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Maddie Smith

November 29th, 2017, applying for spring weeks.

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

So what is a Spring Week?

A Spring Week, or Insight Week, is a placement typically undertaken during the Easter holidays of your first year at university. They are designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to the industry you are applying to, as well as the work of that particular institution. They have become more important in recent years as competition has increased and organisations seek to identify high-potential candidates as early possible. Although they are not directly tied to internship applications their purpose is still to recruit top talent early on.

Most popular in the banking industry, here you find two main types, a generalist spring week, where you join a bank and work across several different areas and divisional spring weeks where you join a specific group at a bank for 1-2 weeks. They also exist outside banks and in other sectors. You can find some examples here .

So if a spring week sounds like it might be of interest, what’s the next step?

Making applications – what do employers look for?

Target your application: Typically you have to either fill out an application form or submit a cover letter and CV. Cover letters are very important. You really need a specific application for each organisation – copying and pasting won’t work. You need to highlight specific deals or news about it or events that you have attended where you have met staff.
Do your research : Some organizations such as Nomura no longer ask for a CV and CL because they were receiving a lot of generic letters with evidence of ‘copy and paste’ text. They now ask for a CV and answers to three application questions: one about why you are applying to Nomura, one asking you to say something different about you that won’t be evident from your CV, and one asking you to discuss something you have read in the news recently.
Highlight relevant skills and attributes: You also generally need a record of strong academics, proven analytical skills and a definite and demonstrated interest in the financial world. Extra-curricular activities will help demonstrate that you are a well-rounded individual –which is also often a crucial part of your application. They’re looking for “life experiences” something like running a business or leading a student group is very positive. Proven leadership skills as well as being able to demonstrate that you work well in a team will also be advantageous for your application.

How else are applications assessed?

Employers us a range of assessment tools to evaluate your application and suitability for their scheme. For example at Barclays, after submitting a CV, you will be provided with a number of realistic scenarios which give you a real insight into what you can expect and help you to better understand the industry. This involves tackling multiple choice questions and then recording video responses. This is designed to give a fairer impression of how you work and what motivates you. Other companies may ask you to psychometric tests, and do a video interview and answer motivational and competency-based questions.

How can you boost your chances of success?

Besides earning top grades at school, participating in great extracurricular activities, and submitting a perfect application, how else can you boost your chances? Here are our five top tips:

Apply early
Consider other channels – for example, think about diversity programs such as SEO and Rare Recruitment, where you can get fast-tracked through the process.
Proof read your CV and make sure it demonstrates your skills match the competencies they are looking for
Read up on the banks’ business areas and the roles you might be interested in before you apply.
Prepare for any interviews very well.

Good luck with your applications and remember LSE Careers is here to help you.

Thanks to Denise Donoghue for the research for this blog.

About the author

Careers Consultant, LSE Careers

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Spring Week 2025

London, u.k., investing in the foundations of your career., what is spring week.

Your career possibilities are abundant with a foundation built in partnership with Piper Sandler. Our Spring Week programme is set to target leading talent, building a strong pipeline of future potential. This three-day programme has been designed to give students invaluable networking experiences, combined with interactive workshops, work shadowing and case studies. The aim is to provide students a full immersive experience of a potential future with a leading global investment bank. Use this unique opportunity to hear more about career prospects from senior leaders and rising junior professionals at the firm.

For those that are successful on the Spring Week programme, you may receive an offer to be fast-tracked for a 2026 summer internship. Applicants should be either in the first year of a three-year degree or the second year of a four-year degree, graduating in 2027. We encourage applications from students that have a keen interest in finance or business with a strong analytical mind.

Why Piper Sandler?

Our 128+ year legacy has perpetuated because of the partnerships we forge – among our clients, our employees and the communities where we live and work. Our empowered entrepreneurial culture recognises the value of our individual employees and gives them the flexibility to pursue opportunities At Piper Sandler, we look for outstanding candidates with high levels of energy, enthusiasm, ambition and creativity, and, above all, unquestionable integrity.

The Application & Selection Process

As part of the application process, you must submit a cover letter along with your CV. Treat your cover letter as an opportunity to give us your elevator pitch and showcase yourself. Your application will be reviewed by our recruitment team and if successful, you will be invited to participate in a virtual interview.

Applications will open in December 2024.

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How to Write a Finance Cover Letter

Not all jobs need them, but for those that do, here are some guidelines from morgan stanley’s recruiters on how to write one..

Searching the internet for tips on how to write a cover letter will produce a litany of dos and don’ts: Flex your communication skills, but don’t go over three paragraphs; don’t recite a generic list of skills, but do speak to every requirement in the job description; be professional, but also be personal…the list goes on.

Truth be told, not all jobs need cover letters, but for the times when they’re required, it needn’t be so complicated to get them right. Our recruiters say that applicants can hit the mark as long as they follow a few basic rules, and refrain from quoting Shakespeare or likening their job search to Fantine’s demise in Les Miserable. (It happens).

1. Why You Need One

They provide a missing link between the living-you and the formulaic resume or CV. Your cover letter conveys three important things:

You understand what the firm is looking for.
You’ve got the skills.
You’re articulate.

2. What to Include

Write it like a letter—include your address, Dear Sir/Madam (or better still, the name of the person, if you know who the interviewer is), and make sure to end it with a closing (“Yours faithfully,” etc).

First Paragraph: An opening statement that sets out why you’re writing the letter. Begin by stating the position you’re applying for and if you became aware of it by going to a recruiting event.
Middle Paragraphs: Two or three paragraphs to explain what attracted you to the type of work, why you’re interested in working for the company, and why you think you’d be a good fit.
Last paragraph: Thank the employer and say you’re looking forward to receiving a response.

Wanted: Non-Finance Graduates

5 business communication skills for your career, don’t let these common interview questions trip you up, 3. beware the generic cover letter.

Cover letters can end up being deal-breakers if they have mistakes in them, and most mistakes are made when a generic letter is used for every application. You’d be surprised by how many times people forget to switch out the name of one firm for ours. Not only do we know you’re applying elsewhere, but it shows lack of attention to detail.

4. Strike an Authentic Tone

Another reason not to use a generic cover letter: It just doesn’t sound authentic. Writing it from scratch will create a warmer, more engaging tone—even if it’s just a few paragraphs.

5. No Need to Repeat

Don’t use the cover letter to repeat skills that you’ve already outlined in the resume, which speak specifically to the requirements in the job description.

6. Make the Most of Your Experiences

Do include experiences or skills that might not be specifically called for in the job description, but you believe will add to your appeal and help you excel in the role. Examples could be collaborative, leadership or problem-solving skills from extracurricular activities or previous jobs. Just ensure that they’re truly relevant and compelling, and not a stretch.

7. Get a Second Opinion

Whatever you end up putting in your cover letter, make sure to check for mistakes. Get someone to proofread your letter for typos, grammatical errors, the wrong firm name, and any Broadway Musical references that might have made their way in.

Good luck! And feel free to reach out to our campus recruiting team members if you have any questions.

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The University of Warwick

Spring week internships: the complete guide

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You’ve probably heard of placements and internships but have you ever come across spring week internships? If you are a first or second-year undergraduate student you might be starting to consider your options for gaining work experience. For students who are considering a career in investment banking or other related roles in the financial sector, spring week internships can be an incredibly valuable experience.

But what are spring week internships and how do you apply for them? In this guide, we’ll explore these questions and unpack the differences between a spring week and a summer internship.

What are spring week internships?

A spring week internship is a week-long taster or insight experience designed to introduce you to the company. It occurs in the spring during the Easter holidays and it is usually available to first and second-year (on a four-year course) students.

Traditionally spring weeks were for students who had an interest in investment banking. However, they do also exist in other areas of finance and other sectors.

What is the difference between a spring week internship and a summer internship?

