Following a Bright Network Festival, Joel successfully applied for a spring week internship at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. We chatted to Joel to hear about his experience.
Why did you choose this firm and this role?
I chose Bank of America Merrill Lynch because I wanted to gain experience at one of the top banks in the world. Also, Bank of America Merrill lynch really emphasise on giving students the opportunity to experience many divisions in the bank. I chose investment banking as I enjoy speaking to clients but also checking the markets daily so I thought this gave me a good balance of both. However, you are asked to give two choices of preferences so if you are stuck between two you can experience them both which I thought was great considering you can now see how the divisions link together at a bank.
What was the toughest part of the application process? And your favourite part?
The toughest part of the application was also my favourite part which was the phone interview. This was mainly due to the fact it was not particularly technical which meant I could talk about my past experiences and hobbies which show how the bank want people who are pro-active.
Were you surprised by anything in the process?
I was surprised by how quick they responded after I sent my cover letter as I heard people waited months. I suppose this shows if you take the time on your cover letter and really show interest it will pay off so I guess patience is key.
What three top tips would you give your fellow Bright Network members?
The three P's: be Patient, be Pro-active and be Passionate
What's your lucky charm or pre-interview ritual?
Practice in the mirror can really tell you a lot!
