Why I did Internship Experience UK this summer? PART 2

With my studies coming to an end this summer and my graduate role being delayed by a couple of months, I’ve found myself in a position of having more free time on my hands. Being so passionate about my personal learning and development, I started to search for opportunities to keep myself occupied and engaged.

BSEO has been great at emphasising the benefits of a virtual internship in the current climate, so I decided to look for one. After searching on LinkedIn, I was very happy to discover that Bright Network was organising its first Internship Experience UK. Given that I graduated in Finance and Investment Banking, I decided to choose the Investment Banking stream of the Internship Experience. I am delighted to let you know that I have thoroughly enjoyed my 3-day virtual experience with Bright Network and even compiled 5 reasons below that explain why this experience was a success and why you should consider a similar virtual internship.

5 reasons why I recommend a virtual internship:

1.    #BYDN – Build Your Dream Network

Given that Investment Banking is a highly competitive industry, having the best network that can guide you through the technicalities of this industry can be particularly useful and important. The first day of the internship we had the chance to hear from Kelly Hoey who is a Networking expert. She has raised the topic of networking and ways to build our dream network (her hashtag #BYDN). I was surprised to find out that our most important network is actually our peers rather than the senior people in our dream companies. Therefore, having more than 7000 keen early professionals in the same virtual room throughout the 3-day experience led to so many connections on LinkedIn and deep conversations with like-minded people from such a diverse and different background from mine. I am really curious to witness how the careers of my new networks will unfold in the years to come.

2.    Stay updated on the current affairs and climate

I found it particularly difficult to stay updated with the current affairs all over the world in this climate. Following the daily news and being active on social platforms does not seem to be enough. Thus, I found the sessions delivered by the sponsoring companies: HSBC, J.P. Morgan, and Goldman Sachs extremely useful and relevant. From explaining the structure of their businesses and the specifics of an M&A deal cycle, to discuss the future of the Investment Banking industry post-COVID-19, these informative talks have given me that personalised view and inside the industry knowledge and analysis, I could not get from other sources.

3.    Grow your technical knowledge

Considering that the experience was only 3-days long I did not expect to get any technical knowledge. I was pleasantly surprised that Macquarie Group has delivered a session on Valuations Methodologies, the knowledge from which we used in our project. Yes, project! At the end of the 3-day, I have submitted a presentation that was reflecting a deep dive into the low-cost carrier industry, that also included recommendations of an acquisition target for British Airways, that would explore ways to expand its market share. Not only did this project challenge me, but it also gave me that insight into what IB is all about, so if you are looking to gain some experience into an industry you never experienced before, a virtual internship is the answer to your problem.

4.    Hear first-hand sector advice and tips

Hearing advice from other people is always a bonus, but when this advice come from the people that are sitting at the table where the decision of whether you will get your dream job or not is made, this advice becomes invaluable. I was delighted to hear from Paula Humphry – Head of Candidate Engagement EMEA, JPM, whose advice will put any IB applicant ahead of his/her peers and help transform and elevate his/her application from a good candidate to an excellent one.

5.    Prove to employers that you are proactive

At the end of the internship, I was excited to have received a certificate that confirmed my successful completion of the Internship Experience UK. Not only I benefited from the baggage of knowledge I accumulated from this experience, but also can prove to my future employer that I am a proactive, well-rounded and driven individual.