Internship Review at Morgan Stanley

The Role

Role Description

Conduct company valuations, in-depth research, industry analysis and financial modeling for the team I was assigned to within Mergers and Acquisitions in the Investment Banking Division. Mostly working with analysts, associates and occasionally Executive Directors.

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Very rewarding experience but also demanding and intense. Not for the weak hearted!

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Very much so. Many people take vacation during the summer months and so the summer analysts were able to take on more responsibility which was valued by those still at their desks.

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

Feedback given on a regular basis. Either informally by the people I worked with or through formal evaluations twice throughout the programme.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Really depended on the day/week. Sometimes doing 19 hour days and others only 12 hours, but this is the nature of investment banking and you learn surprisingly fast to get used to it.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

More responsibility given towards the end of the programme when I knew the internal systems better and knew exactly what was expected of me.

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Learnt a lot about the industry but was also able to develop technical skills I didn't have before. Also good for personal development as you are put in stressful positions with tight deadlines which is important to be able to manage in any situation.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

Good atmosphere. Lots of solidarity when staying late nights.

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Very well organised. Had our whole timetables laid out from day 1. Good balance between educational activities and social events.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Second to none training at the beginning. Continuous feedback organised. Numerous social events planned (almost bi-weekly basis).

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

• Subsidised Canteen
• Company Car
• Company Parties/Events

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Hopefully will get a job from them next week. Would absolutely love to work here. Great firm culture across all levels and very flat hierarchical structure.

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Many activities organised through the programme, otherwise informal nights out organised by the summer analyst class (72 of us total).

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 4/10

High cost of living (London) but many activities to choose from when you do have time away from the office.

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

London is expensive... even when you have a decent salary... But when we did go out we always had a great time. Lots of choice for Nightlife.

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Rated 5/10

Internship probably a little too time consuming to get involved in other activities on a regular basis.

In addition to these questions, is there any extra information you would like to leave about your experiences on your work placement that other students may be interested in?

Once in a lifetime experience. Definitely recommended. Exhausting but exhilarating.

Review 214/214 for Morgan Stanley

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