Investments Summer Intern Review

Working during a pandemic meant that all of my interactions and day to day tasks were virtual. I began each day with a team meeting to update everyone on the market moves during the night and on meetings which took place the previous day. I would then work on my project which was a research project which involved using Bloomberg and excel. I would meet with other interns, graduate and senior team members throughout the day. Once a week I wrote meeting summaries and had other smaller projects dotted across the 10 weeks.

I learnt a whole host of new skills throughout my time at the company. I gained a breadth of knowledge of investments and asset management. I learnt a number of skills from the intern development sessions, including how to deliver a presentation, how to work virtually, how to form meaningful connections with colleagues and how best to set goals. I also gained a large amount of confidence and by the end of the internship I was able confidently present my project to others.

I was given a lot of responsibility during my internship as I was given a project which I worked on independently. the project would potentially inform investment decisions and therefore this was a lot of responsibility. Whilst there was someone reviewing the work I produced, the bulk was my own and therefore i had lots of responsibility. I was treated as an adult when working at the firm and therefore, I felt like I was given a high level of respect and responsibility day-to-day.

I received a large amount of support and guidance throughout my programme. Everyone in my team was very supportive and we had twice weekly meetings where any issues could be raised. moreover, I met with my line manager daily in case I had an issues and I knew that she was easily contactable. Everyone at the firm was extremely helpful and was happy to provide support if and when needed. Everyone was easily contactable too.

The company has a very inclusive culture and everyone is very open and extremely welcoming. there is a great emphasis on training young professionals to enter the workplace and also on gender equality within the workplace. it is a great place to work - everyone is very friendly and willing to help/explain anything. Anyone you reach out to is very willing to take the time to meet with you and talk things through with you.

I loved my internship. It was a great experience and a great learning opportunity. I learnt a lot throughout the programme and developed as a person both with my knowledge of the sector/business and in my soft skills. I enjoyed meeting the other interns and colleagues and feel as though, considering everything was virtual, I formed meaningful and lasting connections. I could not fault any part of the internship experience, especially since there was a global pandemic.

Yes

as cliché as it sounds - be yourself! You will get the most out of the experience and are more likely to be offered a position if you are genuine and true to yourself. Don't sell yourself to be someone you are not because the company values individuality and is looking for a range of skills which different people can offer. Do your research ahead of applying so that you can be prepared for any interview questions that might come up.