A spring week is typically available for first-year students. It’s usually unpaid and takes place over a week. A summer internship, in contrast, is a paid 4-12-week experience in the summer and is offered to penultimate students (2nd year on a 3-year course or 3rd year on a 4-year course).

What companies offer spring week internships?

They are most commonly provided by the big-name financial and accountancy firms; JPMorgan Chase, Credit Suisse, Citi Group, and Goldman Sachs to name a few. However, some smaller financial institutions have begun to offer spring week internships.

To explore upcoming spring week opportunities this list is a good place to start .

Why are spring weeks so important?

Spring week is a great way to gain a deeper insight into the organisation you are perhaps interested in working for in the future. Throughout the experience, you’ll likely get to ask questions, attend talks, network, and possibly find out if it’s the right path for you.

Through short-term projects, you may get a sense of doing ‘a real job’ and adding value to your immediate team or the company itself. This will allow you to enhance your workplace skills by applying your academic learning to solve real workplace problems.

Another major advantage of a spring week is its ability to help you secure a summer internship or even a graduate role. Many employers often use spring week to identify talent early and to kick-start their summer internship application process. Therefore, they might offer you an internship at the end of your spring week which could lead to a graduate role afterwards.

How do I apply for a spring week internship?

Applications open in late August or early September and most close in December or early January.

The application usually requires you to submit a CV, and cover letter. This is then followed by a combination of psychometric tests, video interviews, assessment centres and a final interview.

For WBS students, if you require any assistance with these, please visit our resources on my.wbs or book an appointment with a UG Careers Coach to discuss further.

Top tips for a spring week application

Highlight your academic achievements.

Ensure you accentuate your academic achievements. Having good A-Level grades (or equivalent) and high performance in your degree so far is a good starting point. But you can expand on this by discussing topics and themes that particularly interest you and what you’ve done to explore these.

Clearly explain your motivations for applying

Highlight your specific motivations for the company and experience. Start by researching the sector and completing a SWOT analysis. In your CV and cover letter, you should clearly articulate what attracted you to the role and what you hope to learn from it. You can refer back to this information as you progress through to the interview stage.

Be clear about your unique selling points

To stand out from the competition you need to be prepared to answer the question ‘what makes you different?’. Start with some self-evaluation – what are your strengths and USPs? Are there any weak spots or skills missing from your CV that you need to be able to explain?

Include your extracurricular activities

Include extracurricular activities that make you stand out. If you are involved in any campus societies or sports clubs, these are great ways to provide insight into your personality, whilst conveying any soft skills you might have gained.

Proofread your application

Triple-check everything. Any spelling, grammar, or formatting mistakes could reduce your chances of being shortlisted, regardless of how impressive your application may be.

Prepare for an interview and assessment centre

Mock interviews are a great way to rehearse your answers and calm any pre-interview nerves. You’ll be expected to talk about yourself confidently and answer behavioural, competency, and/or strengths-based questions. These are questions that often start with “Tell me about a time when you collaborated as part of a successful team / overcame a problem”.

Book an appointment with a Careers Coach

For further support and advice, you should consider booking an appointment with a Careers Coach. Available at most universities, Careers teams are there to advise and support you at any stage in the application process.

I’ve missed out on spring week – do I have any chance of a summer internship?

If you have left it too late to apply or your applications weren’t successful, you still have other options.

Firstly, you should sharpen your networking skills and take advantage of any upcoming career events at your university. Look out for companies that attend campus careers fairs or run networking events both online and in person. Alternatively, The Bright Network has a calendar of networking events you might find helpful.

Secondly, to improve your chances of a summer internship you should try to keep your CV up-to-date. Summer internship deadlines can have short opening windows. Ensuring your CV is ready to send will put you in the best position to apply early on in the recruitment cycle.

Remember, with a great CV and proactive networking skills, it is still possible to secure an internship or graduate role afterwards.

Alternative work experience to consider:

If you have been unsuccessful or you have missed out on a spring week, there are lots of other ways you can get work experience.

Participate in extracurricular activities

Participating in extracurricular activities such as a society can help you demonstrate your soft skills which are highly favoured by employers. This includes skills such as creativity, leadership, teamwork, and conflict management.

Group projects

Group projects where you played a dynamic role are a great way to demonstrate your transferable skills. The more unique the project is, the better. Ensure you use the STAR technique when reflecting on this in your application.

Online courses

Online courses are a great way to enhance your technical knowledge and skills. These online courses can be completed in your own time, alongside your studies. Many also provide you with a certificate once you complete them, making them an incredibly valuable addition to your CV or LinkedIn profile.

Virtual internships

Virtual internships are a great way to gain short-term work experience, with the added flexibility of taking part remotely. They also provide you with a valuable opportunity to gain insight into your chosen career path to decide if it’s right for you.

Organisations such as Forage facilitate these virtual internships, giving university students and graduates access to a wide range of opportunities with industry-leading employers such as KPMG, Deloitte, PwC and Goldman Sachs to name a few.

Volunteering opportunities

Volunteering opportunities allow you to develop soft skills that are highly sought after by employers. Whilst gaining valuable work experience and developing your transferable skills, you’ll also contribute to improving the lives of others.

Work shadowing

As the name suggests, work shadowing is a type of experience where you shadow an experienced employee to gain an understanding of the role and get an insight into the chosen career path. However, it’s important to note that some organisations due to GDPR laws may not be able to provide this.

Spring week internship FAQs

Are spring weeks only for first-year students .

Spring weeks are typically available for students who are in their first year of a three-year course or second year of a four-year course.

Do you get paid for a spring week?

This will depend on the employer. Whilst most won’t be paid, some employers will reimburse other expenses such as travel, accommodation and food. Ultimately it will vary by employer.

How competitive is spring week?

Applying for spring week internships is highly competitive. Taking part in a spring week internship can often open up doors later on in your career such as when applying for summer internships or graduate jobs. This makes them highly sought after by many undergraduate students.

But don’t let this put you off! Providing that you do the right research and preparation you have every opportunity to take part in a spring week internship.

How long should a spring week CV be?

A CV for a spring week application should be limited to one page. Your CV should include top-level information such as your qualifications, education history and an overview of your work experience which includes your key skills and achievements.

Do you need a cover letter for spring week?

Most employers will also expect you to submit a cover letter with your application and these should be tailored to each employer. The cover letter is your opportunity to give more insight into your key skills and achievements by expanding on what you mentioned in your CV.

Can you get into investment banking without spring week?

Yes, it is still possible to get a career in investment banking without taking part in a spring week internship, however, it can be more challenging. Companies use spring week to identify talent early on, greatly improving your chances of securing another internship or graduate job further down the line.

That being said, if you are unsuccessful at securing a spring week internship, you should always consider applying for summer internships, virtual internships or volunteering opportunities.

What is an insight week?

An insight week is an umbrella term to describe a short period of work experience. They are also known as spring weeks, skills boot camps, first-year internships or first-year work experience.

Whilst the term may differ by employer, the concept is generally the same. Insight weeks give you an insight into the company and an opportunity to take part in projects and workshops, giving you a flavour of the role or industry to decide if it is right for you. ------------------------

At Warwick Business School, our Careers team helps to connect students with a wide range of work experience opportunities to enhance their career prospects and employability skills.

We can help you develop your strategy for online applications and how to manage this alongside other academic or extracurricular activities.

For current WBS students, you can book an appointment with a member of our Careers team using the button below, who will be able to offer tailored support and guidance to help you on your career journey.

Related Blogs

Undergraduate student, Octavia Gu, shares how her placement year abroad enhanced her university experience by providing an opportunity to learn and improve key skills.

In this blog our WBS CareersPlus Team share their advice on the benefits that you can gain from attending careers events.

We caught up with our WBS CareersPlus Placement Team to discuss the process of securing a placement.

