The 5 Best Finance and Investing Work Experience Opportunities for Students

Feb 6 / Stephen Barnett
For many of you, the summer still feels like a long way away (surely it’s too cold outside to think about the summer holiday?!). However, the long summer holiday will be with us before we know it. Alongside a well-earned rest and holiday, this summer is a brilliant opportunity to get some work experience.

Whether you're in year 13 or 12, looking to get some relevant experience before heading off to uni, or at university preparing for graduate life, work experience is becoming an essential part of any higher education or job application.

The problem is that it’s incredibly difficult to find relevant work experience. Unless a member of your family works in finance and investing, the opportunities are few and far between. That’s why we have compiled a short list of 5 finance and investing work experiences for you to explore and sign up to this summer!
For many of you, the summer still feels like a long way away (surely it’s too cold outside to think about the summer holiday?!). However, the long summer holiday will be with us before we know it. Alongside a well-earned rest and holiday, this summer is a brilliant opportunity to get some work experience.

Whether you are in year 12, thinking about what to put in your personal statement, or in year 13, looking to get some relevant experience before heading off to uni, work experience is becoming an essential part of any higher education or job application.

The problem is that it’s incredibly difficult to find relevant work experience. Unless a member of your family works in finance and investing, the opportunities are few and far between. That’s why we have compiled a short list of 5 finance and investing work experiences for you to explore and sign up to this summer!

1. WorkX by Amplify Schools

Okay, we might be a bit biased, however we designed this week-long, immersive work experience programme to give sixth formers a wide ranging experience of lots of different areas in finance. During the one week, virtual work experience, you will be able to experience what it’s like to work in Sales and Trading, Mergers and Acquisitions, Ethical Finance and Asset Management, alongside nailing your CV, LinkedIn and Personal Statement. Amplify works with some of the best universities in the world and provides simulations to the world’s biggest banks – so work experience with WorkX will set your career on the right track!

2. HSBC UK Work Experience Programme

HSBC is an exciting bank to work for. Not only is it one of the world’s largest banks, it is also one of the world’s most global, which means that you might spend time in the UK, and then jet off to one of over 60 countries that the bank operates in. Its five-day Work Experience programme is designed for pupils in years 9-13, kicks off on 10th July, with applications closing on the 28th February.

3. Morgan Stanley – Step Up, Step In

A two-day introduction to banking designed specifically for female pupils. The event which starts on the 26th July and is hosted in Morgan Stanley’s London office, promises to provide female pupils with a wide ranging introduction to careers in banking and finance. Morgan Stanley is a world-class bank and a brilliant name to have on your CV!

4. EY Career Starters - EY Career Starters | EY UK

The best thing about this two day programme, starting on the 24th July, is that it is designed to offer an insight into alternatives to university. Uni is not for everyone and a successful career in finance can start straight after school. EY is one of the world’s best employers of young talent and has a wide range of post school programmes and apprenticeships to explore.

5. Rothschild UK Pioneer Work Experience

You might just be in time to apply for Rothschild’s UK Pioneer Work Experience Programme, designed for year 12 and 13 students considering a career in financial advisory. Rothschild’s are experts in corporate advisory, an exciting area of finance which sees banks provide their expertise to companies looking to raise money, restructure, or buy other companies. The week-long programme will take place in London in July or August this summer.
AmplifyME's Summer Analyst Training Programme
Okay, we might be a bit biased, however, we designed this 3-week immersive work experience programme to give students a wide-ranging, accredited on-the-job experience of lots of different areas in finance. During the programme, you experience what it’s like to work in Sales and Trading, Mergers and Acquisitions, Ethical Finance, and Asset Management, alongside nailing your job applications and interviews. AmplifyMEworks with some of the best universities in the world and provides simulations to the world’s biggest banks – so work experience with us will set your career on the right track!

HSBC UK Work Experience Programme
HSBC is an exciting bank to work for. Not only is it one of the world’s largest banks, it is also one of the world’s most global, which means that you might spend time in the UK, and then jet off to one of over 60 countries that the bank operates in. Its five-day Work Experience programme is designed for pupils in years 9-13, kicks off on 10th July, with applications closing on the 28th February.

Morgan Stanley – Step Up, Step In
A two-day introduction to banking designed specifically for female pupils. The event which starts on the 26th July and is hosted in Morgan Stanley’s London office, promises to provide female pupils with a wide-ranging introduction to careers in banking and finance. Morgan Stanley is a world-class bank and a brilliant name to have on your CV!

EY Career Starters
The best thing about this two-day programme, starting on the 24th July, is that it is designed to offer an insight into alternatives to university. Uni is not for everyone and a successful career in finance can start straight after school. EY is one of the world’s best employers of young talent and has a wide range of post-school programmes and apprenticeships to explore.

Rothschild UK Pioneer Work Experience
You might just be in time to apply for Rothschild’s UK Pioneer Work Experience Programme, designed for year 12 and 13 students considering a career in financial advisory. Rothschild’s are experts in corporate advisory, an exciting area of finance which sees banks provide their expertise to companies looking to raise money, restructure, or buy other companies. The week-long programme will take place in London in July or August this summer.
Stephen Barnett Head of Schools
Interested in finance? Our Summer Analyst Training Programme can help you obtain the experience you need to get hired!

FAQs

What types of finance work experience opportunities are available for students at AmplifyME?
Our Summer Analyst Training programme is perfect for year 12 or 12 students looking for virtual work experience (with optional in-person networking including a visit to Morgan Stanley's HQ) and offers asset management training, fintech simulations, banking work experience and much more.

How can students apply for work experience programs at major financial institutions like Morgan Stanley?
If you are in the UK, you can go down two core routes: Apply for a degree apprenticeship or an internship. Getting a summer internship as an undergraduate and receiving an offer at the end of it to join the likes of Morgan Stanley, full-time after you graduate, is the most tried and test way
If you are yet to start university, be aware of the year by year course of action:

  • First Year: Attend bank events, like insight days and spring weeks, to network and explore investment banking. These can lead to summer internships in your second year.
  • Second Year: Apply for summer internships at banks. Deadlines are typically in late December. The application process involves forms, tests, and interviews.
  • Third Year: Secure a job offer if you interned successfully. If not, repeat the application process. Failed conversions from internships can be challenging to overcome.

What are the benefits of having work experience in finance and banking?
Work experience is absolutely key in securing a coveted role in finance. This is especially true as institutions are focussing more on practical skills, over educational background. Read more about this here.

Are there virtual work experience options available in finance?

Yes, our Summer Analyst Training Programme is a three-week, intensive, virtual programme rotating students through banking and finance work experience including asset management, fintech simulations and much more. It's accredited by the London School of Banking and Finance and known for its quality and rigour, 92% of our alumni secured finance roles within two years*