Dinesh Nair is a senior from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia studying finance with a concentration in analytical consulting. Dinesh had the opportunity to intern with JPMorgan at its Malaysia office in Kuala Lumpur. As an intern, he felt very welcomed by the senior personnel’s desire and willingness to meet with interns. Dinesh remains inspired by the team of extremely talented people he got to work with over the summer.
What attracted you to the company/position?
I was extremely impressed by the firm’s ethos and reputation globally as a leader in the world of international finance, coupled with its long history and culture of professionalism. I was also attracted to the bank’s emphasis on training and exposure for aspiring analysts. Prior to applying for the internship, I was able to fully appreciate the specific institutional aspects and lines of business when I attended the firm’s “Inside the Industry” Early Insights pre-internship event in Singapore in July 2017, as well as through selected webinars.
I was keen on a summer analyst’s position and the Malaysia office had openings in the corporate analyst development program. This was a holistic program that exposed interns to the foundations of operations, finance, and risk management within the firm, while developing professional skills. I feel very lucky to have been selected.
Can you tell me a little about what your overall experience was like working there and what your typical day was like?
As interns, we were given an objective sheet of tasks to be completed by the end of the internship. I helped prepare training documents for the Senior Financial Officer and researched and presented possible business opportunities to the Senior Country Officer and management. I also coordinated and participated in meetings with my fellow interns across the Asia Pacific locations.
It was also really exciting to be able to meet senior personnel in a very informal setting (we often had lunch together). The firm welcomed interns and it was inspiring to be working amongst a team of an extremely talented people.
What did this job teach you about yourself?
An important lesson I gained was that attitude is all-important in the working world. The technical know-how can be learned during college or on the job, but no incoming analyst can truly master every aspect of the firm’s operations without rigorously applying oneself and approaching each assignment with purposefulness. Even the way in which you made coffee or wrote a nice letter to a retiring employee goes a long way in building team camaraderie.
What career advice would you give to underclassmen?
The job market is getting extremely competitive, so much so that it is never too early to start researching and prepping for the career you are aspiring towards. Start early - even if you are in freshman/sophomore year. Study the field you’re interested in, shortlist possible career opportunities/internships and research each one intensely. Whether you realize it or not, your hard work will be noticed at the interview and workplace.
Aside from that, update your LinkedIn profile/CV regularly and network as much as possible both within and outside campus. Try to understand what skills are lacking in the job market and how you can fill that gap effectively for your prospective employer.
