Why should students apply to our internship positions?
You will work in a every day challenging environment where you are expected to be innovative and creative in a pan-Nordic setting. An internship within investment banking offers high performing individuals a steep learning curve where you will be surrounded with junior analysts and seasoned veterans that are immensely smart, insightful and who are the best at what they do. The tasks will be diverse and demanding and you will be rewarded for your hard work and commitment through the development of a competitive skill set and a unique experience that you will be able to benefit from throughout your career whether in investment banking or elsewhere.
What type of work do you do as an intern in your team?
You will join a team that works together, across hierarchy or title, to deliver first-class service to our clients. Interns will be exposed to large intricated transactions and be challenged to be strategic, analytical and technical, often all in the same day. Key responsibilities for interns could include assisting with preparation of presentations for clients, investors, and the broader investment community. Assisting senior team members with origination of new business, including identification of target opportunities by creating M&A financing models, gathering market data to analyse trends, investors’ sentiment and market outlooks.
What are the key attributes you look for?
I’m always looking for people with a passion for the industry and interest in what makes companies succeed with an underlying interest in business and finance. We spend a lot of time talking to investors and to the corporate client to find the optimal solution, thus analytical skills coupled with great communication skills are important. Never be afraid to take initiative to move to the next level.
At Nordea, we encourage even the most junior members of the team to participate and speak up and never hesitate to step up and take on a larger role. I try to look beyond the candidate’s technical skills. Even if we are product experts, in a career in banking you will spend a lot of time with clients so it helps to be multidimensional. Many conversations move beyond the specifics of the deal, and having something to say about your outside interests (travel, volunteer work, sports, etc.) creates a personal connection and can help de-stress the pressure of the deal.
What distinguishes a great intern?
Be innovative and creative – I encourage people to not be a “no” person, there is a solution to almost any problem, so “no” should never be the immediate, default answer. Ask the right questions and designing a solution that allows for a “yes”. We want you to be dedicated, ambitious and willing to learn. I am a big believer in delegating tasks to team members to challenge them and stretch their capabilities as an opportunity to showcase their skills, as well as build on them. At times, things can be very busy at the desk so great interns perform well under pressure and against tight deadlines.
Recommendations on how to succeed and make the most out of an internship and succeed at Nordea?
Be committed to excellence in your work and maintain high professional and ethical standards and be a proven team player. Do not be afraid to manage a wide range of responsibilities at the same time. Carve out time to take people in the firm to lunch or coffee to get to know Nordea. It’s a way for you to build relationships across divisions and the organisation. If someone reaches out to me, I’m going to help and so will everyone else, no matter the hierarchy or title. At Nordea, you get the opportunity to develop an extensive network across the region, both among other financial institutions and with our customers and don’t forget to stay connected even after you internship.
From your experience, can an internship at Nordea be a door-opener to a job at Nordea?
There will always be positions for good candidates. Every year we hire excellent candidates as analysts, graduates and offer part-time student positions, across the Nordics. If you’re eager to learn about the world of finance and get some hands-on experience, I’d definitely encourage students to apply for an internship with us, where you’ll be part of the action in Investment Banking and feel the dynamic atmosphere at Nordea Markets trading floor.
