Insight Student Review

The insight programme was very well structured so that it provided a thorough and cohesive overview of the work that Bank of America Merrill Lynch does. I enjoyed the opportunity to experience two different areas within the bank to help develop a deeper understanding into the work that the bank does.

During the insight programme, I did feel a sense of being valued by the company. It was clear that the firm believed that we were the potential future of the company. As a result, they put a large investment, in both time and money, to ensure that our experience was as positive as possible.

During the insight programme, a large amount of guidance was provided. During many activities such as work shadowing as well as working through case studies, support was provided to help guide us through the process, in the form of employees. As a result, I rarely felt lost or did not know what to do.

For me, doing a degree in a scientific subject, the financial insight into how markets operate and how to valuate companies, will most likely not assist me in my studies specifically. However, many of the soft skills such as presentation that I did develop over the programme will certainly be of use in future. The technical knowledge that I gained has provided a sound basis for which I aim to develop upon through an internship.

The insight programme at Bank of America Merrill Lynch was very well structured. The insight programme ran over three days and the three days were very well filled. There was always something to do yet the programme was still varied enough to remain interesting throughout the day. I was impressed by the number of employees that we were able to meet through networking opportunities.

The general atmosphere of the insight programme was very positive. The firm encouraged each and every one of us to make the most out of this invaluable experience, and really pick the brains of the employees. We were really encouraged to network with each other and I felt like this did have a positive effect on the atmosphere.

The firm invested in an external comedian to come in and talk to us about our presentational skills. This was a real highlight of the programme as the general consensus was that she was incredibly impressive and helpful in terms of improving our own presentational skills.

The content of the day was very valuable in terms of helping me decide on my future career path. Through the working shadowing and networking with the employees of the firm, I was able to build up a good picture in my head of the different roles within the ban, and which role I would be most suited to.

There was a lot of networking chances for you to take. It was very easy as at every breakfast, lunch or dinner, there would be a chance for you to network. On top of this, there was also specific networking session for you to speak with recent graduates who had joined the bank.

Yes, there was a specific question and answer session that was dedicated to allow us to build up an understanding of how the employees and the Bank of America Merrill Lynch can get involved in other activities outside of work. I was impressed by the breadth and variety of the activities available.

I would definitely recommend this insight chance to a friend of mine because it was very useful for me. The level of the programme was about right, in my opinion. I would recommend this to a friend who already had a rough idea of the financial markets and how they work.