We caught up with Marko about his experience on Macquarie's Insight Programme, the company culture and his top tips on how you can follow in his footsteps.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Marko and I am an LSE Stelios Scholar starting my second year at LSE this September, studying BSc Management. I am originally from Croatia where I finished my high school education. During high school, I was part of the Croatian National Debate team, worked on charity projects and was a guest speaker at numerous public debates. At LSE, I am a consultant and the treasurer of the Global Research and Consulting Group (GRC), as well as an active member of the Business and Investment Group (BIG). In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano and cooking.
What made you apply to Macquarie’s Insight Programme?
There are two reasons why I chose to apply to Macquarie’s Insight Programme. First, I was drawn by Macquarie’s leading expertise within sustainable development and the infrastructure sector, both in Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) and in Macquarie Capital (MacCap). Second, the virtual Insight Programme was two weeks long, as opposed to many other spring week programmes that are much shorter. This allowed me to explore all business divisions within Macquarie in the first week with an open mind, while also having the opportunity to get fully immersed with the division I enjoyed the most in the second week.
What was a ‘normal’ day like on the programme?
A normal day on the programme in the first week consisted of an upskilling session in the morning regarding soft skills, such as resilience, virtual presence, and personal branding. This was followed by an introduction to the business division we were exploring that day presented by executive directors. The lunch break was also interactive as we had the opportunity to join smaller breakout rooms that changed daily to meet other participants. Afterwards, we usually had hands-on experience and took parts in case studies, trading games, and even a Dragon’s Den. During each of these sessions, we were able to ask specific questions to all Macquarie employees, including a Q&A with that day’s division executive director and networking sessions.
During the second week, we got to explore the division we found the most interesting by participating in negotiations, presentations, and case studies with each of the teams in that division. We spent half a day with each team and had the opportunity to work on and learn from Macquarie’s previous projects.
What was the application process like? What did you enjoy the most?
The application process had three parts. The first part is to apply by submitting a CV. If you pass the first stage, the second part is to take part in an online assessment consisting of numerical, verbal, logic, and behavioural tests. If you are successful at this stage, you are then invited to complete a final, pre-recorded video interview where Macquarie gets to know more about your experience, soft skills, as well as the way you think.
The part I enjoyed the most during the application process was the video interview, as it allowed me to introduce myself, explain why I chose Macquarie, as well as present my past experiences and my modus operandi when answering situation-specific questions.
What are you most excited about when you join the team as an Intern?
When I join the Infrastructure Advisory team next summer as an intern, I am most excited about having the opportunity to learn more about M&A and the infrastructure sector as a whole, as well as develop myself both personally and professionally. Having the opportunity to work with the team on real-world projects will allow me to challenge myself each day, learn by doing, as well as meet fellow interns and the team. In short, I am excited about the whole experience.
Any tips for anyone who would like to apply for a similar role at Macquarie?
My main tip would be to thoroughly prepare for each step of the application process. First, make sure your CV represents you and what you have achieved. When invited to the online assessment, practice your numeric, verbal and logic skills before taking it as you have multiple days to take it, so make sure you are comfortable solving challenging problems under time pressure before starting the assessment. Lastly, before the video interview, think about your experiences so far and be ready to tie them to how they would help you at Macquarie and what you have learned from them.
Interested to find out more? Check out Macquarie's current opportunities here.