Finance internships in UK

More than a clever way of gaining relevant practical knowledge of the function of a business, finance internships are also frequently identified as the best way to land a full-time job. They form an excellent opportunity to test out your theoretical skill sets, get insights to employer or career paths and extend your professional network. The specific attributes of internships, such as their duration, type, and whether or not they are paid, tend to vary. More than providing valuable and relevant experience, an internship extends your professional network, which may be one of the most valuable currencies in a modern working environment

Positions within finance are divided between two distinct, yet highly interrelated functions, namely accounting and financial posts. Accounting positions are focused on collecting and recording the financial transactions of an organisation to the benefit of both internal and external stakeholders, while financial positions relate to the management of the financial operations of the firm. Relevant internship posts within these disciplines can differ vastly.

Tip: Make sure to do some research on what kind of tasks might await you in the field of finance! That knowledge will make it much easier for you to answer and ask questions in a job interview.

Although the UK job market was hit hard by the financial crisis, it has recovered significantly in the past few years and individuals with strong language skills are in high demand and employers in the field of finance are hungry for people who have mastered English as well as their own native language to a high level. The UK is a relatively good environment for startups, but new businesses in the finance sector have to compete with large and well-established multinationals so you could find yourself working for a brand new company with a laid back working environment or an international giant with a very formal working culture.

You can expect working conditions in the UK to be highly regulated and generally very good, however, competition for internships is fierce. You’ll need to go the extra mile and put in some overtime if you want to succeed. This might include joining your colleagues in an important part of British working culture - a few drinks in the local pub on Friday evenings

Tip: Be aware that the requirements for job applications in UK may be different from what you are used to. So spend some time finding out how a standard British CV looks and how to formulate a cover letter for UK companies.

Also, you should prepare for a few other quirks that the UK job market holds in store for graduates.