Day in life of BofA London IB intern

Could someone who's done this internship please give me an idea of a few things:

  1. What are the hours like
  2. What are interns required to do? Eg I appreciate "supporting the analysts" but what does that entail exactly?
  3. How social is it (eg is it important to the firm that the interns "bond" like it is at non-finance companies)
  4. How do I prepare for this internship and are there any courses you'd recommend (eg excel, powerpoint, financial modelling)

I'm a history student, feeling pretty out of my depth atm

5 Comments
 

Here’s what you need to know about being a BofA London IB intern, based on the most helpful WSO content:

1. Hours

  • Expect long hours. A typical week might look like 9am to 1am Monday-Thursday, 9am-6pm on Friday, and potentially off on Saturday. Sundays could involve a 4pm-1am shift, depending on deal flow and team needs.
  • The workload is highly variable. Some weeks might be slow, while others could be intense with tight deadlines.

2. Responsibilities

  • Interns are primarily tasked with supporting analysts, which can include:
    • Preparing PowerPoint presentations for client pitches.
    • Assisting with financial modeling and data analysis.
    • Conducting industry research and compiling market data.
    • Reviewing and editing documents, such as confidential information memorandums (CIMs).
  • The work can range from mundane tasks like formatting slides to more engaging assignments like contributing to live deals.

3. Social Aspect

  • BofA places some emphasis on networking and bonding. The first three weeks of the internship typically include:
    • Training sessions (1 week of senior speakers, 2 weeks of technical training).
    • Networking events with mentors, team members, and other interns.
    • Social activities may vary, but building relationships with your team is encouraged.

4. Preparation

  • As a history student, you might feel out of your depth, but you can bridge the gap with the right preparation. Recommended courses include:
    • Excel Modeling Course: Foundation for all finance careers.
    • PowerPoint for Finance Course: Master pitchbook and presentation skills.
    • Financial Statement Modeling Course: Learn 3-statement modeling.
    • M&A Modeling Course: Essential for understanding mergers and acquisitions.
    • LBO Modeling Course: Key for private equity and leveraged buyouts.
  • These courses are part of the WSO Elite Modeling Package, which is highly rated for mastering technical skills.

Pro Tip

  • Use the first few weeks of training to ask questions and absorb as much as possible. Don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors or peers for guidance—they’re there to help you succeed.

You’ve got this! With the right preparation and mindset, you’ll navigate the internship like a pro.

Sources: What are IB Intern Hours Actually Like????, Q&A: 2nd Year IB Analyst at a Bulge Bracket, BoFa SA London

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
Most Helpful

Interned there last summer.

Work is pretty chill - nothing too difficult, but team dependent I imagine. Smaller teams usually require more technical ability off the bat.

Interns do socialise, but mainly out of office events (i.e. pubs, bars, clubs).


Make sure your motivations are well rehearsed (you will still be tested), work hard, and learn as much as possible. Make as many mistakes as possible if needed, but don’t make the same ones more than once.

Regarding prep, there is a case study, but if you are numerically inclined, it’s not too difficult as you can pickup a lot of stuff independently. Seeing as you do history, would advise getting up to speed with basic accounting and certainly basic modelling before starting - it’s not expected, but you are expected to learn, and from my experience people with non-numerical backgrounds struggle more with this.

 

Prospect in IB-M&A

Interned there last summer.

Work is pretty chill - nothing too difficult, but team dependent I imagine. Smaller teams usually require more technical ability off the bat.

Interns do socialise, but mainly out of office events (i.e. pubs, bars, clubs).


Make sure your motivations are well rehearsed (you will still be tested), work hard, and learn as much as possible. Make as many mistakes as possible if needed, but don’t make the same ones more than once.

Regarding prep, there is a case study, but if you are numerically inclined, it’s not too difficult as you can pickup a lot of stuff independently. Seeing as you do history, would advise getting up to speed with basic accounting and certainly basic modelling before starting - it’s not expected, but you are expected to learn, and from my experience people with non-numerical backgrounds struggle more with this.

Thank you so much that's unbelievably helpful! Could you please give me an idea of what the hours are like? And in terms of the teams, do we interns get to choose which team we'd want to be placed in?

 

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