Learn to thrive at university

Visit our Uni Life hub to get insights and advice on navigating your life at uni, from building a budget to finding your people.

James McDermott - Intern at Alvar Financial

We caught up with James, who shared his experience of working as an intern at Alvar Financial Services.

JamesMcDermott_Alvar

Please tell us about yourself.

I’m 21 and currently studying management and technology at the Technical University of Munich.

What do you currently do at Alvar Financial?

Over the last two months I have been given a variety of different jobs, which has given me great insight into the different aspects of the business. The main tasks I have had whilst being at Alvar have been providing research for the event driven analyst, distributing content via email, and creating a new template for the Olivetree morning note. The option to sit with the event driven sales traders and research analyst, ask questions and learn about how deals are made has been a highlight of the internship too.

Why did you choose an internship with Alvar Financial?

I am interested in sales and finance, and want to gain experience in the sector. The invitation to an internship at Alvar sounded great and like the perfect place to start.

What is the culture like here?

I don’t think you can get a better introduction to the world of finance than the one I have had at Alvar. Everyone is willing to help, answer any questions, and explain how trading works right down to a beginner’s level. The atmosphere is great, the event driven team have found a balance of having a laugh and working hard in a fast-paced environment. Alvar has some excellent people to work alongside with and they really make you feel welcome.

What advice would you give someone considering applying?

I would advise any applicant to be enthusiastic, willing to do a variety of work, and interested in the subject. It helps if you are an easy person to get along with!

Once you are an intern, take advantage of the team’s expertise and readiness to answer questions. A stupid question is only stupid if you ask it twice!