Breaking into finance: My summer at Wells Fargo

1 August 2025

The Application Process  

I applied within a few days of the application opening in September. The first step was straightforward: submit an online form and upload a CV. On my CV, I made sure to highlight the extracurriculars I had taken part in during my first year at university, such as working as a Student Ambassador and participating in the Student Consultancy Project. 

In November, I was invited to a 30-minute behavioural video interview. After that, I progressed to the Assessment Centre at the London office, which included four back-to-back interviews with senior colleagues. These interviews focused on my motivations for the role, my understanding of Wells Fargo, my personal strengths and some technical questions. I strongly believe that attending an in-person AC helped me get a better feel for the company’s culture. After receiving multiple offers, it made my choice much easier since everyone I met was genuinely welcoming and supportive, making me feel like this was the right place for me. 

Work & Structure 

The First Week  

The internship started in June and ran for 10 weeks. The first week was just training with all the EMEA interns. We learned about legal and compliance procedures, financial markets, Excel training, and had introductions to the firm’s different employee networks. There were also talks from different departments and a networking event where I met my manager, which made the first day at my actual desk less intimidating. 

Schedule

My manager structured my internship as a rotational programme, allowing me to spend time with different teams within Financial Crime Operations. This helped me gain a broader understanding of how the entire department functions and allowed me to learn from different people. 

A typical day looked like this: 

• 7:00 AM - Wake up, get ready and jump on the tube at Stepney Green. 

• 8:15 AM - Arrive at the office, grab breakfast at the cafeteria. 

• 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Work on tasks or shadow colleagues. 

• 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM - Lunch with other interns. 

• 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Continue working, attend coffee chats or join meetings. 

• Evening - Gym, walk, or bike ride to Victoria Park, then dinner and rest. 

Each week was slightly different depending on which team I was with. I would shadow team members, help with client cases, input data into the system or work on longer-term tasks like my final presentation which I gave at the end of my internship to the entire department. 

Coffee Chats & Networking 

Something I would strongly recommend to any intern is to set up regular coffee chats. I tried to have at least two a week but sometimes would have more if I was free. They are the best way to learn what other teams do, how the wider firm fits together and just to meet people you wouldn’t normally cross paths with. A lot of senior people were happy to chat and share their career stories or offer advice, and this networking opportunity was definitely one of the best parts of the internship. 

Tips for Success 

Here are my top 5 tips for getting the most out of your internship: 

1. Say yes to every opportunity 
   Shadowing, networking events, attending speaker series or volunteering, take part in everything you can. That being said, always prioritise your team’s work first. 
2. Clarify expectations early 
   At the start of your internship ask your manager what objectives they want you to meet and work towards meeting those goals. If they are remote (like mine was in Ireland), update them regularly by sending progress emails summarising what you have done and learned. 
3. Learn to embrace feedback 
   This can be difficult, but don’t be discouraged by constructive criticism. Instead, view it as an opportunity to improve and make sure that feedback doesn’t come up again in your next performance review. 
4. Always carry a notebook with you 
   Take it to every meeting, coffee chat or when being shown how to do something. This makes you look much more put together and helps stay organised. Writing things down shows you’re engaged and prevents mistakes later, as you can always look back at your notes if forgotten something. 
5. Build strong relationships 
   Be friendly, curious and helpful. At the end of the day, a return offer involves input from multiple people, so it helps to have colleagues who can vouch for you. 

Final Thoughts  

This internship was an incredible learning experience. It gave me a real taste of the professional world, helped me understand what I enjoy (and don’t) in a job, and introduced me to people whose advice will stay with me throughout my career. If you are considering applying for an internship, definitely do it. It’s one of the best ways to build your confidence, skills and understanding of where you want to take your career.