Call: +44(0)20 7100 6656

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Investment Banking Spring Week – Guide To The Application Process

Sep 8, 2021 | City CV Blog

Are you a first or second year undergraduate? Are you interested in an investment banking career? Then this City CV Guide to Spring Week will answer many of your questions.

Q: What is Investment Banking Spring Week?

Firstly, it’s not to be confused with the American Spring Break , popularised in Friends and teen movies. The Spring Weeks we’re talking about are the insight programmes offered to first and second year university students in the UK. They’re most commonly provided by the big-name banks; JPMorganChase, Credit Suisse, CitiGroup and Goldman Sachs to name a few.

There are also Spring Week placements in other fields, such as accountancy. If you want to find out about the opportunities on offer, this list is a good place to start. Most of the programmes last around a week and take place in London during March and April (in the Easter holidays).

Q: When do I need to apply?

Right now! Applications open in late August or early September and most close in December or early January. There’s no time to waste.

Q: Why is Investment Banking Spring Week so important?

Spring Week is a great way to gain an understanding of what it’s like to work at a bank. You get to network, ask questions and find out if it’s the right career for you. But the main reason most students participate in Spring Week is to boost their chances of getting a full internship or graduate job later.

Banks use Spring Week to identify talent early and to kick-start their summer internship application process. Occasionally, they’ll even offer an internship at the end of your Spring Week placement. You can still get summer internships without completing a Spring Week, but it is more difficult.

Q: Is the application process competitive?

Yes, very. It’s not unusual for a bank to get several thousand applications for just 50-60 places. This is one of the reasons most students apply to as many as possible.

Q: Any tips to improve my chances?

The recruiting process varies from bank to bank, but they all require a 1-page CV and a covering letter. It’s essential that these documents are tailored to each application. You can’t get away with just changing the name and address of the firm.

My top tips for a Investment Banking Spring Week or internship-winning CV are:

Emphasise your academic achievements. They’ll expect to see top A-Level grades and stellar performance in your degree so far.
Highlight your specific motivations for working with each bank. Start by researching what sectors and clients the bank works with. You’ll then need to craft a compelling and articulate narrative for your CV and covering letters.
Include impressive extracurricular activities. High achievements in sports or running a business or university society will all go down well.
Triple-check everything. You can’t afford any spelling, grammar or formatting mistakes.

If your CV makes the cut, there will probably be online tests covering numeracy, verbal reasoning and logic. If you pass those, the next stage is usually a phone or video interview with HR and possibly another with the division you’re applying to. After that, you may be asked to attend a face-to-face interview and / or an assessment centre in London.

Don’t expect to able to just wing these interviews. To stand out from the competition you need to be well-prepared. Start with some personal diagnostics – what are your strengths and USP? Are there any weak spots or skills missing from your CV that you need to be able to explain?

Mock interviews are a great way to practice and calm any interview nerves. You’ll be expected to talk about yourself confidently and answer behavioural or competency questions. Those are the questions that often start with ‘tell me about a time when you … worked as part of a successful team / overcame a problem etc.’ For Spring Week applications, you probably won’t have many technical, industry-related questions in your interview – they’re looking for potential at this stage.

Q: What can I expect to do during my Investment Banking Spring Week?

There are different types of Spring Week placements. Some are very general and you’ll gain experience across different departments. Some are division-specific, such as trading or M&A. You can apply for as many placements as you like, but some schedules will clash.

At this stage, you won’t get to trade with real money or attend confidential client meetings. But you could get to shadow the traders for a day or you could be put on a research project team. There will also be a range of workshops and seminars where you’ll practice some of the technical and problem-solving skills expected of bankers.

Q: I’ve got an offer! How do I make the most of the opportunity?

Congratulations, you’ve done brilliantly to get this far. Now, your challenge is to convert your Spring Week placement into a summer internship or full-time job offer. Here’s how you maximise your chances:

Network like crazy. Introduce yourself, talk to people and ask questions. But don’t just leave it there. Make a note of their names and what they do. Then follow up and keep in touch. Set up a professional LinkedIn profile before your placement so you can invite everyone you meet to join your network. Maintaining relationships is crucial.
Participate in all the group workshops, training sessions and evening socials (but don’t get drunk). You want to come across as bright, interested and sociable.
Be prepared to give a case study presentation at the end of the week. It helps if you’ve done some industry research before you start your placement.

Q: I’ve missed out on Investment Banking Spring Week – do I have any chance of a summer internship?

If you didn’t know about Investment Banking Spring Week or have left it too late to apply, you do have other options. Some banks attend campus careers fairs or run networking events, such as drinks evenings and banking dinners. Check with your university careers service or student finance society. The Bright Network also has a calendar of networking events.

Your CV will need to demonstrate that you are interested in and committed to a banking career. Other finance-related work experience or evidence of playing an active role in a finance society will help you to stand out. Don’t despair, with a great CV and pro-active networking it is still possible to land an internship.

City CV offers a comprehensive range of career packages for graduates and undergraduates. These include targeted professional CV, covering letter and LinkedIn profile writing, as well as comprehensive interview coaching.

If you have any other questions about Investment Banking Spring Week or summer internships, give us a call on 020 7100 6656 or email us at [email protected] . You can also check out our blog for free career news and advice.

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Investment Banking Spring Weeks: The Full Guide

If you're new here, please click here to get my FREE 57-page investment banking recruiting guide - plus, get weekly updates so that you can break into investment banking . Thanks for visiting!

If you go by most online discussions, investment banking spring weeks in the U.K. are as essential as oxygen or high grades if you want to work at a large bank.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of “group think” here, driven by endless forum threads and student groups over-hyping and over-marketing the concept.

Banks are also to blame because they now market spring weeks to students as young as 16 .

If you want to work in investment banking in London , these “spring weeks” (1-2-week mini-internships in your first or second year of university) are helpful but not necessarily required.

It is 100% possible to win internship offers without attending spring weeks, and they have some downsides that no one ever discusses.

But before exploring “the dark side” here, I’ll start with a quick summary:

What If You Don’t Win a Summer Internship?

Downsides of Investment Banking Spring Weeks

Final Thoughts on IB Spring Weeks

Investment Banking Spring Week Definition: In a “spring week,” students in their first or second year of university complete a 1-2-week internship at a bank, normally in London, which may position them to win an official summer internship the next year.

Spring weeks are mostly “a thing” in the U.K., but large banks in Asia-Pacific may also offer them.

They do not exist in the U.S., Canada, or Latin America, and in continental Europe, you normally go to London to complete the spring week.

The concept is simple: Apply to dozens of these “pre-internships,” win and complete a few, and walk away with a penultimate-year internship already set up.

Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple – due to massive competition, a fairly involved recruiting process, and low conversion rates at many banks.

My summary would be:

Spring weeks can be a good pathway into full IB summer internships because, depending on the bank, 20 – 40% of students might receive internship offers (and at a few firms, this is closer to an 80%+ rate).
Applications for March/April spring weeks open far in advance (August – October), and it’s “first come, first serve,” so apply as early as possible for the best chance.
Expectations for technical skills and work experience are lower, but the process is more random than normal internship recruiting and depends on fit, grades, and activities. Many spring weeks also have a heavy “diversity” component.
The odds of winning an individual spring week are low because many banks receive 2,000 to 5,000 applications for 50 – 100 spots. Since it’s a numbers game, you normally apply to dozens of spring weeks.
To convert your spring week into an internship, you will go through interviews or case studies on the last day; ~50% of interns will then be invited to an assessment center, and ~50% of those might win a summer internship for the next year (but, again, the odds vary, and more than 25% will win internship offers at some banks).
The main downsides of spring weeks are 1) Completing one does not guarantee you an internship, so you still need to keep networking, gaining work experience, and preparing even if you have won multiple spring weeks ; and 2) Some students spend so much time applying to and completing spring weeks that their grades and activities suffer.

