Throughout my time studying Finance, Accounting, and Management at the University of Nottingham, I was fortunate enough to gain insight into the various areas of the financial services and fintech industry.  The MUFG internship programme provided an understanding of MUFG’s business services and the operations of a leading global bank. Parts of the programme involved collaborative team working to create market-focused presentations, one of which included a research report that analysed the impact of the macroeconomic policy response to the pandemic on financial markets. 

Following completion of the internship and graduation from university, I was keen to join the Analyst Programme for graduates. The Analyst Programme begins with five weeks of technical training that introduces graduates to the various financial products that MUFG provide for their clients. Although this training took place remotely due to the pandemic, the programme delivered multiple interactive sessions. It was enjoyable to work on projects and network with other analysts from different backgrounds locally and globally across Europe and America, many of whom I am still in contact with today. When it came to starting in the office, the colleagues in my team were very welcoming and happy to spend time working through technical and financial concepts. It has been great working with experienced industry professionals who are passionate about sharing their expertise on different product-related structures and valuations. As a result, I have been able to continuously develop my financial product knowledge and professional skills, all while building a strong network. 

The Analyst Programme also offers the opportunity to participate in various Inclusion & Diversity and CSR-related initiatives through a range of employee network groups. As a member of the Social Mobility Network, we work towards ensuring that individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds can fully access the opportunities available at MUFG. These activities are a fantastic way to engage with employees from across the bank and attain further insight into the different roles within the organisation. There is additionally a range of network-led charitable fund-raising activities to get involved with throughout the year as well as talks from internal and external speakers that raise awareness of important work/life topics.

A strong attribute of the graduate programme is the early career support graduates receive early on. Graduates are encouraged to follow their interests, which is reflective of MUFG’s strong employee focussed culture. I am excited for the challenges that lie ahead and look forward to advancing my career and building on the skills and experiences gained at MUFG. 

I joined MUFG in August 2021 as an Internal Audit Analyst on the 18-month graduate scheme. Prior to this, I completed my bachelor’s in Mathematics at the University of Leeds with a one-year industrial placement in external audit. Throughout my degree, I was always unsure of exactly what I wanted to do in terms of my career and so I spent a lot of time looking at the current opportunities available to me and researching what was out there. I quickly realised that there are two main aspects to consider: the role and the company.

The role needs to allow you to effectively use your skills as well as challenge you to learn new skills. Given the vast variety of roles out there, it is important to research the tasks that you would be expected to perform by attending insight days and asking questions!

You will also find that you enjoy a graduate scheme better when the company’s ethos aligns with your personal ethos. This is something that you can understand via networking and talking to current employees through the numerous insight opportunities available. Interviews are also a great way for applicants to learn more about the company and role and are an opportunity to see if it’s a good fit for you, as well as whether you’re a good fit for them. For me, it was important to be working in a role where there is an emphasis placed on personal development, female/BAME empowerment, and a culture of inclusivity, all of which I found here at MUFG. 

Joining a new job virtually was not something that I thought would happen and I had many questions about how this would work, how I would be able to gain the most out of the networking opportunities, and how I would be able to learn. This was something that I made sure to ask about during my interview and the responses I received about MUFG’s supportive culture and the hybrid-working system showed me that this is a company that truly cares about the wellbeing of its employees. 

Applying for graduate schemes can be a tough process and it’s important to not be disheartened. I would encourage future graduates to be confident in their abilities, network, and be passionate. Applying for graduate schemes that you believe in will allow you to learn and flourish. This is the first step in your career, so it should be in an environment in which you feel valued and encouraged to perform at your best.  

If I could sum up my experience working at MUFG thus far, I would say it’s been exciting, collaborative, and incredibly supportive. I first got introduced to MUFG via the BAME insight day back in 2019, interested in finding out where I would most enjoy working given my choice to study Chemistry at Uni. I had an interest in financial markets from the sixth form; whether I’d be reading Michael Lewis’ books, reading the FT regularly, or posting my thoughts on financial markets on my personal blog, I knew that whatever my future looked like it would be finance-based. Hence when I attended the insight day, I was surprised to find out the myriad of roles at the bank and ones I’d never heard of before, which encouraged me to apply for the internship the following year to learn more.

After successfully getting the internship and despite the initial lockdown in 2020, it still went ahead albeit virtually, due to the impressive efforts of the Early Careers team. In a time when internships and graduate schemes were tough to get into or in some cases canceled, MUFG continued to provide training, work shadowing opportunities, and business case studies during my summer internship. It was this commitment to teaching and learning, and the resiliency of people here that highlighted to me that this was where I wanted to apply for the graduate scheme and ultimately, start my career.

A year later and I can say with confidence that the initial impressions and experience I had at MUFG early on still stays true. The culture here is open and welcoming, and I have many opportunities to take part in such as I&D networks, photoshoots, training new joiners, and hosting corporate events. For example, we hosted a painting taster event as part of the PRIDE network and we had a fantastic turnout! The firm has a strong interest in building your soft skill base and opportunities like that are paramount to your development and growing your network.

To sum it up, my advice to prospective students is that if you’re somebody who likes to take on a lot of responsibility and has an enthusiastic mindset, then you should definitely apply. In addition, MUFG looks for students who demonstrate a strong passion for financial markets and the banking industry. I recommend keeping up with the news and always questioning the knock on impact – it will keep you one step ahead. 

Hi All,

Paige here, I am currently on my second rotation working with Financial Institutions (FI) Sponsor Coverage as part of the Global Corporate Investment Banking Graduate scheme.

In my current role, I am able to work with a range of our Sponsor and Bank clients. I help to manage our relationships, including our existing products with the client, as well as helping the team in their origination efforts to cross-sell existing products and promote new products. 

