One of the highlights before starting the programme was the Morgan Stanley Training Day. The day was packed with insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and hands-on activities. The interactive sessions included a global markets quiz, an open outcry trading simulation, and an intense negotiation game. We got a chance to meet Morgan Stanley alumni and hear about their career stories and heard from Morgan Stanley campus recruiter Kennedy Godman, who shared some tips on making the most of the application process. The day was incredibly insightful and really got me excited about starting the summer programme. I particularly enjoyed the negotiation game where we were required to think outside the box in order to succeed.

We were then set with a task of taking pictures around Canary Wharf before meeting for drinks with everyone again. I would say the best part was having the chance to meet other students before going into the programme, as it meant I had a few familiar faces and we could help each other out. It was also great to meet the AmplifyME team and establish a small relationship before the summer programme. After chatting with a few people from the June cohort, I was starting to really look forward to the programme. I knew it would be intense; however, I couldn’t think of a more perfect time to expand my knowledge and prepare for internship applications coming ahead.

Leading up to the programme, there was a lot of learning content to cover. I made it my own challenge to watch most of the learning content so I could be as prepared as possible. I have found that there is a lot more content than you would think, but watching each video has taught me so much. It ranged from basic financial and economic principles to advanced trading strategies. My only advice would be to start watching the videos way ahead of time so you can space them out more without having to cram them in! I learned that I will always have access to the pre-learning content, so I can refer to the videos anytime.

The first week focused on the buy side, where we covered commercial awareness, asset management, trading processes, fixed-income securities, and hedge funds. We participated in various workshops and simulations, including CV and cover letter workshops, practice interviews, an asset management simulation, and a hedge fund simulation.

The first week was intense but very rewarding. I was surprised at how much content we covered in such a short time. Each day brought new challenges and insights, especially the simulations and the practice interviews.

I was surprised by how interactive and hands-on the sessions were. The live CV reviews and LinkedIn workshop were particularly helpful, providing practical tips that I could apply straight away. This week really expanded my knowledge of the buy side of finance. I liked how quickly we were thrown into practical tasks. It was challenging but also the best way to learn. The team was super supportive, providing us with guidance and feedback throughout the week.

The second week shifted focus to the sell side. We explored roles such as sales traders and market makers, learned about derivatives such as options, participated in hedge fund oil simulations, and had guest speakers. We also received training in Python coding, covered equity research, and had a blockchain simulation.

This week was equally intense and covered a wide range of topics. The practical simulations and guest speaker sessions provided deep insights into the sell side of finance, and despite scoring relatively well on the simulations, I have found that trading is maybe not the route for me.

I was particularly surprised by how much I enjoyed learning how to code with Python. It was challenging to understand at first but very satisfying once I was able to complete a few of the codes by myself, with the help of the groups we were put in. This week, I found myself more comfortable with the tools and concepts. Our cohort grew closer as we faced challenges together, and this peer support was invaluable.

The final week focused on banking, covering financial statements, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), credit and lending, leveraged buyouts (LBOs), and initial public offering (IPO) research. We participated in an intense 24-hour M&A sprint and received career advice from more guest speakers.

Banking week was perhaps the most intense of all, with a deep dive into the technical aspects of finance. The M&A simulation was particularly demanding, but I really learned a lot—not only about what it’s like to work in M&A but also about myself and my capabilities.

I was surprised by how complex and varied the roles of M&A bankers and analysts are. The career advice sessions were also useful, providing me with a clearer picture of what to expect in the industry. This week really taught me the importance of having a good team around you. Our cohort had a WhatsApp group chat, and we all helped each other during the 24-hour M&A sprint. Working in a team to present our IPO was also enjoyable, as everyone was able to bring new perspectives and ideas, each offering a different skill to the team.

Reflecting on the whole experience, I can say that the AmplifyME Summer Analyst Training Programme was amazing. It was challenging, intense, and sometimes overwhelming, but also incredibly rewarding. I gained practical skills, made valuable connections, and most importantly, confirmed my decision to pursue a career in finance. I feel more confident in my abilities and am excited about the future.

If you’re considering a career in finance, I highly recommend the AmplifyME Summer Analyst Training Programme—it’s an experience that will shape your professional journey in ways you can’t even imagine.