Maya joined our Women's Finance Insight Programme and stayed on – could be you, apply

Several of the participants from this year’s programme subsequently landed student positions or internships with us. One of them is Maya Grape, who is happy to share insight and tips on how to boost your application, and get a foot in the door.

Let’s meet Maya; 23 years old, from Norway who finished her bachelor at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) this year.

Where in Nordea do you work today?

I am currently an intern at Nordea Corporate Finance in Oslo, in an internship which runs from August to December 2022, so I’ve been working here for almost four months now.

What are the best things about your job – and what do you do?

I enjoy that I learn something new almost every day, and that it is all learning by doing. Working in Corporate Finance is a mix of utilizing what I have been taught at NHH, and then gaining new knowledge and familiarizing with new tools. I like that you can always ask for help, and that the other analysts, and everyone, are very helpful - which is great when you are new. My task is basically to help where it is needed, usually with preparing pitch- and other meeting materials. During the short time I have been here, my PowerPoint and Excel skills have, among others, improved considerably.

How’s the working environment, the culture, the people/your colleagues?

The working environment is great! There is a big share of "young" people, or juniors, at the office, including three graduates who started in August together with me. During my time here, we have arranged after works, karaoke, and "paint n sip". We are only about 20 people in Corporate Finance at the Oslo office, which makes it easy to get to know each other.

How did you land a job offer after partaking in the program - why do you think you got it? 

I was assigned a case, and I spent some time preparing for it, before receiving it. Setting up a simple DCF and PowerPoint template is a good idea. This is something we also got to practice during the Women’s Finance Insight programme (WFIP) when we solved a case and received valuable feedback. Other than that, I believe the most important thing you can do is highlighting your motivation for working at Nordea, and in the specific department - which all is a lot easier after partaking in WFIP, which I strongly recommend to apply for.

Can you share some tips on how to apply for WFIP, and eventually receive an offer?

I recommend spending some time on the application letter and focusing on why you want to learn more about finance and why you are interested in Nordea specifically. Again, it's key to show that you are motivated. Just go for it!

If you want to go for it, and join our Nordic Women’s Finance Insight Programme next spring in 2023, check out this site for more information and application details.

You can also find more insight in these blogs:

Get a head-start, join our Women's Finance Insight Programme - apply 

1# Women's Finance Insight Programme exceeding expectations - see why

2# Women's Finance Insight Programme - my dreams and ambitions have grown