A day in life can vary significantly, with some days focusing on client meetings, whilst others involve deal origination, preparation, and execution. Other days involve more day-to-day admin tasks ‘Know Your Customer’ queries, presentation preparation, relationship overviews, and email correspondence. Through this coverage role, I have been able to work alongside a range of product specialist teams, providing me with a holistic overview of how the different teams in MUFG work together to meet the varying needs of our clients. 

I typically work from the office three days a week. I believe is this a great balance as an analyst, offering the flexibility of hybrid working, but also the opportunities to learn in person, and develop a wide internal network. Networking and taking part in events run by the bank has provided me with a great opportunity to meet people from a range of teams, and hear more about different roles in the company, alongside enjoying the social benefits of being in the office.

My working day also includes involvement in our CSR network. I am a mentor to two school students and have represented MUFG in the local community at charity events, Christmas dinners, and school-employer events. The CSR network has provided me with the opportunity to build my network internally and externally, and create some of my most memorable moments during my first nine months at MUFG.  

I believe MUFG offers a unique environment for employees, and in particular analysts due to the supportive learning environment, whether in the office or virtually. There are also opportunities to meet senior employees, and volunteer for the CSR and Inclusion & Diversity networks. Collectively I believe this offers a great opportunity to begin and/or build the career you desire in an encouraging and caring environment. 

My top tip and advice on your application for MUFG are to be yourself; prepare well for the interviews and have an interest in finance, but don’t shy away from showing your personality and your hobbies or interests. 

My first insight into MUFG came from the BAME Insight Day, where I learned about MUFG’s culture, values, and the variety of roles on offer. Upon reflection, two things stood out to me; the rotational aspect of the Structured Finance Graduate Scheme and the differences in culture compared to other investment banks.

As a 2021 Graduate Analyst, I have already rotated through Leveraged Finance and am currently sat in Aviation Finance. The ability to spend time in different product areas across the front office has not only allowed me to appreciate the variety of roles available but has also improved my skill set. For example, my time in Leveraged Finance enabled me to improve my skills in modeling, pitch book creation, and financial statements, whereas Aviation Finance has enabled me to improve my skills in credit analysis, cash flow modeling, and communication. I have particularly enjoyed the volume of client interaction within Aviation Finance since it has allowed me to extend my network externally and build rapport with industry experts. Specific highlights include attending client meetings and the Airline Economics conference in Dublin.

In terms of culture, there are two keys aspects that stand out to me. Firstly, most individuals are more than willing to take time out of their day to support you, be it explaining a new concept or providing feedback on your work. The level of on-the-job training is exemplary and is a testament to the quality of MUFG’s workforce. Secondly, the relatively flat structure within the organisation allows juniors like me to network and have ‘coffee chats’ with senior leaders across divisions. This not only enables juniors to expand their internal network but also to learn more about the different roles in the bank. 

Interestingly, MUFG focuses not only on improving our desk-specific skills but also on our soft skills to enable us to become well-rounded individuals. To that effect, we have had valuable sessions on aspects such as networking, meeting etiquette, and how to prioritise tasks. As such, the MUFG Graduate Scheme is a fantastic place to start your career, and I would highly recommend you apply. 

I finished my Bachelor’s degree in Business in 2019 and I knew I wanted to specialise. I had completed several internships across accounting, business management, wealth management, and finance and wanted to gain experience in banking. I had an internship at TD Securities and experienced the work that multiple desks do on a day-to-day basis, which drove me to apply for a master’s degree. After completing my Master’s degree in Banking and Finance in December 2020, I knew I had made the correct choice! I started applying for several roles over different business areas at several banks, including MUFG. One of the main reasons why I applied for MUFG is what I had heard about the inclusivity and CSR objectives of the bank.

I applied during COVID, so it was necessary to undertake the whole application online. I thought the whole process was very smooth and very quick. After completing my application form, I received an email from Early Careers Team saying that I would be well suited for a role as an Analyst in the Information and Data Management Team. After receiving this email, the whole process took around two weeks.

The first stage was a 30-minute phone call with Early Careers Team. I was quite nervous to make a good impression, which doesn’t come naturally over a phone call! Luckily the interview was more like a conversation, and not like a question-answer session that I had experienced at other banks that I was interviewing for.

As the whole process was online, we unfortunately did not have the opportunity to come in for an assessment day. This was substituted with three one hour interviews with several individuals with the wider team and then with my line manager. 

Interviews can be a bit daunting, especially if you are not “face-to-face” per se. As before, the interviews were very conversational, which helps calm my nerves, and luckily I had no software malfunctions! 

My top tips for the interview process are:

• Give clear and concise answers, with clear examples e.g.if you are asked to give examples of good teamwork/leadership, etc, answer the questions genuinely, as the interviewer is always willing to help out and give prompts if necessary.  
• Do your research beforehand and make sure you understand the bank’s core values. I would also highly recommend speaking to people at MUFG prior to applying to understand the different business areas and to understand which area would suit you best. People are always willing to help out!

It has been almost a year since I started on the MUFG analyst programme, making it a great time to reflect on what I have learnt and experienced in my first two rotations: firstly, in Aviation and now in the Credit Analysis Department (CAD). For me, it is easy to identify my two favourite things about MUFG: the people and the opportunities.

During my first year, I haven’t met anyone who wasn’t willing to make time for me, discuss a problem, explain a product, a team, or just have a general chat. It is easy for an organisation to say they have a great culture and ‘flat’ structure, but it doesn’t always work in practice. I can honestly say MUFG have delivered on these promises. It has not been difficult to gain exposure to senior staff and have my voice heard. In both of my rotations, I have found senior colleagues extremely approachable and willing to make time for me and my development. I am so grateful for the respect all colleagues have afforded me so early in my career, reinforcing the idea that my opinions and contributions are welcomed and valid. In addition, the graduate cohort I joined with have been invaluable in my experience. It is so helpful to have a group of similar individuals to share doubts and ideas with, and many of them have become great friends as well.