All the bulge bracket banks in the U.K. run them, but so do many elite boutiques (Lazard, Evercore, PJT, etc.), middle-market banks (Jefferies, Houlihan Lokey, etc.), and “ in-between-a-banks ” such as RBC and Wells Fargo.

Outside of IB, various asset managers, hedge funds, consulting firms, and trading firms also run some type of spring week program, but we’re focusing on banking here.

The most important point is that the acceptance and conversion rates vary wildly by firm .

For example, Citi is known for awarding internship offers to 80 – 90% of spring week participants in many years, but other banks are in a much lower range.

You need to factor this in when making decisions because even if one bank is “better” on paper, a 90% conversion rate trounces a 15% or 20% conversion rate.

You need to pay close attention to application open dates and apply ASAP , just as with real internships.

You can easily look up banks’ “spring week,” “spring insight,” or “discovery” programs (they’re all the same), but you can also use various online trackers to find the dates.

In fact, here’s an example of one such tracker with dates and information by bank.

Applications normally open between August and October, offers are usually sent in December – January, and you get the scheduling information in February.

The exact process varies by bank, but you can expect something like this:

Online Application: This includes your academic and contact information, CV , cover letter (if required), and competency questions , which are written versions of the standard fit questions (expect 1 – 5 questions with answers of 150 – 300 words each).
Numerical / Verbal / Logic Assessment: These tests are very similar to those given at or before assessment centers , and you can practice the same way ( we recommend JobTestPrep ).
HireVue and/or Phone Interview: Expect mostly fit/behavioral questions and maybe a few simple technical/deal/market questions.

The biggest difference vs. the normal recruiting process in the U.K. is that you may not necessarily go through a full assessment center (AC) before the spring week .

Since ACs are expensive to administer, banks usually reserve them for candidates who have advanced further into the process.

Also, students applying to spring weeks are in their first and second years of university, so the group exercises often given in ACs may not be useful at this stage.

The acceptance rates for most spring week programs are below 5%, so the short answer is “not that many students.”

If 3,000 students apply to Bank A, perhaps 100 – 200 will be selected for interviews, and 60 might get spring week offers.

Since students have almost no experience, the selection process comes down to:

Do you go to a target school , or at least a decently well-known school?
Do you have good grades, such as a 2:1 or above? What about your A-Levels, especially if you don’t yet have an academic record?
Do you have interesting hobbies, activities, or student groups?
Are you in one of our diversity categories (e.g., female, international, non-STEM/finance major, certain ethnicities, etc.)?
Are you personable?

Usually, at least 50% of the students who win offers are from target or semi-target universities in the U.K. (e.g., Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, Warwick, and Imperial).

The remainder come from a mix of target and semi-target schools in continental Europe and lower-ranked schools in the U.K.

You might wonder what you do at a bank if you only intern for 1 – 2 weeks, as most deals take months or years to execute .

Your tasks will include:

Shadowing a few bankers.
Attending workshops and training sessions.
Practicing some of the work skills with non-client companies.
And getting plenty of networking opportunities and attending social events.

You won’t be allowed to work on live deals for confidentiality reasons.

And if you’re in sales & trading , you won’t be allowed to trade or sell, just as you’re similarly restricted in S&T internships .

Therefore, most of your success depends on how well you network and how you perform in the final interview(s) or presentation.

How Do You Convert a Spring Week into a “Real” Internship?

This one varies by bank, but you’ll usually have to prove yourself with an end-of-week interview or case presentation.

If you do well enough, you’ll get invited to an assessment center , and if you perform well there, you’ll get a summer internship offer for the next year.

That’s a huge advantage because you won’t have to worry about applying or going through the entire recruitment process again.

The overall odds look like this:

< 5%: Your chances of winning a spring week from a single application.
~50%: Your chances of doing well enough in the spring week to advance to the AC or other evaluation afterward.
~50%: Your chances of winning a real internship offer out of the AC.
~25%: Your overall chances of converting a single spring week into a summer internship, with huge variation by bank. The average range is probably more like 20 – 40% .

For tips on performing well at each stage, please see the articles on IB internships , internship preparation , S&T internships , and assessment centers .

The rates trading article has some tips for S&T assessment centers and interviews.

Bankers look for the same criteria as always: Reliability, decent industry knowledge, and evidence that you learned something during the week.

The main difference is that they can’t judge your “work product,” so networking and following up with everyone you meet are more important.

In other words, don’t just attend a social event and chat with people there.

When you meet someone, get their contact information and follow up with a quick call later if they seem receptive and helpful.

If you complete a spring week that does not convert, all you can do is apply for standard summer internships the next year.

Ideally, you’ll complete a finance internship before bank applications open in ~August and do the usual networking and interview prep.

If you have multiple spring weeks , your odds of winning at least one internship increase substantially.

However, if some of these spring weeks overlap, even by a few days, you can’t complete them all – so you’ll have to pick the firm(s) you’re most interested in.

If your SW does not convert, you’ll need a solid explanation before your next interviews.

You can refer to the article about what to do with no return offer from an internship , but I would recommend keeping your explanations short and sweet:

“I did well in the workshops and training but didn’t fit well with the team.”

“I liked the work but preferred a different industry or product group .”

“They were looking for people with a more extensive background in [X], so I wasn’t the best fit.”

OK, So What Are the Downsides of Investment Banking Spring Weeks?

Reading everything above, you might think:

“OK, so winning spring weeks is very difficult, and your chances of getting a full summer internship aren’t great, but so what?

It’s the same as normal IB summer internships at the large banks.”

There are a few problems, but I’ll start with the most obvious one: Some students spend excessive time on spring week preparation and applications when they could use their time and resources more effectively.

It’s like the downsides of studying for the CFA : The certification won’t hurt you, but it’s not necessarily worth the time and money required.

Also, completing a spring week mostly helps when applying to one specific bank for the same role.

For example, if you do an IB spring week at Bank of America but then decide to focus on corporate finance roles at Fortune 500 companies , this spring week will not help much vs. a 10-week summer internship.

Bankers in regions like the U.S. also have a low awareness of spring weeks, so if you decide to move or work elsewhere, the experience won’t help much.

Finally, completing a spring week does not guarantee an internship next year, so it may not reduce your workload.

In other words, if you win 2 spring weeks at different banks, you can’t just say, “OK, I’m done – time to relax and not worry about next year.”

You might not convert either one, so you need to continue preparing and networking, and you’ll need to gain some solid experience between now and internship applications.

By contrast, you could ignore spring weeks, do student activities and clubs, and network a bit to win a summer internship at a boutique PE/VC/other firm.

You would be under less pressure because there’s no expectation of return offers there, and you could still leverage the experience to apply to internships at large banks afterward.

The bottom line is that investment banking spring weeks were more useful a long time ago – before every finance/economics student in Europe became obsessed with them.

Due to over-saturation and obsessive-compulsive behavior, the odds have worsened, and the value proposition has fallen.

If you want to work in IB in London and you’re starting early – before you arrive on campus in a 3-year degree or in Year 1 of a 4-year course – yes, apply to spring weeks.

But also realize that:

A 2-week internship does not determine your entire life’s destiny.
There are other paths into banking (do 1-2 internships and a good activity, do off-cycle internships , pursue lateral hiring after graduation, etc.).
At most banks, most summer interns have not completed a spring week at the firm.

If you understand these points and avoid freaking out over your acceptance status at 50+ banks, your spring week experience might be almost as much fun as a spring break.

About the Author

Brian DeChesare is the Founder of Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street . In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, running, traveling, obsessively watching TV shows, and defeating Sauron.

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CV and cover letter review for spring week

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Hi WSO community,

Would anyone be so kind to take a look and critique my CV and cover letter as I am applying to spring weeks. I really appreciate your time and will make a conscious effort to respond and implement your comments. Any feedback on any part of the CV and/or cover letter is much appreciated.

