Congratulations to Florence, a Computer Science student at the University of Southampton, for securing the Technology Summer internship within the Data Services team at Macquarie Group! She gives us some insight into what life is like at Macquarie and provides useful advice on the application process.
What initially attracted you to Macquarie?
Macquarie’s global presence within its various sectors, as well as its approach and its culture are what initially attracted me. I was also drawn to the entrepreneurial approach of the firm where the people are given more freedom to be creative in their work.
How was the application process? And what was your favourite part?
After the first stage, I completed the online psychometric tests, which were slightly more challenging than the other ones I had done before. The online video questions were the next stage, which were mainly skill and competency-based. Although it was nerve-wracking at first, I ended up enjoying it because they gave me the opportunity to show my personality as well as ability. The final stage was the Superday at the London offices. I had 4 rounds of interviews: Brain Teasers, Programming, Design and Competency. The whole process was smooth and insightful and instantly gave me a positive outlook on the company.
My favourite part of the process was definitely this Superday because it gave me a good understanding of the company and although I was an interviewee, it gave me the opportunity to ask my own questions and learn more about the people, the culture and the work.
How would you describe the culture at Macquarie?
The culture at Macquarie is great and very different from other banking firms; the flat hierarchy allowed me to interact with senior leaders on all levels from such an early stage! There is no question that is deemed silly, and everyone is willing to help out and make the time for you. It is an amazing environment to work in where everyone is involved.
What does an average day look like for you?
I was assigned my own proof of concept project which meant my days varied. There was a big variety of tasks and challenges, including e-mails, daily stand ups, project work, and retrospectives, where the team would come together to showcase what they have been working on.
On top of the daily work, we interns had weekly ‘Senior Speaker’ talks and ‘Lunch and Learns’ where we learnt about all the different divisions of the company. I found this particularly exciting because everyday I was learning something new and gaining a deeper understanding of the company.
What have been the highlights of your internship?
There are so many to choose from, but I would say my top highlights were being able to meet so many amazing people, the new technologies and the ability to be creative in my work. Being given a lot of responsibility even as an intern was another definite highlight.
What top 3 tips would you give someone who wants to apply to Macquarie?
1. Be yourself. Make sure to put your personality into your application and be genuine; in the interview stage it’s easy for interviewers to notice when someone isn’t being sincere.
2. Work hard. It’s always difficult to balance applications with university, but keep pushing forward and try to put as much research into the firm and the role as you can.
3. Ask lots of questions. It’s important to show your interest in the firm and the industry, so be curious!