As soon as I joined MUFG, it was apparent that there is a vast array of things to get involved in, through a whole range of schemes and groups. Aside from the daily job role, there are opportunities to be involved in workstreams throughout the bank. In my first rotation, I was involved in groups working on ESG in aviation, and marketing, which I was introduced to by my manager. Alongside another analyst in my programme, we organised an MUFG netball team through the connections network, which brought people from across the organisation together to play on a weekly basis. This resulted in us achieving second place in our first league. It has also been great to give back to the early careers team by participating in insight days and work experience presentations. All of these experiences have helped me to expand my network and interests outside of my job role and have made my first year extremely fulfilling. 

One piece of advice I would give to any incoming analyst would be to keep an open mind. People tend to come into the programme thinking they know exactly what they will like and what they are interested in and end up liking something completely different. The biggest thing I have learnt is that your career is not a straight line, and you do not know what you’re going to be doing in 10, 15, or 20 years. Changing your mindset and removing yourself from the box you may have put yourself in allows you to embrace opportunities to explore new and different products and teams. You can set yourself up for success by learning as much as you can and developing tools for any particular future career path.  

“Congratulations! Your application has been successful.” The one thing every graduate wants to hear after several stressful months filled with insight days, cover letters, job applications, psychometric tests, and interviews. All your hard work has finally paid off, but now what? 

In the few months leading up to your start date, I’d recommend improving your industry knowledge. Whether that’s reading financial news, listening to MUFG’s own podcast, or even watching films like ‘The Big Short’ (2015) and ‘Rogue Trader’ (1999). Anything that will help to familiarise you with the terms used in the finance industry will definitely be beneficial.

However, if you’re in the situation that I was in where, you have a lot of interest and desire to work in the finance industry, but your educational background wasn’t in finance or economics, don’t panic! The Analyst programme begins with five weeks of introductory training, which is basically a crash course in all things finance. You learn the history of banking, key concepts of the industry, and how to interpret and analyse data and you even work in teams for a ‘client pitch’ exercise. This whole process will bring you up to speed very quickly. 

The Early Careers Team here at MUFG ensure the whole joining process runs smoothly and makes each analyst feel very welcomed and supported. On the first day of the programme there were several activities where you are given the opportunity to introduce yourself and learn about the other analysts on the programme. There are also scheduled events like quiz nights and drinks where you get to meet your peers as well as analysts from the previous years in a more informal, relaxed setting.

In this introductory period, you will also meet your manager, buddy (someone from your team who you can ask anything!) and maybe even a few others from your department. Once the introductory five weeks are over and you begin working within your actual department, the support doesn’t stop. From the very start, I’ve been given endless opportunities to develop my skills, network and learn about the company, while being thoroughly supported by the Early Careers Team, my own department and the friends you make while on the Analyst Programme. MUFG is an amazing place to start your career, so don’t worry about what to expect because you’ll be guided and supported the whole time! Be proactive, seize every opportunity and add value however you can! 

I joined MUFG after graduating and rotated across various teams before joining ECA, Commodity and Structured Trade Finance full time. It has been an exciting experience to get to know the different business pisions and opportunities available within MUFG, and further to this, the range of Employee Networks available.

In 2020, the Social Mobility network was created as the sixth employee network. It aimed to focus on equal opportunities for those from all backgrounds, through community engagement, encouraging applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds and looking at how to support staff affected by these issues.

I joined the network because I believe whether you consider yourself from a “lower socio-economic” background or not, the issue is crucial to everybody – it is clear that while the playing field isn’t level for entry, there’s no doubt we’re missing out on talented people joining the sector. It was a privilege to organise events throughout our inaugural Social Mobility Week to raise awareness around the importance of social mobility and what we can do to create change, including speakers from external firms and charity partners, and a social mobility themed book club.

I was raised by a single mum in an area of Belfast which faces a range of socio-economic issues, and pleasantly surprised how many people within MUFG I could relate to. It was great to realise I had a lot in common with some of my colleagues, as from juniors up to senior management, there are people with inspiring social mobility stories.

It’s key to recognise that there is no “eureka” moment when your social mobility story ends. An aspect important to stress is that the challenges don’t stop when you get into university or get the “dream job.” Starting a job when you come from a lower socio-economic background can bring about issues like less confidence, minimal public speaking experience and not as much knowledge on business etiquette as potential peers. The more awareness and ability for employees to share stories within spaces such as employee networks there are within a business, the more impact it will have on people like me.

It is so important that MUFG is taking social mobility seriously and realise this is a vital type of persity needed for us, and the business, to flourish.

Never did I envisage that I would be embarking upon my professional career from my parents dining room table. Enter COVID-19. As the pandemic took the world by storm, we have had to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances in the most irregular of ways. As a self-confessed social butterfly, I found this adjustment particularly peculiar. How could I possibly cope? How could I perform? Learn? Network? Socialise? As the world had to adapt, so did I. I was ready for the challenge and the uphill battle I was about to face.

August 10, 2020. Day 1. Little did I know, WebEx was about to become my new work best friend. Poor Wi-Fi connection and “you’re still on mute” became synonymous with working life for me. It’s not all negative, however. Working from home definitely had its perks. No commuting, no formal dress code and no London expenses. Although I was initially gutted that I was not able to meet my team and the other grads in person, our induction training eased us in nicely to working life and allowed us to integrate virtually. I particularly enjoyed the networking calls where I got to know others in a social setting, and we could share our journeys.

