Rates Trading Summer Analyst Review

I have absolutely loved my internship! There has never been a dull moment and the working environment is incredibly dynamic, energetic and youthful.

The culture at Barclays is amazing. Everyone has made a real effort to incorporate me into the team, even the desk where I only spent 3 weeks.

I wouldn't have believed it if you'd told me that directors and managing directors would be willing to give up so much of their time for me. A lot of the learning at Barclays is very verbal and so I spent a significant amount of time learning directly from senior traders. The support and guidance provided were excellent, also because the internship itself was organised brilliantly thanks to HR.

A weekly trade idea, bi-weekly presentations, markets university sessions, social events, chances to meet and talk to senior employees in small groups, citizenship projects, organising meetings with other members within the bank... just some of the things that kept me busy! There is always someone willing to give you a project to work on; the majority of which are for your benefit so that you can learn more about the industry! How you allocate your time between working, shadowing team members and meeting directors and others within your bank is entirely up to you.

By the nature of the job, you can't actually trade securities until you've passed the relevant exams. However, I was able to send out daily morning e-mails summarising the day's data and supply and work on a few projects that would help the traders generate trade ideas.

The skills and knowledge I've gained will be invaluable to me as I progress futher into my career as a trader. Having done this internship, I have a new confidence about my knowledge of the Rates Trading industry that will give me an edge.

The working enviroment is incredibly dynamic, energetic and youthful. Someone is always willing to help, as long as you time it right and don't bother them when the markets are extreemely busy.

HR did an absolutely brilliant job of organising this internship. There were so many specific events organised for the interns that really enriched my experience than if I had just spent 9 weeks on the desk.

There was a weekly 'Markets University' session given by senior traders who explained their area to us. There were three days of training which I found very interesting and the internship was strucured in such a way that you were continuously learning and developing (e.g. the weekly trade ideas you had to come up with and the desk rotations.)

Extremely appealing. Barclays is the market leader in Rates Trading and have some of the best people in the business to learn from. Pay is very good and the bank is focusing more on the core business, suggesting opportunites for growth in core areas. If I am offered a full time job at the end of the internship, I would take it without a doubt.

Drinks at canary wharf every Friday night. Range of people from those having a casual drink to those regularly going out in shoreditch.

Yes, London is the most expensive place in the country. But the pay is so good that it's not a problem. I've spent quite a lot of money on restaurants, bars, taxis and theatre every weekend, and I still have plenty left over.

It's London. What more do you want?

Lots of social events and sports clubs.