Investment Banking Summer Analyst Review

I worked closely with analysts and associates on my team on materials for pitches and live transactions. This involved compiling financial data, creating charts, making changes to slides based on comments, etc. I was staffed on live deals and had opportunities to listen in on client meetings, where my responsibility would be to take notes. I also helped out with any ad-hoc tasks that the team happened to need help with, such as market research for a project.

The first week of the internship was spent on training. Interns went through a technical training course by an external provider, where we learned the basics of accounting and valuation. We also had training sessions on professional skills like public speaking and personal branding. While working with my team, I was in a fast-paced environment where I had to complete tasks within a certain deadline. This enabled me to quickly improve on my technical skills through practical experience.

Overall I was given a high level of responsibility. The team started out by giving interns basic tasks to ease us into the role, but we were given more responsibility in the later weeks. I was able to contribute directly to slides and valuation materials for projects the team was working on. There was also a level of autonomy given e.g. I was given brief guidelines for a piece of work and was left to decide on how best to present it.

My team was very welcoming and supportive of interns throughout the internship. We were each assigned a buddy who we could ask questions to. I was also assigned a mentor who provided me with general career advice. My line manager often checked up on my progress and paid great attention to my development. Other team members that I worked with were always patient and would take time to explain things to me despite being busy. I was able to approach them for help easily.

There is a strong emphasis on diversity, sustainability and giving back to the community in the bank's culture. Interns participated in a CSR day where we mentored sixth form students, which I felt was meaningful. We were also introduced to various groups and initiatives within the bank. Due to social distancing, there were no official in-person events, but interns often met up for coffee or drinks. We were also encouraged to network with people within the bank.

I had a good experience overall. There were some challenging moments but I enjoyed the fast-paced environment. Being on the job provided me with valuable experience and I was able to develop my professional and technical skills. My team had a good culture and deal flow. They offered me sufficient support, both with work as well as providing general advice. The hours are long and people work very hard but that is expected in this field.

Yes

Before interviews, brush up on basic technical knowledge and read up on the bank's culture and recent news. While it is important to start on the job with sufficient knowledge and skills, it is also important to be willing to learn and be receptive to feedback, as most of the learning will happen on the job. People in my team and at the bank were always willing to help or speak with me about their experience.