Investment Banking Spring Week — Programs in London or Frankfurt
Spring Week at the major investment banks is a brilliant opportunity to experience the world of finance during your studies. But what is it about and how do you apply?
Views are my own.
What is Spring Week?
Spring Week is a one-week program (sometimes just a few days) that many prestigious investment banks offer in the spring. This program could almost be described as a mini-internship. It is aimed at ambitious students in their early semesters who are curious about the world of finance. Sometimes these weeks are also referred to as Spring Insights or Spring into Banking.
The week is packed with workshops, events, lectures and practical sessions that give you an in-depth look at what goes on behind the scenes at an investment bank. The participating banks invest a lot of effort and come up with creative formats. Whether mergers & acquisitions, trading or asset management — during this week you can get to know different areas and find out what suits you best. This often results in a future internship the following year. Alternatively, how about a working student position in Germany? Here you can find out what a working student is and how to apply.
However, you will be able to get to know not only the departments, but also the company. Because the culture and values of the company play an important role in career planning, alongside the day-to-day work. How is the teamwork, is everyone on the same page? Do I like the office? It might even be a good idea to go through several Spring Weeks during the course of your studies.
Last but not least, you can expand your network during Spring Week. You’ll be able to connect with decision makers from the industry and meet other students from all over the world who share the same interests. Who knows, maybe this will lead to friendships or useful contacts for your professional future?
Spring Week abroad: London, Frankfurt and more
A key advantage of Spring Week is the opportunity to gain this intensive experience in another city or even another country. With a bit of luck, it might even be possible to spend a short time in London, as many banks run programs there. If you apply early, you will increase your chances of making this exciting career move. Finally, a stay in London or another international location will look particularly impressive on your CV. By the way, companies such as Société Generale, Airbus or Dior offer the opportunity to work in Asia or the USA for 1–2 years: Find out more about the international VIE program here.
In addition to the professional opportunities, you can also enjoy the vibrant life of this exciting city. Imagine spending your free hours strolling through Hyde Park, exploring the impressive exhibitions at the British Museum or experiencing the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly Circus. But it doesn’t just have to be London: Sometimes other exciting cities are also an option. Be as flexible as possible!
As a hidden gem, Frankfurt is an ideal destination for a Spring Week — the financial center of continental Europe and home to numerous global banks and institutions.
Frankfurt may seem smaller than London at first glance, but the city is of central importance in the world of finance. The economic heart of Europe beats here, directly beneath the skyline that is lovingly referred to as “Mainhattan”.
Who offers Spring Week?
Spring Weeks are typically offered by investment banks and are rather unusual in other industries. Needless to say, all students compete for the few places at well-known names such as JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley or Deutsche Bank. It is a major achievement to be accepted there.
However, many other investment banks now also offer exciting Spring Weeks that you should not miss out on. An application is worthwhile in any case, even if it takes a lot of time. Only those who dare, win. Here is a list of well-known programs and a few insider tips:
Blackrock Spring Insight Event — EMEA
🏙️ Locations: Edinburgh, London
💼 Job↗
⏰ Deadlines:
Invesment Roles: November 15, 2024
All other roles: Dezember 6, 2024
Rothschild UK Global Advisory Spring Insight Programme
🏙️ Locations: London
💼 Job↗
⏰ Deadlines:
Applications open: August 27, 2024 (keine hard deadline, hiring on a rolling basis)
JPMorganChase Spring Insight
🏙️ Locations: London, Glasgow, Bournemouth
💼 Job↗
⏰ Deadlines:
November 4, 2024
Deutsche Bank Spring into Banking
🏙️ Locations: Frankfurt
💼 Job↗
⏰ Deadlines:
Fall 2024
Morgan Stanley ISG & MSIM Spring Insight Programme
🏙️ Orte: Frankfurt, London
💼 Job(UK)↗ 💼 Job(DE)↗
⏰ Deadlines:
October 27, 2024
How can I apply for Spring Week?
You don’t have to book expensive application coaching for this. However, as the programs are in high demand, you should definitely have everything ready and be very quick. Make sure you have a current CV, certificates and optionally a letter of motivation.
Incidentally, the programs are not just looking for the same kind of static profiles as often assumed: Diverse personalities with excellent team skills and outstanding problem-solving abilities are highly valued. All other characteristics such as target university or experience abroad can be seen as an add-on. This means that even a CV that is not completely linear can score points.
Essentially, the application process is similar to an internship and that’s how you should see it: A training run for your upcoming internship! The following components may be included, but vary depending on the company and location:
- Online application form with questions
- Online assessments, tests, case studies (professional or personal)
- Personal or automated interviews, sometimes conducted by external providers such as HireVue
. . .
And hey, it’s not the end of the world if Spring Week doesn’t work out. You can use and develop your talents in many other fields. Just look around and try something new. How about consulting, for example, or even a job in a specialized industry, e.g. pharmaceuticals? Just make sure that you don’t fall for a ghost job, i.e. a position that doesn’t actually exist. You can find out more about this here. Finally, you have many opportunities and you should interpret unexpectted changes as guidance and by no means as a personal rejection. You have so much to offer and if you still fancy a Spring Week, maybe next year it will work out again!
Spring Week is more than just a week of activities — it can be the start of a stellar career in investment banking. Here you get the chance to gain a solid foundation in one of the most exciting industries and at the same time find out whether this is really your thing. Sometimes that realization is super valuable.
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