Many thanks

Question: I'm not sure how to detail specific stock recommendations regarding the equity research experience and stock pitch competition. Is it even appropriate? If yes, how would I go about describing the valuation / pitch ?

Miscellaneous:

Cover Letter for both Investment Banking and Global Markets spring week. This is for Goldman which has a 300 word restriction so I abandoned some conventions for this application only.

Incoming first year in UK borderline semi-target school. Had 1 year of uni experience prior explaining the president of business club.

Cover Letter uploaded as a document and only able to be viewed on browser :(

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re cover letter: fix general grammar/spelling errors. There's a hyphenated sequence there that shouldn't be there. Identify what skill you can demonstrate but don't explicitly say that it's relevant to the roles since that gives the impression that you think you know the job well. Even if you do, they don' t think you do. Also, general rule of thumb for GS : Apply to both divisions but focus on one in the cover letter. HR has been vocal about this at events and to spring attendees so play the game. Pick which one you want more and focus on that one.

re CV: had a cursory look but USD is followed by Yen sign on merchandise trading company. remove the chinese investing stuff from interests, its there to spark up a conversation and attempt to make you look not like a complete finance nerd so replace it with something memorable. CV is good in terms of content relative to competition but just be aware that a lot of people with actual relevant work ex get nothing in favour of candidates who did random work experience in like a restaurant or something. Spring recruiting is 70% random with a good amount of that figure being formed from your university name and if you fit diversity aims. The last 30% is having a good CV and cover letter.

Hey, thanks for taking the time to go over my cover letter. It makes sense to not explicitly say how my skills are relevant since I really have no inkling but just a very vague concept of what the role issei's like. Also very helpful to know that I should focus on one division. I could only gloss over the key points as I tried to talk about both divisions. Your advice would free up some word count which would allow me produce a more focused letter. Also will make changes to my interest. Again thanks for your time and helpful advice! Very helpful.

Damn how did you get so many internships before uni?

Very common from applicants outside of the UK (namely mainland Europe)

I'm from Europe and I didn't have the chance to get anything :(. This guy looks like he has a good start, wish him luck

Ask around family, friends, and exhaust any kind of connection. For me, I just kept looking for experiences everywhere and anywhere. Although its best to get finance experience, IMO any work is better than no work at all. And then we can try to make sense out of how they are relevant to the role you're applying to. Keep looking and be initiative and something will come up. Best of luck!

I'm Asian ;(

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Why is spring week important, when does spring week take place, who is eligible to apply for spring week, which uk banks are involved in spring week, what to expect during spring week, what skills and qualifications are banks looking for, how to make the most of spring week, final thoughts, preparing for spring week.

Updated January 13, 2024

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If you are keen to start a career in investment banking , then you may be aware of Spring Week placements .

These are week-long placements available to undergraduate students, designed to give them insight into job opportunities within the investment banking sector.

During the week, you’ll have the opportunity to find out what to expect when working for an investment bank .

Spring Week (or Spring Insight, as it is also known) is a way for banks to sell to students the benefits of working in investment banking; whilst recruiters use it as an opportunity to spot future talent.

Spring Weeks can be hugely influential. Students will have the opportunity to shadow senior management teams and participate in presentations relating to investment banking.

As it is an incredibly competitive career choice, it’s often ‘who you know’ who can make a difference. Therefore, applicants use Spring Week as an opportunity to make professional connections which can help them in their future career.

As you can gather from the name, Spring Week takes place each year in the spring. It typically takes place during the Easter holidays when students are free from the constrictions of university timetables.

Spring Week is designed specifically for undergraduate students so they can gather first-hand work experience within the investment banking sector.

Typically, applicants are either in their first year of a three-year undergraduate degree, or second-year students participating in a four-year degree.

Prepare for Spring Week with JobTestPrep

Spring Week and Spring Insight programmes have become an intrinsic part of the UK bank's hiring processes.

Hiring managers often use the short Spring Week placements as an opportunity to spot those who may be interested in full internships. Therefore, the weeks have become increasingly competitive and all of the major UK banks have signed up.

These include:

Morgan Stanley

You can also find Spring Insight programs globally at investment banks that include:

Goldman Sachs
Deutsche Bank
Credit Suisse

During your Spring Insight programme, you can expect to be invited to participate in several different workshops and masterclasses which are designed to showcase what to expect from working in a bank.

Some banks will provide a general overview, whereas others may provide opportunities to shadow specific departments.

You’ll likely be invited to watch business presentations and take part in group exercises designed to showcase your knowledge of investment banking. You’ll also be invited to participate in CV workshops and interview skill sessions which can provide insights into how to get ahead within the financial sector.

A key element of Spring Week is the networking events and social activities which take place after work. These are crucial to facilitating connections and getting yourself known to hiring managers.

During these sessions, recruiters will be looking to find out more about who you are, how you work as part of a team and how you communicate.

Those who make a good impression will stand themselves in good stead to be invited to participate in a summer internship .

Spring Weeks are hugely competitive. It’s common for banks to receive thousands of applications for just 50 or 60 positions. Therefore, you need to stand out within the application process to be considered.

The most applicants come from top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge or the Russell Group. To compete, you need to show that you are academically strong and have a clear interest in financial matters.

The hiring panel will be looking at your CV and cover letter to identify those with analytical skills and leadership capabilities.

How to Apply for Spring Week Opportunities

The application process is fierce. You can expect to spend up to five or six hours applying for each Spring Week opportunity (including aptitude tests).

It’s important to treat each application individually. Recruiters will be able to spot those applications which have been copied and pasted.

They will be looking for candidates who have taken the time to make their application unique.

When to Start Your Spring Week Application

Although Spring Week traditionally takes place during the Easter holidays, you should expect to apply around September/October time.

For first-year undergraduate students, this means that you will be expected to apply for an opportunity at the very beginning of your degree.

If you are serious about a career in investment banking, you should do your research carefully. You must make sure that your application meets any specific deadlines and follows the application criteria set by the bank.

What to Include on Your CV/Cover Letter When Applying for Spring Week

Your CV and cover letter will be the first opportunity to introduce yourself to the investment bank.

Hiring managers will be looking to find out who you are, what your academic achievements are and why you are keen to work in investment banking.

Making the Most of Your CV

Ideally, your CV shouldn’t be longer than one page. This is tough, but recruiters will have thousands of CVs to look at, so you need to submit your information as concisely as possible.

We recommend not wasting space by including details such as your postal address, date of birth, nationality or ethnicity.

If you are a first-year undergraduate student, you may not have much relevant work experience to showcase. You should use bullet points to highlight your GCSE and A-Level results and include details of your university choice and degree course.

You could use this opportunity to highlight any specific coursework that you may have undertaken which is relevant to the financial services sector.

For second-year students participating in a four-year degree course, you should include your first-year results and highlight any specific modules which are relevant to the position.

If you’ve participated in any other work experience placements which highlight your skills, then make sure they are listed.

You should also include details of any volunteering, or times that you worked well as part of a team or in a leadership capacity. You should also highlight any particular achievements which show who you are as a person.

Hiring managers will be looking for good ‘all-rounders’ who fit in with their cultural ethos.

Making the Most of Your Cover Letter

The accompanying cover letter should focus on why you want to work for this specific employer.

You need to stand out from other candidates, and a key element of this is being able to highlight your passion and motivation.

Do your research into the different sectors that the bank works in and explain why these interest you. If there is a specific reason why you want to work for one bank over another, then reference it.

Your cover letter should sell a story of why they should pick you, over and above anyone else.

What to Expect From the Application Process

Aptitude tests.

After the hiring manager has read your CV/cover letter, you may be invited to participate in a series of aptitude tests .

These are designed to test your capabilities and provide more understanding of who you are as a person.

Aptitude tests allow investment banks to filter through applicants to find the strongest possible candidates.

