‘It’s been fantastic – Very intense, yet very, very fun’ – Markets interns in Oslo tell you why

Meet Tom Olav, Sania and Kristoffer, who all have pretty high expectations (to be frank) for their summer internship with us in Markets, LC&I (Large Corporates & Institutions). Read their first blog and learn about their backgrounds, motivation and experiences as interns, so far – and see whether the internship meets or beats their expectations!

By Tom Olav, Sania & Kristoffer

Tom Olav Bellika (24) 

I recently finished my 4th year at BI Norwegian Business School, Major in Finance. 

Why did you apply for a summer internship with Nordea Markets? 

When I came across the summer internship opportunity with Nordea Markets, I was immediately drawn to it because of its unique rotating program. It presented a rare chance to gain hands-on experience across several divisions within the company, which was something I found truly exciting.

What's more, my decision was reinforced by the positive feedback I received from former interns and employees at Nordea Markets, all of whom had nothing but great things to say about this particular internship. With such promising endorsements and the opportunity for diverse experiences, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

What do you expect to achieve from your internship? 

I wanted to experience a steep learning curve and gain insight into all the diverse aspects of banking. I wanted to be involved in as much as possible and get a first-hand glimpse of the day-to-day operations in different divisions.

What do you look forward to the most? 

To meeting and learning from experienced professionals, absorbing their knowledge, and engaging in practical and challenging projects. This hands-on experience would not only enable me to apply my skills but also provide valuable insights into the workings of various areas within Nordea Markets. 

What's the first week been like - what have you been doing? 

The first week has been fantastic! I've met incredibly welcoming and friendly people who eagerly share their knowledge. Working with Mina in the Debt Capital Markets (DCM) division has been an incredible experience. I've learned so much in just a short time and gained valuable insights into real-world cases.

Sania Aslam Masood (23)

I hold a bachelor's degree in finance and I'm currently in my final year of pursuing a master's degree in finance, both from BI Norwegian Business School. In addition, I actively participate in the student organization "Women in Finance" at BI Oslo and hold a part-time position at Pareto Asset Management.

Fun Fact! I enjoy horseback riding, long walks, reading and attending concerts. A fun fact about me is that I learned sign language during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why did you apply for a summer internship with Nordea Markets?

I was strongly recommended and encouraged to apply for a summer internship from previous interns and young professionals at Nordea Markets after an event hosted by Women in Finance at BI Oslo. One aspect that particularly piqued my interest was the rotating program offered in this internship. Additionally, I was impressed by the positive work environment that was consistently highlighted by acquaintances at Nordea.

What do you expect to achieve from your internship?

My main goal is to acquire extensive learning opportunities. I’m eager to explore different departments and fields to gain diverse experience and insight into the day-to-day work life within Markets.

What do you look forward to the most?

During my internship here, I will have the opportunity to gain insight to various departments, including LC&I Nordic shipping, Fixed Income trading, Investment Banking, and Equity/Credit research. I am eager to explore these diverse fields and learn from the highly skilled and passionate professionals at Nordea. I am also excited to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired from my academic background at BI to practical industry experience.

What’s the first week been like – what have you been doing?

The first week of our internship has been remarkably intense, yet very, very fun! My fellow intern, Ole Martin and I commenced our first rotation at LC&I Nordic shipping, which we will elaborate on in our forthcoming blog.

The learning curve during this period has been outstandingly steep, but the teams we are working with have been highly supportive and accommodating, aiding us in settling into our respective projects. Lastly, there is also this amazing programme called “Summer Academy” every Thursday throughout the internship, which offers a perfect blend of informative sessions and enjoyable festivities.

Kristoffer Stjern (23)

I’ve now finished my bachelors in Economics at the University of Oslo (UiO) which I’ve completed alongside a bachelor’s degree in Informatics (also at UiO). I’ve previously had an analytics internships at Gjensidige, as well as worked full-time parallel with my studies at Voi Technology and at Oda, doing strategy operations and pricing – combining my cross-focus of applying data science and programming to finance-related business problems.

Fun Fact! I do triathlon, and love to read and cook – my favourites being Italian and Japanese cuisine.

Why did you apply for a summer internship with Nordea Markets?

Initially, I was interviewed for a part-time job in Research and Risk Solutions in Nordea Markets back in March. When I received the offer, I inquired about the possibility to work full-time during the summer, and was given an opportunity to get an interview with the program owners of the internship.

I was positively surprised by the degree of opportunity to explore different departments of the Nordea Markets trading floor, and highly appreciated the extent of which my own wishes were taken into account when they structured the rotational programme plan of who would be where and when.

What do you expect to achieve, learn from your internship?

I’m expecting to broaden my knowledge about the various roles within the Markets and Investment banking industry. Additionally, having a social aspect to the internship is also quite important – and I’m therefore looking very much forward to the summer academy and the socials. I hope to gain more insight into how the different departments differ from each other, as well as how day-to-day life on the desk actually is – something which is hard to come by in textbooks.

What do you look forward to the most?

I’m very eager to learn more about the role of traders in the Markets ecosystem, and dive deeper into their decision processes and involvement in various projects. Additionally, every Thursday we’ve got “Summer academy” presentations, where we each week learn more about the different units such as Fixed Income, Risk solutions, FX value chain etc. I’m very much looking forward to learning loads more about the finance industry from these presentations.

What’s the first week been like?

It’s been really awesome. I’ve gained great insight into a variety of roles that I didn’t know much about before starting. I’m extremely happy with how welcoming and helpful everyone has been. We’re constantly reminded that we’re free to just pop by anyone’s desk at any time and ask questions about whatever we might be curious about – something which I truly appreciate.

I’ve started off in Equity Research, and have had the opportunity to delve deeper into the cleantech sector and explore a list of various interesting subjects, learning loads about business models and financial modelling.