Meet Rachel from Sydney

What are you studying at university and how did your studies prepare you for your internship?

I'm currently studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law. Thanks to this, I have some basic knowledge of finance. It made it a bit easier for me to understand some of the financial terms used!

What is the most exciting part of your internship?

Every day is exciting because I'm learning or experiencing something new. As an intern, you get a lot of exposure and a chance to work on various different projects. For me, one of the best moments so far was presenting my intern project and seeing how far I'd come in such a short period of time.

What happens in a typical workday?

I work in corporate client solutions where there really isn't a typical work day. The daily tasks are dependent on what deals we're currently working on. So I could be asked to attend a client meeting or to create content for a discussion paper.

How does your team support one another day to day?

Teamwork is key. People are constantly checking in with other members of the team to discuss progress, ask for advice or get some clarification.

Was your internship experience what you expected?

The internship was actually far better than I expected, particularly given that I come from a non-finance background. I thought this could potentially place me at a disadvantage, but my team was extremely supportive. They always took the time to answer my questions and gave me some tips based on their own experiences in financial services.

The work was as challenging as I expected it to be, although I was surprised by the extent to which the team involved me in discussions and client meetings. It was also very clear that UBS values their interns as we had regular check-ins to discuss our thoughts on the program and any areas we wanted to continue developing.

Can you tell us about one accomplishment during your internship?

The biggest piece of work I did was my intern project, which involved conceptualizing, modelling and presenting a capital transaction. UBS likes to make the project practical rather than hypothetical, which was great for increasing my knowledge. Ultimately, my final presentation was something I never would have believed I was capable of. It was a great feeling knowing that my team was planning on actually taking the proposed deal forward!

Tell us one thing that no one would know about you…

My dream holiday would be a horseback trekking journey through the Mongolian Steppes with no Wi-Fi. Although I doubt I'd survive three days, which is why this remains just a dream!