First Step Insight Programme student Review

by Nomura

Best Student Employer

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.1/5
  • About You
    3.3
  • The Company
    3.1
  • Everything Else
    3.0

    About You

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
  • The insight as part of the First Step Programme provided useful information about the different fields at Nomura, as well as the main divisions within Investment Banking and Global Markets which was very valuable as it is not a sector which can easily be accessed as sixth form students. The day was well structured and there was adequate opportunity for networking as well.

    5/5

  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued during your time at the company or firm?
  • We were welcomed at reception and given individual name badges, and the tables were pre-assigned with name cards for all students, showing there was thought put into ensuring everyone was comfortable in engaging with other students. They were more than happy to take questions and everyone was treated very well and fairly.

    4/5

  • 3. How much guidance/support did you receive during the insight?
  • There was limited individual support as all of the sessions were group oriented and so there were not enough staff members on hand to provide each student with guidance. However there did not feel to be a need for such support and the staff were willing to help if necessary.

    4/5

  • 4. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and information you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
  • There was an early session on emotional intelligence which provided insights into the soft skills required in such fields, however most of it was rather intuitive and not exceptionally useful. The CV writing session was also rather lacking in value added as a CV was required during the application process through which students were selected so everyone already had and knew how to write a CV.

    1/5

    The Company

  • 5. How well structured was the insight?
  • There was a clear structured plan to the day and we were given a timetable of the proceedings in our starter pack, outlining what to expect. The programme ran efficiently and all staff members involved appear to know what was going to happen to ensure a smooth experience for the students.

    5/5

  • 6. How was the general atmosphere during your insight?
  • All students had similar interests in finance, maths, economics or similar fields, and the analysts and associates from the firm were very professional but also comparatively young allowing for a more relaxed and comfortable environment than other professional firms, perhaps reflective of the culture at Nomura and the importance of social skills as well as intellectual ability.

    4/5

  • 7. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
  • The firm ran the emotional intelligence session as previously mentioned and also the CV writing session, however these were not particularly good nor useful, and there was very limited personal training and development. However the aim of the day was not so much to train us but to provide an insight into the work at Nomura.

    2/5

  • 8. To what extent did the insight help you to understand what it would be like to have a full time role with the company or firm?
  • There were presentations given by staff members who outlined their work at the firm, and the panel session provided insights into the work of four different staff members in different fields. The Q&A allowed for a personalised insight and the later opportunities for networking allowed us to learn about everyone's role at the firm.

    4/5

  • 9. How much did the insight help you in understanding the company culture?
  • We found out some of the differentials between Nomura and other investment banks when talking to the analysts and associates during the lunch networking however there was no dedicated group presentation on the topic, and only the small number of students conversing with that particular analyst would have heard about these differentials.

    2/5

  • 10. How valuable was the content in helping you to decide on your future career path?
  • It provided a good amount of information which can be used in further research to come to a well informed decision. However there was not a distinct comparison between the roles within Investment Banking or Global Markets and so I was unable to use this day alone to help me decide.

    3/5

    Everything Else

  • 11. Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
  • We were not paid for the insight day unlike some other events, however for a one day event this was entirely fair as the firm had to devote resources towards us and provide us with valuable information. If travelling from outside London, we were informed we could have travel costs reimbursed.


  • 12. Were there opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company or firm?
  • There was an opportunity at the start of the day to meet and network with the other students on the programme, and each of the staff who presented encouraged us to add them on LinkedIn. There was a designated networking session with analysts and associates as well to find out more about their work and their time at the firm.

    5/5

  • 13. How were the networking/ social event opportunities?
  • 3/5

  • 14. Did you find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work?
  • There was very little offered with regards to activities outside of work that are organised through work, however there are on site gym and fitness facilities and we were informed that staff are allowed to use these during the working day as a break from work if they so wish.

    3/5

  • 15. Would you recommend this insight to a friend?
  • Yes

    3/5

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Details

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

London

April 2018


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