💡 How to Prepare for Internship Interviews: Interview Series Part One💡

Jumping straight into interviews with big companies as a student with limited experience can be daunting, so I’m here to share my experience in preparing – and some tips that helped!

'Internship Interview Preparation' written on sticky note on pink background

General Interview Season

Staying updated with industry news is important year-round, but realistically, even more relevant in applications season. I made it a routine to follow FT headlines and listened to industry podcasts for a deeper insight into market trends and surrounding discussions. If you’re new to finance, the Market Maker podcast by AmplifyME is a great place to start! It’s designed for students, breaking down technical content into a conversational format.

A Few Days Before

After researching the role and creating a list of the company’s values and the key skills required for the job, I referred to my CV to write a list of relevant experiences, or anything I found to have professional value. I listed group projects, breaking them down by skills and lessons learned, and did the same with work, sports, and other activities. Prioritise examples that align specifically with the company’s values. A few days prior, I met with a friend who helped me brainstorm draft questions and responses – a fresh perspective was invaluable for content and confidence.

The Day Before

Practicing speaking in front of my computer screen felt way stranger than expected. It did actually take time to get comfortable with this – give yourself a few hours where you can practice answering draft questions and record yourself and review it to find improvements. Having post-its around my desk with examples, skills and values helped solidify key talking points!

The Morning Of

I gave myself another hour or so where I could run through my talking points, how they related to the company’s values and again, bullet-pointed anything new that came to mind. Most importantly though: have a good breakfast and dress for success. Feeling good should be your top priority on the day!

Part two covers the interview experience 👀

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🌸 Welcome to My Blog! 🌸

Hello lovelies! Just a quick introduction to my blog! I’m here to share a small series of short posts to help you level up in your career journey and land that internship – whether you’re just starting out or want a little boost! I'm a third-year finance student who was a little late to the game and (very nearly) missed out on so many key opportunities that helped me with progression. This time last year I didn't know how to network , I never attended events, and I knew absolutely nothing about the financial industry and markets. Fast forward to now , I organise events and communications for the Women in Banking and Finance Society at my university and have gotten so much more active in my personal career path. I’ve learned so much over the past year, and even though I’m still figuring things out, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned along the way! Here’s the thing I wish I learned sooner: you don’t need one massive experience to stand out. Experience comes from a series...

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Breaking into the financial industry as a student can feel impossible. Internships are competitive, and finding ways to differentiate yourself in applications can be tough. But guess what? There’s so many things you can do beyond searching for practical banking experience to boost your employability and stand out to employers. Here’s what worked for me: Join Societies (And Committees!) Get involved in societies, especially if they’re career-related. Even better though, apply to join the committee! This will put you in direct contact with industry professionals when it comes to events. It’s an excellent way to build a solid network (with both students and employers) and guarantee your place at invite-only events! Plus, it shows passion, which looks great on applications. Attend Insight Days and Career Events Sitting through hours of panel discussions might not be at the top of your list, but these events will give you so much to discuss in your interview. You’ll not only learn wh...

👩🏻‍💻 Finance Internship Interview Experience: Interview Series Part Two 👩🏻‍💻

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