The aptitude tests are typically broken down into four key areas:

Numerical reasoning – This is the most common form of aptitude test used for Spring Week applications
Verbal reasoning
Logical reasoning
Situational judgment

The numerical reasoning tests will often provide you with a data set and ask you a question based on logical assumptions. You will need to make basic calculations and understand how to interpret data.

If you are new to numerical reasoning, why not use our practice tests to help you understand what to expect.

Verbal reasoning tests will check your ability to analyse and interpret written information. Typically, they’ll be looking to assess your knowledge of grammar and punctuation, as well as your ability to ascertain tone of voice and meaning from a short text.

It should be noted that applicants who may not speak English as a first language may find the verbal reasoning section harder.

We have a range of verbal reasoning practice tests available which can help you to practice your capabilities.

Logical reasoning is another form of test which is commonly used by Morgan Stanley in their Spring Week applications. You can expect to be shown various patterns and asked to determine what the next step in the pattern could be. The test will be timed, and you’ll have less than a minute to determine each answer.

Why not use our logical reasoning practice tests to see how well you could do?

The final type of aptitude test is that of situational judgement . In this instance, the hiring panel will be looking to see how you would react in different scenarios. You may be provided with a range of work-based scenarios and asked how you would respond. The panel will be testing to see that you are aware of their corporate ethos and values.

See how well you cope with situational judgement tests with some practice tests .

Each firm will have its own processes and criteria for the assessment tests. Some will encourage tests at the start of the application process, others will use them further down the line as part of their filtering processes.

This may be the first time that you’ve encountered an aptitude test and it may be daunting as you may not know what to expect. You can access many aptitude tests online where you can practice.

It is highly recommended that you spend time preparing for these tests as investment banks will only offer Spring Week positions to the high scorers. It is believed that Morgan Stanley has a strict 90%+ criterion for applicants.

Three predominant aptitude test providers will likely be assessing the psychometric tests .

Broadly speaking, each test provider will ask multiple-choice questions which are timed.

Whilst Kenexa will allow you to go back and change your answers, SHL will only accept your first answer. TalentQ will provide increasingly difficult questions that will benchmark your capabilities.

The Interview Stage: The Telephone Interview

Once you have passed the aptitude test, you will then be invited to participate in a telephone interview with an HR representative.

This will be an opportunity to showcase your knowledge and commitment to investment banking.

The hiring manager will likely ask you questions about your motivations, rather than your specific capabilities. They’ll be checking to see if you make a good cultural fit within their team.

The telephone interview is often used as an additional screening process. This is because the senior management team only have the time to interview serious candidates face-to-face. Therefore, you may find that the questions are relatively straight-forward.

The Interview Stage: Meeting Face-to-Face

If you’ve made it this far in the application process for Spring Week, then you have done well and will be regarded as a strong candidate.

The final face-to-face interview may be your last chance to impress the hiring panel and convince them that you are worthy of a place on Spring Week.

The interview process differs with each bank. Some investment banks will have a traditional interview experience, whereas others may invite you to an assessment morning which will combine the initial HR interview with an additional ‘capability’ interview.

The interview panel may consist of junior bankers, other managerial personnel and an HR representative.

It’s important to remember that the interview is only for a short Spring Week placement, not a summer internship , so the panel will focus more on core competencies and potential, rather than your technical knowledge.

After all, they know that you are likely to be a first-year undergraduate student.

They’ll be looking to find out about:

Your leadership capabilities
How you work as part of a team
Your time management processes
Your ethics
Your experience
Whether you’ve done any previous volunteer work
Your outside interests

Before the interview, make sure you’re aware of the latest financial news and do your due diligence into the investment bank. Find out who they work with and what projects they’ve recently been involved with.

The hiring panel will be looking for someone with the passion to succeed and an interest in banking.

If you are accepted onto Spring Week you will have made a great impression on the hiring panel. But how can you make sure that you get the most out of the opportunity you have been offered and continue to impress?

The most impressive Spring Week participants are sometimes offered further training and internships so the stakes are high.

Here is some advice on how to successfully convert your Spring Week placement into a summer internship.

Step 1 . Do your research in advance

Make sure you’ve done your due diligence before your Spring Week. You need to demonstrate that you know everything about the bank. You want to show that you’ve taken the time to find out what projects they are working on and what their reputation is. You may be questioned about your knowledge by senior managers, so you need to be prepared to show that you’ve done your research into the company.

Step 2 . Take an active part in all activities

There will be a lot of competition for summer internships so you need to stand out. Make sure that you play an active role in all group exercises and presentations. You need to show that you are capable of working independently as well as being a strong team player. Listen to and learn from others, but don’t be afraid to share your own opinion. You only have a few days to make a positive impression on people who may play a huge role in your future career.

Step 3 . Set up a professional LinkedIn page

This will allow you to make online connections with the people that you meet. You should do your best to talk to as many people as possible and show your interest in who they are/what they do. You want to be memorable for the right reasons, so try to show what you have learnt through your academic study.

Spring Week can play a huge part in your future investment banking career. Along with invaluable insights into the career itself, banks have been known to offer summer internship positions directly to the best candidates, these can potentially lead to job offers so should not be underestimated.

Investment banking is hugely competitive and your success after graduation will depend on the experience that you’ve gained throughout your degree. Therefore, you should take any opportunity to boost your CV and your credentials.

You must also make the effort to keep in touch with the professional connections that you make during your Spring Week. This could be as simple as keeping in touch through professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. Or you could make the effort to ask contacts to act as a mentor for you.

It’s not impossible to gain a summer internship without having participated in a Spring Week. However, those who have taken the initiative to apply for (and succeed) in an application for a Spring Week programme will be highly sought after.

You might also be interested in these other Wikijob articles:

Or explore the Industry / Investment Banking sections.

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Has anyone got any guidance on writing a cover letter for spring weeks?

Consulting cover letter guide (for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

Today we’re going to explain everything you need to know about writing consulting cover letters.

We’ll start by reviewing an example cover letter that got interview invitations from ALL the MBB firms (McKinsey, BCG, and Bain).

And then we’ll explain exactly how you should write your own cover letter to land consulting interviews. Here’s a full list of the topics in this guide:

Example cover letter

How to write your consulting cover letter

Consulting cover letter tips.

The skills consulting firms look for

Consulting cover letter screening process

Get help with your cover letter

Let’s get to it!

Click here for a consulting letter/resume review with an ex-MBB consultant

Example cover letter (which got interviews at mckinsey, bcg, and bain).

Below is an anonymised cover letter from a candidate who got interviews at McKinsey, BCG and Bain. So you can trust that this template works.

The image here highlights the different sections of the cover letter, but we’ll dive deeper into the text later, and you can also get a downloadable copy below.

Free download of the consulting cover letter example, here.

In the next section, we’ll go step-by-step through each part of the cover letter and explain how to go about writing it. But before we dive in, please note the following points about the above template:

A lot of people use this template. Get inspiration from it, but every sentence in your letter should be written from scratch.
This cover letter might sound impressive. It's one of the best ones we’ve seen. But even if you have not achieved as much as this person, you can still get an interview.

With that said, let’s dig into the cover letter writing process!

As a starting point, this video provides a nice overview of the full writing process for a consulting cover letter.

Now let’s break things down further.

1. Introduction

Example - Introduction

Mary Taylor - [email protected]

DD / MM / YYYY

Dear Sir / Madam,

I would like to apply for an Associate position at McKinsey in London.

This section is a formality. It should simply state the following information:

Your name and email address. You can replace your email address with a postal address although those are not commonly used anymore.
The date on which you are sending your letter
The position, company, and office to which you are applying

Keep it short and sweet.

2. Why you?

Example - Why you?