Once we started on the virtual desk, I was surprised at how much support I had in learning the ropes. It helped with my initial worries of not being able to just speak to the person on the desk next to me and I found being thrown into the deep end benefitted my development massively. It was made clear to me from the outset that there is always someone a quick instant message away and colleagues are more than happy to jump on a call for a chat. I can say I have learnt some invaluable skills whilst working remotely. The biggest has been having a proactive attitude. This has helped me grow my professional skillset and given me the self-confidence to approach complex tasks independently without taking the easy way out of asking someone next to me a quick question. This is something I believe will be extremely beneficial to me in the long run. I have also had to learn how to be adaptable, manage my time effectively and have confidence in reaching out to people to expand my network, all of which I know will be transferable skills for the future.

After attending an Insight Day at MUFG in 2019, I decided to apply for the 2020 Analyst Graduate Programme. The recruitment process consisted of a telephone interview followed by an assessment day. The day kicked off with a welcome speech and a chance to interact with the other candidates, which helped to settle the nerves. The group exercise was particularly interesting. In teams we were tasked with assessing business profiles. It is important to note that your ability to communicate effectively, listen to other’s viewpoints and work effectively in a timely manner with your teammates is what carries the most weight in the eyes of the assessors.

My top tips to graduates for the interview are to provide clear and concise answers which clearly demonstrate the action you took in a given situation and what the outcome was. It is fine to take a few seconds to think before giving an answer and ask the interviewer for clarification if needed. I was pleased to find that the interview was a two-way discussion. This gave me the opportunity to learn about the interviewer’s personal experience at MUFG. I would encourage graduates to ask plenty of questions at the end of the interview.

Throughout the assessment day, there was ample opportunity to network with business representatives from different areas of the business. Everyone was amiable, open and honest. I listened to their stories; their achievements and the challenges they had overcome was inspiring. MUFG’s unwavering commitment to enhancing diversity and social mobility within the organisation also came through during the conversations. Since starting at MUFG I have been involved with the Social Mobility Employee Network which is focussed on addressing the challenges faced by those originating from less-advantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

What was wonderful about the assessment day was that by the time it had concluded, I had learnt more about financial services, gathered advice on how to thrive in a graduate role, and felt far more confident and ready for a career after university. Learning is a non-stop process which appears to be embedded into the analyst programme. Alongside training modules, I take part in webinars organised by MUFG to aid my personal development. I look forward to continuing my career journey at MUFG.

Receiving a notification of my 1 year anniversary at MUFG last month made me reflect back on my experiences since joining in August 2019. What a year it has been! I still remember walking through the revolving doors of the MUFG office on my first official day; a mixture of excitement and nerves. From the assessment centre, I had already gathered that MUFG had an excellent culture. However, naturally, I had a number of doubts: would I get on with the other graduates? Would I be able to handle the work? Would my team be welcoming and supportive? It is safe to say that by the end of training, all my worries had been squashed and I knew that MUFG was the bank for me.            

Before starting at MUFG, I studied Chemistry at the University of Warwick. Initially when I began exploring career options, I never really considered banking to be a viable one – who would want to hire a Chemist in the Finance sector, right? But, after speaking to banking representatives at a few career fairs, I decided to attend some Insight days. One of these was an event for female undergraduates called ‘Stand Out’, which gave me the opportunity to network with employees from five different Banks, including MUFG. At the Insight day, it was clear to me that MUFG focused on trust and integrity; enhanced by the Japanese culture present in the Bank. Speaking to juniors from the company, they explained that you were well supported through-out the graduate scheme with five weeks of training when you join, followed by additional credit training. Once you join the desk, you are surrounded by support; everyone is willing to teach you. This was reassuring for someone like me who was nervous that they would be at a disadvantage coming in with a science degree. In fact, I was comforted by the number of successful people in the Bank who weren’t from the traditional finance background.

One of the most notable things I took away from talking to MUFG employees at the Insight day was that so many people had worked at the company for several years. I was astonished when I joined my team and found that my Line manager has been with MUFG for 13 years and my Managing Director for over 30 years. I really think that is truly reflective of the uniquely friendly and supportive culture at the bank which allows employees to have a long-term career at MUFG.

Following the training programme, I joined the Coverage team on a fixed-desk graduate programme. I act as support for a ‘Relationship Manager’ of Consumer & Retail clients. A Relationship Manager’s role is to be the first point of contact for a client. We identify and act on client needs, coordinating with the relevant specialist product teams to collaboratively deliver a first-class service, typically, in time-pressured situations. The products we provide range from relationship loans on the lending side, to market products such as DCM, FX and derivatives. The role requires you to be able to balance meeting client’s needs whilst ensuring the relationship remains profitable.

Having been on the desk for just over 12 months now, I can definitely emphasise the unique nature of Coverage. With so many different stakeholders to manage, it is important to build your network and manage relationships from the moment you join the desk, particularly as you interact with clients from the very first day. The dynamic nature of the role means that no two days are the same. Even within the same sector, clients have varying requirements dependent on the wider economic context. As a result, you are often working on deals for bespoke product solutions that require you to quickly come up to speed with new knowledge. Throughout my year on the desk, I have also been given the opportunity to take on more responsibility as I prove my ability to produce work to a high standard. It is most certainly a role for someone who is eager to constantly learn and develop whilst handling a number of transactions and clients at the same time. All-in-all, I am very grateful for being given the opportunity to work for MUFG and am keen to see how my role continues to evolve after the graduate scheme.

