Thomas Treble, a Politics & International Relations student at Bath, is currently on a 14-month industrial placement with top investment bank UBS. Read on to find out more about his experience and what he’s learnt so far.
An inclusive culture
UBS is known for its great atmosphere and I was pleasantly surprised to discover just how much I enjoy the culture here. Many banks have a reputation for being cut-throat – at UBS I was greeted by an inclusive atmosphere which prides itself on friendly professionalism.
UBS believes in the power of teamwork and you’re made to feel an integral part of the business and its success from the get go. All employees, including interns, are expected to take responsibility and work hard to achieve the best for the company, their team and themselves – while being fully-supported by the firm.
My role in the asset management team has been extremely client-focused from day one. It was a bit surreal being in direct contact with clients that I had previously only read about in the papers but I was also proud to be given such early responsibility and it made me work harder.
This team ethos is translated into the firm’s social scene. UBS hosts bi-monthly networking events within each team - the asset management team in my case. These are a great opportunity to put all your questions to your colleagues, from fellow interns to senior business leaders.
Everyone, no matter how high up they are in the company, takes the time to talk to you and answer your questions. The Asset Management Vice President even offered to make me a cup of tea!
I’ve also joined the asset management intern football team. Not only have I met new colleagues, but it’s also helped me to learn about different areas of the company through my peers, broadening my understanding of UBS as a whole.
Building up my industry knowledge
During the first two months of my industrial placement I was able to spend some time with interns who were coming to the end of their placement. Peer-to-peer advice is invaluable and it’s always easier to ask questions of someone who’s only a year ahead of you. It was really useful to hear about their experience and what I could expect from the coming months.
I’m learning a huge amount at UBS. The great thing about this industrial placement is that it’s a bit longer than average. Over 14 months, you have the chance to explore all areas of the company while building invaluable skills and experience.
I’ve also built up niche asset management knowledge and gained hands-on business experience as a fully-integrated member of the team - which will be very useful original research for my dissertation and certainly for future job applications. Not many people can say they have a year of work experience under their belt before they’ve graduated.
In the immediate future, I will be heading back to university with a better understanding of how business works and the 9-to-5 working ethos that will make final year less of a challenge!
Explore a world of opportunity at UBS - from industrial placements to gradaute schemes - on their employer profile.