Are insight days worthless?

[jack1]

Hi.

I have an offer for Nomura's First Step. I'm wondering if it's worth attending? Because I would have to travel to London, and pay for accommodation over three nights.

Apparently there's only 20 places available for the scheme, so I'm wondering if it has a prestige factor that IBD recruitment will find favorable? And I've also heard being accepted and attending is an automatic fast track to SW if I were to apply for Nomura at Uni.

Also, is it worth going to Morgan Stanley's / JPM's insight. These are much shorter in length.

Cheers.

 

[Mr. Exclusive1]

Hey,

I attended the first ever First Step Programme (when it didn't have fast-track to SW) and even then I would have highly recommended it. It is a fantastic opportunity, especially being over three days, to network with people (who I still know today), meet bankers, get on radar, show good motivation on your application, meet recruiters, understand the industry/process and potentially fast-tracked to SW. Considering you have an offer, I would advise against declining it as I think it will really give you a head start.

J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley less so since they are only one day however having the brand on your CV looks good and again, it bodes well for you when applying for SWs. Even when I applied to Summer positions, bankers who would interview me were consistently impressed that I did stuff at A Level at multiple banks because it showed "consistent and persistent demonstration of interest in the industry over a prolonged period".

I'd forget about the prestige factor for the moment, Nomura is actually a very good bank in what they do (which you will learn about on the programme). IBD Recruitment won't care about the prestige, it will help support your future applications to financial institutions by going. I know one person last year who was fast-tracked and offered a position for SW a few months after the First Step Programme. But many will have to re-interview (but getting an interview in the first place at SW is tough). JPM and MS do not offer fast-track as far as I know but it's great for getting experience and insight into a top American bank.

Usually these institutions cover your costs up to a certain level if you let them know.

In short, absolutely attend, I think you would regret it in future if you didn't. The programme is much more competitive now than when I did it and vastly improved (from what I've heard - even though it was still good when I did it!) so I would highly recommend it. There will be aspects of it you may know already but I'd go solely for the fast-track, networking and boost on your application it will yield.

Best of luck!