“Looking back now, as an Analyst in Information & Data Management at MUFG, there is no doubt that coming from a non-financial background with no sector relevant working experience made the mere thought of signing up for the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) insight day at MUFG quite daunting. Yet, as I walked into the foyer, my initial worries were erased when I was greeted with friendly and welcoming faces from the recruitment team, networked with the other attendees and learnt that many of them had similar and non-traditional backgrounds like myself.

The agenda for the day involved talks by representatives from different business units, a Q&A panel with senior leadership, a roundtable speed-networking session with current analysts from an array of departments and, finally, a presentation on the opportunities available at MUFG for interns and graduates alike. From a business perspective, this gave us the opportunity to learn how and where the business operates and recent expansions in the Asia region. As a potential employee we got to hear from different members of the business, including from those who started right out of university, transitioned from support functions to the front-office, and those who transferred from other banks to MUFG. We learned more about international secondment opportunities and why their employees are proud to be a part of MUFG. I found the roundtable sessions particularly insightful as the analysts spoke candidly about their various roles, which gave me a better understanding of the different functions of the company and the opportunities they have had so far in their early careers.

One key takeaway was that at MUFG, you are the driver of your own career and support is available at any point for your progression. Another point was that not only is diversity and inclusion implemented at a grass-roots level, but it is also addressed and acknowledged at all levels of the business, as far as the CEO, as well as being encouraged and supported by the various employee networks. There is no better interview preparation than spending time under the roof of where you are applying, and with the new-found knowledge and confidence from the insight day, accompanied by further research at home, I truly felt confident to pursue a career at MUFG.

And, how could I forget, I got a handy MUFG water bottle that day – which I’m still using now!”

In 2018, I attended the Bright Network Festival, where I met welcoming and driven representatives from MUFG, which motivated me to apply for the Summer Internship Programme. After interviews and meetings with various MUFG employees, I was fortunate enough to be invited to an assessment day.

Upon arriving at MUFG’s office, I was nervous but excited to find out more about the firm. At the start of the day, all candidates were given the chance to mingle over breakfast, which gave us the opportunity to get to know each other before starting group activities – a unique part of the day which helped settle my nerves. The schedule consisted of team building activities, group analysis work, interviews and networking. Participating in group activities allowed candidates to collaborate and bring different viewpoints together, which I found particularly enjoyable. Before my interview, I was nervous; this was the most intimidating part of the day! However, my interviewers were friendly and open, and after networking with former interns, I recognised that these were common personality traits among all MUFG employees. Networking with graduates was also an informative way to find out how they coped with the transition from university to working life and to learn, first-hand, about what it is like to work in financial services for a large and diverse firm.

Shortly afterwards, I was informed that I had been offered a ten-week intern position in the Credit Risk department! The team were incredibly supportive and knowledgeable, which gave me a fantastic opportunity to learn about financial products and the risks associated with lending. During the internship, we were encouraged to gain as much experience and knowledge as possible by networking with colleagues from across the business. I had a particular interest in financial markets and decided to reach out to colleagues in the Global Markets division, which helped me to realise that my skills and interests were best suited here. I discussed this with the Early Careers team throughout my internship and was subsequently invited to an assessment day for the Product Control Analyst Programme in December 2019.

As I was passionate about this position, I really wanted to do my best at the Analyst Programme assessment day, and entering a familiar environment and recognising several colleagues went a long way to helping me feel at ease. Some group tasks had a financial markets focus and I was given the opportunity to network with some Product Control Analysts who gave an invaluable insight into their experiences.

At MUFG, you are actively encouraged to explore different divisions of the business, which is something I benefitted from, as in August 2020; I secured a position in the Product Control team. I would advise anyone joining or attending an assessment day at MUFG to be themselves and take every opportunity to learn, as the support given to you by colleagues will assist you in maximising your potential. This is a fantastic first step for my career, and I am excited to pick up where I have left off with my internship and continue with my journey here at MUFG.

After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I had completed an internship and gained some experience in a Swedish Equity research boutique, but I still wanted to try working on the debt side of finance before deciding where to start my career. Applying for Summer Internship roles in London, I was applying broadly with the intention of having as many offers as possible to choose from. To be perfectly candid, I did not initially see MUFG as my first choice. However, after participating in a number of Assessment Centres including MUFG’s, I had definitely changed my mind.

Although I knew about MUFG’s global reach as the largest non-state owned bank in the world and it was in the top 10 in DCM league tables, I knew little about the down to earth culture, flat operational structure and focus on really investing in new talent. Speaking to employees, many of whom previously had been Summer Interns at MUFG, I realised that what I needed was not a ‘newspaper headline’ equity name, but a strong debt bank with a focus on talent development, just like MUFG.

Joining the programme, the first week was comprised of a lot of networking with a focus on learning about the different parts of the Bank, as well as some technical training. I personally found the extensive amount of networking very useful as all teams worked and continue to work very closely with other teams, no matter which division you join. The slightly softer start was also an excellent opportunity to get to know the other interns, as many of these people will come to be your close colleagues and in many cases also close friends. This was definitely the part of the internship that I underestimated.

After the first week, it was time to join the specific assigned desk, which for me was the DCM Bonds team within EMEA Capital Markets. From the first day, I felt included in the team and I want to emphasise that the smaller cohort of interns really enables you to establish close connections to very senior people within your team.

For example, working in DCM, understanding the markets and transferring this into communication with your clients is key. As such, after each call or meeting, I was able to have designated time together with a senior attendee to answer any questions I might have, which is invaluable.

I really appreciated how everyone in my team invested time to enable me to quickly acquire the necessary skills. My team and MUFG in general are very adaptable and always willing to customise the learning process for each person rather than trying to push all interns into a universal mould.

