HSBC Virtual Work Experience - Investing in Futures Review

We attended sessions from 9.30/9.45 a.m. to 3.45/4.00 p.m. on Zoom from Monday to Friday. We heard from the main work experience team, who delivered workshops on topics such as personal branding, growth mindset, diversity etc. We also had HSBC professionals deliver workshops on aspects of the company e.g. Digital Business Services, Procurement, Global Trade and Receivables Finance. These were really interactive and we always got to ask lots of questions to the HSBC team and the other professionals. On Friday, the day was focussed on applications and we had lots of workshops on this, before being given time to prepare for a mock interview with another student and a HSBC professional. There was also a Q&A panel and a celebration at the end of the week. In addition, we participated in group projects including a presentation on a marketing campaign we created for a student bank account, and analysing an Excel spreadsheet of a fake bank account to decide with our team if financial crime had occured or not.

I learnt about application processes for jobs and how to tailor my CV appropriately, how to prepare for online assessments and assessment centres, and interview skills. I also learnt about growth mindset, personal branding (including setting up a successful LinkedIn account) and financial wellbeing. I learnt teamwork skills, presentation skills and confidence from the activities on offer.

I really enjoyed it! We got to meet a variety of different people from the bank and really talk to them and ask questions, which felt quite different to other work experience programmes I've been part of. I liked how the work experience team were present throughout and we could talk to the other students quite a lot. There was a really wide range of presentations and activities on offer and I really learnt a lot throughout the week - it was a very interesting and fun experience.

The event was very well organised. We got a timetable sent out to us in advance and so we could clearly see what sessions were on offer and their timings. They didn't overrun and it felt like the week had been thought through carefully. However, in my acceptance email they said I would get a digital certificate on completion of the programme, which I still haven't received.

I learnt a lot, with presentations from a wide variety of people across the company including the work experience team, professionals in different departments, graduates and apprentices. We got to ask them a lot of questions throughout. They explained company benefits and what it's like to work there in a way that didn't feel overly pushy.

It helped a lot because I got to hear from a wide variety of people in a range of different departments across the company, which led me to do more research into some of these departments (some, like procurement, I had previously never heard of!). The experience made the finance industry, especially in a bank like this, seem enticing, exciting and varied with a good sense of community.

I wasn't paid or reimbursed. The experience was online, so I wasn't expecting at all to be paid for this, and there were no expenses e.g. transport that needed to be reimbursed. However, I was told in my acceptance email that I would receive a digital certificate upon completion, which I still haven't got.

Yes, lots! We met a variety of different employees. Some offered workshops/ presentations with lots of time for Q&A sessions at the end. Others just had Q&A panels, and some were with our groups for team projects or specific group networking, so it really felt like we got to meet a variety of different people in different ways. I got to talk to other students thanks to the activities, which I enjoyed, and contacted a lot of students and employees after the experience e.g. on LinkedIn.

Yes

Their work experience felt thoughtful and carefully planned out, with our wants in mind throughout the work experience, and I really enjoyed the week. It was varied, interesting and fun and made me feel excited to work in a company like HSBC when I'm older. I gained advice and learnt lots of new things, but it felt like the work experience team really cared about us and our experience rather than just being a pure advertisement for the company like other virtual experiences I've been part of.

Think of examples of when you demonstrated different skills e.g. problem-solving or integrity for the telephone interview, and do your research into the company so they know that you're really interested. Make sure your CV and cover letter are relevant e.g. for the interview. They're really friendly so no need to panic too much!