evaluation skills matter to successful careers and even essays during my degree.

The insight was extremely well organised and we also got given timetables at the beginning of the week so always knew what event we would be going to at what time.

The atmosphere was very positive. All questions were encouraged and answered thoroughly. There was a massive emphasis made by J.P. Morgan that no question is a stupid one, so people were not embarrassed to be inquisitive.

The firm gave us not much personal advice or development however we were given development advice in small enough groups for personal questions to be answered. For this reason, I think most people felt like the firm invested in people enough individually.

We were definitely given a good understanding about a full time role because around 10 actual bankers in many different departments spoke to our programme group about their experiences and daily-jobs in the bank. We could also ask them many questions and further get a sense of full time roles during networking sessions with J.P. Morgan employees.

The company culture was well explained during the different presentations by bankers. We could also ask them questions to learn more about the culture. The company culture was highly praised by the employees, and seemed to be unanimously positive. However I think they should have also been realistic, and spent more time explaining the down-sides of the company's culture.

The content was very helpful in emphasising to me that I am still interested in investment banking and financial jobs. I learned about daily jobs and tasks in IB as well as the expectations and skills needed to be a successful banker. This is helpful for assessing my future career path choices in terms of my compatible skills and my preferences.

Since the programme gave us all plenty of drinks, refreshment snacks and paid for our breakfast and lunch, transport and accommodation, I do not think we needed to be paid. The firm invested highly in giving us an insightful week and we were not made to work enough to deserve being paid. They were very generous to all the spring week attendants!

There were daily networking sessions during teatime with analysts and also a careers fair with representatives from sectors across the IB, risk and markets teams was held midweek.

The networking opportunities were plentiful but they should improve the ratio of programme students and firm employees because people were too congested around each employee to ask many individual and in depth questions.

No, we were not informed of these however this wasn't a priority of mine either since in only a week I cared far more about the work opportunities.

Definitely because it was fun, useful, generous and a great learning experience.