MUFG hosted the “MUFG Female Insight Event” that gave me a good sense of what it would be like to work there. I was drawn to the company’s focus on trust, integrity and teamwork as well as its long history in financial services. I left feeling eager to discover more about the bank and I ultimately chose to join the Summer Internship Programme. I liked the structure of the programme and the people I met during my interview process. The internship made it possible for me to meet with many different people and get exposure to all the different products throughout the company. The culture is extremely supportive, and I have always been made to feel comfortable and confident in asking questions and learning from those around me. Senior management is really interested in helping you define and shape your career. MUFG ensures that you make the most of your talent and potential providing the right mix of challenges, training and opportunities for new roles.

By the end of my internship, I realised that MUFG felt right for me and was the place where I wanted to build a career. I accepted a full-time position within the Graduate Analyst Programme to work with DCM Investment Grade Loan Origination team, Leveraged Finance team and Securitisation team.

The training that you receive as an Intern and a Graduate Analyst is very extensive. The company does a great job developing people’s competencies and capabilities. The training explained how all the teams across the company contribute to MUFG’s overall strategy and how significant our work at every level is and how we are all working toward common goals. However, the real learning comes from working with your team. There are many knowledgeable employees who are willing to share their expertise. The teams you rotate in allocate a manager and a buddy at senior and junior levels respectively. In my experience, my managers have provided big-picture insight and my buddies have helped answer day-to-day questions, build networks and allowed me to gain outside opinions and different perspectives.  They have  already positively impacted my career.

There are a lot of ways to meet colleagues throughout the bank. This could be anything from attending lunches with Business Management organised by our HR Department, to doing volunteer work through our CSR team. Continuous learning is important to me and MUFG is a great environment for people who want to learn by offering regular training sessions, networking events and charity activities. It is awesome to see that such events and activities are able to gather people at all different seniority levels.

I don’t really have a typical day. Each day brings new experiences with fresh challenges. For example, we might be working on a waiver request one day and the next, we might be undertaking a borrower rating review, so I am figuring out what my contribution will be and how I can help the team get the request approved internally. When we are faced with a challenge or a difficult task, we work together to ensure we deliver an improved solution to accommodate customers and our firm.

The advice I would have liked to have been given when I was applying for the programme is to make the most of every opportunity to build connections with people at MUFG. When you first join, it is hard to imagine what your eventual role will be. The graduate scheme is so great – you are given the freedom to explore and find the area of business where you will be able to make the biggest difference. At MUFG, the company culture encourages collaboration and learning, so if you are inquisitive by nature you will definitely fit in!

I had heard lots of scary things about applying for jobs at big banks in London. Needless to say, I feared the worst. However, after my experience at the MUFG assessment centre, I knew I would be in safe hands here.

So what makes MUFG different? At MUFG, the respect is mutual across all levels; a reflection of the Japanese culture present in the bank. I am not afraid to approach seniors with any queries or questions and having this less formal atmosphere allows you to be more relaxed and get to know the people you work with better, which is key to waking up and looking forward to coming in every morning.

I thought my career in banking was over before it had even begun when I skipped the chance to do an internship in the industry and work abroad over summer instead. Many banks may have dismissed my application immediately, but MUFG listened to my reasoning and could see that my experience was just as legitimate and valuable as anyone else’s, and that I had developed many skills which could be applied to banking. They don’t look for the finished product – they look for an eagerness to learn and a personality that can fit in with the respectful culture.

Moreover, I’ve been able to use my extra-curricular experiences in many ways – from helping sixth form students with interview and CV skills, to helping organise the bank’s annual charity run, to setting up the annual employee children’s Christmas party, to flexing my brain at pub quizzes and lunchtime talks on various issues. There is a big focus here on creating a well-rounded individuals rather than just an employee.

I studied finance at university so I had an idea of what the various divisions within banking do, but the reality is that you don’t know whether you actually enjoy the work until you do it on a daily basis.

Not only does a rotational scheme allow you to experience various sectors and take time to think about where you want to be long-term, it also allows you to network across the bank and this is invaluable. It’s a great feeling to walk into the kitchen and be able to chat and laugh with most of the people in there, because chances are you will have done some work with them at some point. It also gives you an advantage within the team you currently sit in, as you may have extra valuable experiences in a different area or know of someone from another team that can help with an issue. The opportunity to rotate has definitely made me a more knowledgeable employee and this opportunity for flexibility so early in my career has made me more confident about making the right decisions going forward.

When I had completed all of my courses in my master’s degree and I was three months away from graduating, only my dissertation left to be handed in, my summer internship at MUFG was coming to an end. I was then presented with one of the most difficult choices I have encountered to date – I was offered a full time position at MUFG, and I had to choose between this and a bulge bracket bank position I had already been offered earlier that year.

I would lie if I would say that it was an easy decision, as it was everything but. Fresh out of university, only two internships behind me, it was not easy to make realistic comparisons between these two job offers. Things such as name recognition, visibility, league table positions, market share and compensation might come to mind to many people when trying to decide between different banks. While these are all relevant, they were however not the primary considerations in my case.

What matters to me the most is being able to do work that I enjoy. I had known since the beginning of my two-year master’s degree in Corporate Finance that I wanted to go into Debt Capital Markets. This area was unquestionably of the most interest to me, and I felt my skillset was very well suited for it – a hunch that then got confirmed during my internships.

MUFG was able to guarantee me a position at the team I had completed my internship with, within DCM. MUFG had recognised my suitability, skillset and personal preferences since my first telephone interview, and had taken these into account when making the decision to extend me a full-time offer. Meanwhile, the competing bank was unable to guarantee me a position with the DCM team specifically, regardless of me having been interviewed by multiple people working in the department and having clearly expressed my interest towards DCM. I appreciated, and still do, MUFG’s emphasis on individuals enormously, including but not limited to considerations on skillsets, preferences and personalities.