I started working as an Analyst at Big Finance in New York in September 2020 and was quickly promoted to Associate in a year and a half instead of the average four years. While at Big Finance, I advised a broad range of clients who constantly gave me positive feedback and regularly asked to work with me again. Before joining Big Finance, I graduated as the top student of my MEng in Chemical Engineering at Prestigious University in the UK. While studying, I received two competitive scholarships and awards. In addition, I developed my leadership skills as the President of the Prestigious University Consulting Club. High energy was essential to lead a team of 5 managing the club and growing the number of members by 20%.

This is your "GOLD MEDALS" section. It is the first section of your cover letter and therefore the most important one.

It should state the TOP 3 achievements of your life to date that are relevant to consulting. These achievements should be as unique and as memorable as possible. When your reviewer reads them they should think "Wow, that's impressive. I want to know more about this person."

To write this section you need to step back and ask yourself "What are the most impressive things I've done with my life so far?" This is not an easy question to answer.

In our experience discussing this with a close friend can help. It's sometimes easier for them to quickly point out the impressive things you have done as they are an external observer.

In addition, notice how achievements are QUANTIFIED in the example above. Saying you have been promoted "in a year and a half instead of the average four years" is much more powerful than saying you have been promoted "quickly." You should quantify your achievements whenever possible.

This section is your chance to grab the reader's attention. If there's nothing impressive in it, they will stop reading and just scan the paragraphs. So don't miss your opportunity!

3. Why consulting?

Example - Why consulting?

There are several reasons why I want to pursue a consulting career. To start with, I know I will enjoy being a strategy consultant because I have already worked in a strategy team in the past. This was in summer 2019 when I was a Strategy Intern at Big Grocery Retailer in London. In addition, I think consulting is a unique opportunity to comprehensively learn about business management by working on a variety of company situations. Over the past two years, I have started building my business skills while advising clients on financial matters at Big Finance. I now look forward to learning more about companies’ management at McKinsey. Finally, I want to work in consulting because I truly enjoy interacting with clients. Throughout my work experiences I have built a successful track record of developing and maintaining relationships with clients including, for instance, the senior strategy team at Big Grocery Retailer.

Once you have convinced your reviewer that you have impressive achievements under your belt they'll be thinking: "Ok, this person is impressive. But do they REALLY want to be a consultant? Or are they just applying because they're not sure what to do with their career."

The third section of your letter should therefore answer the "Why consulting?" question . But here is the thing about this question: There are some reasons to go into consulting that you should tell your reviewer about. And some reasons that you should really keep to yourself.

For instance, one of the mistakes candidates commonly make in their cover letter is to write something along the lines of "I'd like to spend 2 or 3 years in consulting to learn more about business in general and then decide what I want to do." This is a HUGE mistake.

Consulting firms want to hire FUTURE PARTNERS. Not employees who will stay for a couple of years. You can watch the video below for more details about this.

The best approach for your "Why consulting?" section is to write about past experiences that really show you know what you are getting into. The perfect situation is if you have done an internship in consulting or in corporate strategy and have enjoyed it. If that's the case, this is the perfect section to write about it.

But even if you haven't done related internships, there are plenty of angles you can use to connect your past experiences to what you will do as a consultant. For instance:

You might have enjoyed working with clients when you were in M&A or in Sales
You might have enjoyed structuring and solving tough problems as an engineer

You should use these experiences to say that "working with clients" or "solving tough problems" is something you KNOW you enjoy doing; and you look forward to spending more time doing this as a consultant.

When they read this section, your reviewer should think: "Ok, this person is impressive AND they know what they are getting into."

4. Why McKinsey / BCG / Bain / Other?

Example - Why McKinsey?

McKinsey appeals to me for three reasons. To start with, the different people from the company I have met and worked with all told me they had truly enjoyed their time there. For the past two years, I have worked for Michael Smith, a former Engagement Manager from the London office, who now works for Big Finance. Additionally, I regularly read McKinsey’s reports on financial services and think the insights delivered by Sarah James and others in the Finance practice are truly superior to that of other consultancies. By joining McKinsey, I therefore think I would have an opportunity to work with and learn from the best consultants in the industry. Finally, the fact that McKinsey was selected by Finance Supercorp to shape its digital strategy also played an important role in my decision to apply. This was a first-of-its-kind contract in finance and it shows that while at McKinsey I could get the opportunity to work on truly unique projects.

If you have managed to convince your reviewer that you have an impressive background and that you really want to be a consultant, you have a VERY HIGH chance of getting an interview.

The only question that's left for you to answer is: " Why McKinsey / Why BCG? / Why Bain? "

Top consulting firms have a lot in common. In most regions, they cover the same industries and work for similar clients. They also pay similar salaries, and the career path is more or less the same from firm to firm. So what should you write about in this section?

In our experience, the most efficient way to set yourself apart in this section is to write about three specific elements:

When you write "I've met with Michael Smith," or "I've read report X," or "I've heard about project Y," you are making an argument that's SPECIFIC enough for your reviewer to think: "Ok they've done their homework."

If you stay too GENERIC, your argument will be much less credible. For instance, writing something like "While at McKinsey, I'll be exposed to a broad range of industries which I'm excited about" is a weak argument because you could swap McKinsey for BCG or Bain in that sentence.

In fact, this is the ultimate test. If you can swap McKinsey with another name in your "Why McKinsey?" section you are not being specific enough. You need to work on your paragraph again and mention SPECIFIC people, reports, or projects that you find interesting.

5. Conclusion

Example - Conclusion

For all these reasons, I am very enthusiastic about the chance to work at McKinsey. I am available for an interview at any time and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Taylor

The last section of the cover letter is a formality again. It should include the following elements:

A sentence or two saying that you are enthusiastic and available for interviews at any time
Your final signature

So how do you make it easy for your reviewer to put your cover letter on the "Accept" pile? We have put together the 10 tips below to make sure you can achieve this and avoid common mistakes.

Tip #1 Don't use a template letter

Writing cover letters is painful. But trust us, reading hundreds of them can be at least as painful. That's why you should make every effort to make your letter interesting and genuine.

It's ok to get inspiration from templates such as the one we provide in this guide. But every sentence in your letter should be written from scratch.

Tip #2 Keep it to one page

One of the unwritten rules of consulting cover letters is that they should not be longer than one page. The trick to achieve this is to only select the MOST RELEVANT experiences from your resume and to summarise them.

The points you decide to highlight should clearly demonstrate that you would make a great consultant.

Tip #3 Standard format and font

It's tempting to use an eye-catching font and format. But that's actually a bad idea. You only risk your interviewer thinking: "I've never seen this font, it looks really weird. Who is this person?" Your cover letter should stand out because of its content, NOT because of its format.

Tip #4 Not the time to be shy

Your cover letter is not the time to be shy. If you went to Harvard and have three Olympic medals, now is the time to say it! Most of us don't, and that's fine. But the point is that you should really push yourself to bring your most impressive accomplishments forward.

Tip #5 Network, network, network

This might sound surprising, but a big part of the cover letter is how much networking you have done . Having networked with people from the firm you are applying for pays dividends for multiple reasons.

First, they might recommend you to the HR team. But most importantly, these people will give you insight into what makes their firm UNIQUE. Then you can quote what you've heard in your cover letter (and name drop the person you heard it from) to show that you really understand the firm you are applying for.

Tip #6 Read, read, read

Unfortunately, networking is not always easy or possible. In these cases, your second best option is to read as much as you can on the firms you are applying for. You should read about the firm's projects, reports, and partners and find pieces of information you are really interested in.

For instance, if you did your master thesis on electric vehicles, try to find who works in this area at the firm and what they have to say about it. And then mention what you have found in your cover letter.

Tip #7 One letter per firm

One question we often get is: "Should I write one letter per firm?" The answer is YES. But it's not as hard as it might sound.

Every cover letter needs to answer three questions: Why you? Why consulting? And why this firm? The only paragraph you will need to change in every letter is the one about "Why this firm?" For each firm, you will have to do the networking and reading mentioned above.

