Investment Banking Summer Analyst Review

Preparing materials for presentations with clients, for live deals and business development purposes. These included slide decks that would need to be updated or created from scratch with guidance from senior colleagues. Performing research and analysis on company financials, valuation, and industry trends. Coordinating meetings for senior executives and clients using calendar tools. Taking comprehensive notes during meetings on live deals, for sharing with internal team and clients.

I built strong skills in Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint. I developed a thorough understanding of financial accounting and valuation methodologies. I also gained an understanding of broader deal processes and industry dynamics.

I was given a lot of responsibility in terms of preparing crucial materials for upcoming presentations. As my skills and experience developed, I was assigned work in leaner deal teams meaning I was effectively functioning as an analyst in projects. This level of responsibility resulted in longer working hours and increased pressure to deliver high-quality work on tight timelines. However, it was also incredibly rewarding to see my work used in important meetings and shared directly with clients. It also allowed me to learn from more senior executives when working with them closely.

My team at Morgan Stanley were incredibly supportive. I was genuinely blown away by how much the team were invested in my success and were willing to take time out of their busy schedules to help me learn and improve. Members of the team would check in on me regularly to check how I was getting on and offer helpful advice. If ever I was struggling with work or wondering how to improve on some feedback, I was able to talk with a number of people in the team who would be happy to help. I was able to ask many questions to my buddy and she was always more than happy to get on a call and talk it through. HR were also very supportive throughout.

The company culture at Morgan Stanley was incredibly collaborative and supportive, and also committed to excellence. This commitment to excellence meant that working hours could be very long and I worked most weekends and often felt encouraged by my team to be in the office all of Saturday and Sunday. The work environment could be intense, with a lot of pressure to meet tight deadlines and complete work to a very high standard. This, along with a team that was always willing to help me, to give tailored feedback, and to offer support and encouragement when things got tough, meant that I learned an incredible amount over the internship.

I enjoyed the experience of my internship a lot. I made lots of genuine long-lasting friendships with other interns in my class and colleagues in my team. I was really challenged during the internship and at times it was incredibly tough, but this made the entire experience very rewarding.

Yes

Talk to people at the firm to get an insight into what it is really like to work there. Reflect on what you are looking to get out of this and make sure you understand what the role will entail. Have a positive, can-do attitude and take every challenge as an opportunity to learn. Make time to connect with other interns and colleagues as much as possible.