Another immensely important aspect that contributed to my choice and that I would like to highlight here is the amount of responsibility and recognition I get at MUFG. Since the first day of my internship I was a fully accepted member of the team. I got very senior manager exposure since the very beginning, attending different level meetings daily. Once I joined the graduate programme, I had my first client meeting within a month. I am always given appropriate credit for the work that I personally prepare. I believe that the relatively small team sizes and flat organisational structure within DCM positively contribute to this, and I truly believe that I would not have been able to achieve this level of responsibility this early on elsewhere. This also links to the aspect mentioned above, as individual contribution and skills are recognised, appreciated and celebrated at MUFG.

At the end of my penultimate year at university, I completed an internship rotating through a number of departments and I was delighted to receive a graduate offer from the Line P&L team within Product Control.

What is Product Control?  The Product Control team at MUFG is divided into two sub-departments: Line P&L and Valuations.

The Line P&L team are responsible for the daily P&L reporting for each business area.  We provide key financial information by explaining profit and loss in depth with respect to attribution of risk parameter movements, deal activity and market linked commentary. The team is engaged in the launch of new products which are to be traded by the firm in order to evaluate the controls implemented for its P&L reporting. Additionally, on a monthly and quarterly basis, we evaluate the performance of business units by detailing market events and key activity that has driven P&L, in which such commentary is distributed internally.

On a monthly basis, for each of the trading desks, the Valuations team prepare independent price valuation reports and analyse the specific risk parameters which may be driving differences in pricing. These documents provide the relevant financial information to governance forums that are contained within internal reporting packages. The team also run balance sheet and trade population reconciliations to ensure completeness and accuracy of trade valuations.

My fascination to join Product Control stems from a number of reasons, particularly the plethora of opportunity you are given even as a graduate. In the short space of a few months into joining the desk, I was given tremendous responsibility of reporting P&L for multiple business units. This experience enabled me to ascertain the fundamentals of different business functions within an organisation, and vastly broadened my technical understanding, which were facets of a graduate job I was looking for.

In addition to developing my technical competencies, I was also able to hone my interpersonal skills as I regularly had the opportunity to interact with other teams across the business including traders and sales reps. This gives me the ease of developing my network and personal brand within the firm, and the gravity of networking is constantly placed at the forefront within the working world.

Furthermore, working in Line P&L within Product Control, you are given more than just the opportunity of working on different asset classes, but you are able to partake in various projects outside your day-to-day role, transition into the Valuations team if this fits your personal interests and you are able to complete the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam.

Product Control takes great pride in providing its team members with opportunities that will accelerate both their professional and personal development, and it is for these many reasons why I decided to join this team.

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I believe that any kind of job is done the best by someone who is passionate about the subject. Where the real difference can be seen, however, is when the job is about a subject that is a matter of passion and very close to heart to the other involved parties. I believe Sustainable Finance falls into this category.

While it is an absolutely crucial step in protecting our planet and combating climate change, given that companies who are looking to raise financing for sustainable projects have these values deeply imprinted into the core of their strategy, for any successful structuring process and execution the bankers working with them also need to truly believe in it.

I was thrilled to be offered an opportunity to work with sustainable financing at MUFG, a bank that has now issued five Green Bonds in its own name and been a bookrunner on countless more high profile deals globally, as well as continuously landing near the top in both sustainable loan and bond league tables. Being able to combine my personal interests, beliefs and enthusiasm with my work at a bank with a strong involvement and capabilities in this area has been incredibly rewarding.

Sustainable Financing is an area that will only keep growing, providing more and more opportunities and ever more innovative solutions – it started with Green Bonds and has quickly evolved to Sustainability Linked Loans, UN SDG Bonds, and Green Innovation Bonds (which finance sustainability focused R&D). I am excited to observe and participate in developing new instruments in this space.

MUFG has provided me with countless opportunities to learn and to develop my skills in this field while working with colleagues just as passionate as I am about the topic. I regularly attend conferences and roundtable discussions with Sustainable Financing teams from the other major banks, as well as investors and issuers, with the aim to exchange ideas and further develop the market. At MUFG, I work directly for the Head of Green Bonds, giving me invaluable exposure to senior management as well as clients, and great levels of responsibility and recognition across the bank.

You might be someone who’s shy like me and can find it a bit daunting talking to new people whom you’ve never met before. So how do you overcome it? Practise! One of my favourite aspects about MUFG is its very flat organisation structure. People like myself who occupy a very junior position (intern) can easily approach and speak with those who are much higher up the corporate ladder.

Let me give you an example of just how flat the organisation structure is at MUFG. On the first day of the internship, the CEO gave a speech welcoming the interns to the firm and stayed after to have a chat with us!

These opportunities are so rare at competing banks, but are frequent at MUFG and what makes it so unique.

To utilise this organisation structure, HR tasked each intern to meet with 10 senior managers from other divisions. At first, this scared me a little. The idea of having to meet with 10 senior managers from various divisions across the organisation was overwhelming. But I assure you, once you start arranging these meetings, it’s hard to stop! It’s a great way for you to know as much of the bank as possible in terms of what exactly the other divisions do, can learn how they are all interconnected and to have the opportunity to speak with professionals from divisions you have an interest in to see first-hand what it’s like working in that field. Not only will this give you a wide insight of the numerous functions that make the bank operate, but will also help you to learn which area you would like to spend your career in.

It’s not only Senior Managers who you can meet; you can arrange to shadow anyone from any corporate title working at any division!