Tip #8 Start writing early

Writing an outstanding cover letter is VERY HARD. Most candidates underestimate how much time it takes and start this process too late. You'll need to take a step back and reflect on everything you have done to date to highlight your most relevant experiences.

This takes multiple iterations. Start early.

Tip #9 Get feedback

In our experience, great candidates all look for feedback and iterate on their cover letter until it's truly as good as it can get. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it.

It’s best to get feedback from peers or consultants. These people will be able to point out which parts of your letter they don't get or don't find impactful enough. If you’d like to have an expert review your cover letter, check out our team of ex-consultant coaches .

Tip #10 Proofread multiple times

Finally, you should check and double check your letter for typos and grammar mistakes - multiple times. A cover letter is (not so secretly) a writing test and you should really treat it like one.

What consulting firms look for

To get multiple interviews at top consulting firms , it’s extremely important to understand what those firms are actually looking for.

The good news is that most of the leading consultancies are looking for basically the same skills.

To illustrate this point, here’s what McKinsey and Bain say that they’re looking for in candidates, along with our own translation of what they mean:

There are also a few unofficial items that consulting firms will look for on your resume, and you can read about those in our consulting resume guide .

Next, let’s talk about the typical cover letter screening process.

Screening process

Now let's talk about HOW your cover letter will be handled once you send it. Here's how it works.

Your application will be sent to a JUNIOR CONSULTANT who recently graduated from your University. They will score your documents based on a grid provided by the HR team.

Consultants usually have to score 200 to 400 applications in about 2 weeks. And this is sometimes on TOP of their normal project. It's not uncommon for them to leave the job to the last minute and to have to do it on a Friday night just before the deadline.

Why is this important? The point we are trying to make is your application is part of 100 other applications. And the person who will review it will be tired by the time they get to your cover letter. If they don't understand something, they won't Google it. It's your job to make their job easy.

Why consultancies ask for a cover letter

There are two main reasons why consulting firms ask for cover letters.

First, partners bill several thousand dollars per day to their clients. The opportunity cost of interviewing you is HUGE for the firm. Put yourself in the shoes of a consultancy for a second. What are the top 3 questions you want to answer before investing money in interviewing a candidate?

Have they demonstrated the skills needed to be a consultant?
Do they know what consulting is and what they are getting into?
Are they genuinely interested in working for our firm?

If you don't answer these three questions in a structured and impactful way, your chances of getting past the screening process are very low. This is why every cover letter should be structured as follows:

Why consulting?
Why this firm?

The second reason consulting firms ask for a cover letter is to test your writing skills. Consultants write all the time: emails, PowerPoints, Word documents, etc. They spend about 50% of their day writing. And a lot of the time their job is to summarise very large quantities of information in a succinct way.

This is exactly what you have to do in your cover letter. You have to a) look back on all your past experiences, b) select the relevant experiences to convince the reviewer that you are the right person for the job and c) summarise all these experiences in a way that's easy to read and digest.

Cover letters are a disguised writing test. Candidates who end up getting invited for interviews recognise this early on. Making a good impression on paper is way harder than making a good impression in person.

Are many candidates ready to invest HOURS in writing the perfect cover letter? No. That's the whole point. That's how you can set yourself apart. If you spend enough time making sure that your letter is as impactful as it can be, you stand very high chances of getting invited for interviews.

Another reason that it can help to have a cover letter is to explain anything on your resume that may look unusual to a reviewer, such as a time gap or a non-traditional background for consulting.

Whatever your unique situation is, if you’re not confident in how your cover letter looks today, then we can help you.

Get an Ex-MBB consultant to review your cover letter

The guide above, in addition to our guide on consulting resumes , should go a long way in helping you craft documents that will get you interviews.

But if you still feel you need additional help, we have a team of ex-MBB recruiters and interviewers who would be happy to provide feedback on your cover letter.

You’ll get feedback on how to immediately improve your cover letter, including what experience to focus on, how to optimise your phrasing, formatting, etc.

Start by browsing profiles for available coaches.

Sample cover letter for Internship position at Rothschild

Spring week.

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is --------- and I am a first-year student in the --------------------------. I was recently introduced to your firm via your website and was impressed with what I learned of your culture. In particular, I like your international perspective: an unparalleled network of global knowledge with approximately 900 advisers in 40 countries around the world, developed in more than 200 years. I am interested in attending the Spring Insight Programme, and have enclosed my resume and background information below.

I am currently working at -------------, a promising Italian startup, in the Marketing and Business Development division. Through this experience working on different tasks, I am gaining versatility and honing my teamwork skills. I also have the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs and innovators, who have a different mentality and appetite for risk than most of the people, and also they look at problems from a different standpoint and create innovative solutions.

Given my background in ---------- and my aforementioned skills, I am a particularly good fit for the Spring Insight Programme. I am impressed by your unrivalled track record of advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, having advised on more deals than any other adviser in your core markets: for instance, advising Rolls-Royce on its €3.6 billion public tender offer for Tognum effected via a JV between Rolls- Royce and Daimler. Therefore, I look forward to joining and thriving within your firm.

I would welcome an opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you and learn more about Rothschild at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at ------------- or via email at -----------. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

---------------

This discussion is now closed.

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Sample cover letter for Internship position at Morgan Stanley
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A Spring Week, or Insight Week, is a placement typically undertaken during the Easter holidays of your first year at university. They are designed to give you a comprehensive ... Target your application: Typically you have to either fill out an application form or submit a cover letter and CV. Cover letters are very important. You really need a ...
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Middle Paragraphs: Two or three paragraphs to explain what attracted you to the type of work, why you're interested in working for the company, and why you think you'd be a good fit. Last paragraph: Thank the employer and say you're looking forward to receiving a response. 3. Beware the Generic Cover Letter.
GUIDE: How to land Spring Week offers
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Investment Banking Cover Letter Template + Tips
Overall. Keep your cover letter compact and avoid 0.1″ margins and size 8 font. With resumes you can get away with shrinking the font sizes and margins if you really need to fit in extra information, but this is questionable with cover letters. Go for 0.75″ or 1″ margins and at least size 10 font. With resumes there were a couple ...
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A good spring week cover letter template.
I understand, I meant I would follow the general idea of each paragraph, not to copy it word for word. For example, first para I would introduce myself and state what division I am applying for. Second para, I would mention why I am interested in the division through my personal experience etc etc. 5 years ago. A.
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Spring Week Intern. ... Get access to over 7,000 cover letters from candidates getting jobs at your target companies. Get Full Access Link. Popular Cover Letters 1. Deloitte - Internship 204949 views 2. United Nations - Full Time 190884 views 3. ...
Has anyone got any guidance on writing a cover letter for spring weeks
Yeah I've done that. I'm trying to condense it a lot though as I'm like 20 words over atm. Skip it. I've never written a cover letter ever. The ones I'm applying to ask you to write a cover/ motivation letter. But thank you for your input. Well good luck. Probably don't want my advice. 739K subscribers in the FinancialCareers community.
Consulting cover letter guide (for McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)
Below is an anonymised cover letter from a candidate who got interviews at McKinsey, BCG and Bain. So you can trust that this template works. The image here highlights the different sections of the cover letter, but we'll dive deeper into the text later, and you can also get a downloadable copy below. Free download of the consulting cover ...
Sample cover letter for Internship position at Rothschild
Spring Week. Dear Sir/Madam, ... 900 advisers in 40 countries around the world, developed in more than 200 years. I am interested in attending the Spring Insight Programme, and have enclosed my resume and background information below. ... Get access to over 7,000 cover letters from candidates getting jobs at your target companies.
How to do a cover letter and cv for a spring week programme?
11. Just a 1 page cover letter and a 1 page CV. If you've got tonnes of relevant stuff for your CV go onto 2 pages. Easy enough. On the CV put things such as work experience/results etc into reverse chronological order. Have different sections for various things such as work exp, extra curric, personal info, academics etc.
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