Spring Intern Review

I found the insight week very enjoyable - it was packed with informative sessions and activities. The content was engaging and diverse, ranging from corporate presentations to community service with the London Wildlife Trust. I most enjoyed the work shadowing, since it gave us an insight in the actual deals going on, rather than just having the theory explained in a presentation. Also, I found all the people I met at Rothschild very nice and friendly, which made the week that much more fun.

I found myself valued at all times - the people at the bank were always open to questions, listened to what we had to say, and welcomed our feedback. Also, I never felt like being a bother to any employee, regardless of whether they worked in human resources, were an analyst, or a director.

The amount of support we received was huge. Even though we were expected to show initiative ourselves, we were given the necessary guidance when relevant. This especially applied to the group project that we had to do during the course of the week - when we got stuck on a certain aspect or just wanted someone to make sure that what we put together made sense, analysts were happy to help out. I really can't emphasise how useful that was - one analyst even came down from his floor at 9pm just to proof read our presentation the day before it was due!

As I study Economics and Management at university, I'm certain that the knowledge I accumulated will help me with my studies, since a lot of the material covered is essentially applied theory of what I'm learning in my course. Furthermore, as I am now even more incentivised to go into finance, I'm sure that the skills developed and information received will help me in my career as well.

I found the week very well structured. We were given a clear schedule on the morning of the first day. The days were packed, but there was a good balance of presentations, work shadowing and workshops. We also had some less banking-oriented activities, such as touring the family archives and doing community service at a London Wildlife Trust park, which were a lot of fun. We were given a sufficient amount of breaks in between, and had plenty of time left in the afternoon and evening to work on our group projects.

The atmosphere during the insight was great - as mentioned, the people were very nice. I got a very friendly and enthusiastic feeling from everyone at the bank, which made it seem a very appealing working environment. Also, the atmosphere between the other participants in the programme was very enjoyable, as everyone was friendly and team-working, rather than individualistic and pushy.

The programme helped a lot with understanding what it is like to be a full-time employee at Rothschild. In addition to explaining all the technical aspects of the jobs offered, we got a broader picture by communicating with current employees, both at junior and senior level. I liked that everyone was very enthusiastic and honest while answering any questions that we might have had, which lead to my perception of the bank as a very pleasant working environment.

Before taking part in the insight week, I thought I had a fairly good grasp in terms of knowing the company culture. Only taking part in the programme and actually experiencing it first hand actually enabled me to understand all the aspects of the culture though. Engaging with the people at the bank and seeing how we were treated during the course of the programme truly let us immerse ourselves in what it's really like at Rothschild.

The insight week was unpaid, however we were fully reimbursed for all our expenses. As I live outside the UK, Rothschild covered my travel costs (flights), as well as reimbursed my stay at a nearby hotel.

There were several networking opportunities at the bank. On the first day, we had a networking lunch with some analysts, while in the afternoon we had tea with some directors. Furthermore, work shadowing proved to be a valuable way of meeting employees as well. Additionally, everyone was happy to provide business cards and give us their attention provided we showed enough enthusiasm and interest.

Yes we did, mainly in terms of how the firm and its employees are involved in community service activities. In addition to having a presentation in the office, we participated in community service at the London Wildlife Trust, which provided a very tangible experience.

I would definitely recommend this insight to a friend. It was a great way to find out more about investment banking, Rothschild, and its working environment and culture. It was challenging and stimulating at times, but very enjoyable due to the amount of interesting information we achieved and the overall friendly atmosphere. I had a fun time and would recommend it to anyone deciding on a career in finance in general or at Rothschild.