On top of the Executive Challenge and job shadowing, HR has done an amazing job in organising many opportunities for the interns to speak with individuals across the organisation such as networking drinks and Lunch & Learn sessions. Networking sessions enable you to meet with individuals across the firm in a more relaxed environment, where the conversation doesn’t necessarily have to be about work. I’ve had many conversations with people about the Premier League, talking about how amazing Manchester United is! Lunch & Learn sessions are more formal sessions where a Managing Director and an Analyst from the same division take time out of their schedule to speak with the interns about their role and division, in which at the end we can ask any questions.

Partaking in networking events, lunch & learn sessions, completing the Executive Challenge and proactively setting up Shadowing session, will help you to get your name out there and ensure that you know as many people as possible.

As a new analyst at MUFG, I have found that an aspect which makes MUFG unique is its Sports and Social committee. The committee meet once a month to decide on different activities and events to hold for employees. The activities vary from poker and quiz nights to bowling and karaoke. Last week, I attended introductory lessons at an indoor bouldering centre.

Bouldering is similar to rock climbing; however it is climbing without ropes above a soft landing. Routes are identified by the different colour of the rocks, so a climber can link between a starting and finishing point only using a certain colour of holds which are on the walls. The centre has bouldering routes that cater for people all climbing abilities and I was thoroughly excited for my first lesson to begin!

When we arrived we started with a warm up, this gave everyone a chance to introduce themselves to the group and for everyone to get to know each other. We started in a beginner zone, the instructor would teach us different moves and then we would take it in turns to follow. Everyone was incredibly supportive, and as a beginner I found it helpful to receive tips and advice from those who had had lessons before.

When the lesson ended we were beginning to feel a little sore in our arms, so it was perfect timing that we had received our pizza delivery! After enjoying our welcomed break and feeling refreshed we hit the climbing walls again. This time my sub group aimed for more challenging paths, with the help from those who were more experienced I managed to feel more confident and also aimed for harder routes. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and I have found a fun yet challenging new hobby!

During my first 6 months at MUFG, I completed two rotations, each lasting four weeks. My first rotation was with Legal and my second one was with the Credit Trading and Sales team.

My final placement in the Analyst Program is with Debt Capital Markets (DCM), but, in order to get a better understanding of the different divisions and how they interact with each other, I had the chance to do these two rotations. Both rotations were a steep learning curve and I learnt a lot – all of which has helped me with my day-to-day work in DCM.

With the Legal department I was mainly reading different EMTN programs to develop a better understanding of bond issuance programs, what they look like and the key aspects that need to be disclosed. As this forms an important part in every bond issuance, I had the chance to learn about the relevant components, applicable for my later role in DCM.

In my second rotation with the Credit team I was shadowing traders and sales people with different regional and product focuses. This gave me huge exposure into how MUFG directly interacts with clients, and what to consider when they price their trades. I was working on different projects, helped provide pitch materials for clients and roadshows and developed a good understanding of market sentiment. Understanding investor appetite and how economic events may impact the markets was a valuable lesson during this time.

Now that I am back in DCM, I can say that the two rotations were exceptional. Apart from the work experience, the rotations helped to increase my network at MUFG and to get to know the people that I only knew via email before. It was very well organised and perfectly integrated in the Analyst Program. The whole Analyst Program so far has definitely met and gone beyond my expectations.

I would strongly recommend the Analyst Program to you, if you are willing to be proactive, are keen to challenge yourself every day and want to learn as much as possible.

During our third week of training on the graduate scheme we had a lunch scheduled without any indication about what the event would involve. All the graduates were discussing what the event would comprise and we were placing bets amongst ourselves as to what it would be. I picked up on a subtle hint that was given and managed to guess correctly, we were to begin the trading simulation!

The trading simulation would take place for a month, where we would be able to buy and sell futures linked to real market prices. We were split into three teams, so not only would we be responsible for our individual profit and loss, we were also responsible for the performance of our team and the organisation overall.

The next day, the simulation began. In total we could trade 25 different future contracts. I started to read the information about the futures that sounded familiar; gold, silver, WTI and currencies to name a few. Over the next week I bought and sold futures, and with every trade I felt that I was gaining a better understanding of why I was performing each trade. We would share tips and strategies with each other in the class. For instance Andrew, an analyst who works for the credit sales group in New York, taught me how to calculate stop loss levels based on the maximum amount of money that I was willing to lose on the trade.

Over the month there were many major news items; wheat hit 7 year lows, uncertainty over the Fed’s interest rate trajectory caused global stocks to suffer their sharpest decline since the immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote, the ECB’s unchanged stimulus strategy sharply pushed bond yields up and the BOE, BoJ and the Fed all announced that they would keep interest rates unchanged. As each day commenced I spent additional time reading different news sources in order to gain a deeper understanding of the markets that I was trading in. I found it important to always have a view, and that preparation in advance is crucial to ensure that you are fully prepared for all possible outcomes from major announcements.

Overall, I finished with a profit of £1,313,657 and completed 98 trades. However, what I really gained from the experience was a deeper understanding and knowledge about the markets. All the graduates learnt how valuable it was to share trading ideas, with the more experienced teaching the beginners key tips and facts. The trading simulation was a great taster of what it is like to trade in the real markets; I would strongly recommend this experience to anyone!

It has been nine months now since I joined MUFG as a new Analyst in Debt Capital Markets. The program started in August with a four week product and financial training course, where we not only had the chance to develop a comprehensive understanding of financial and professional topics, but also got to know the other Analysts from New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo. This was the first opportunity the expand our network across the firm and to get to know other Analysts from different locations.

Meeting the other graduates and spending four weeks with them on the training program helped us to establish strong connections with each other. As I started working on projects with the other graduates from New York and Hong Kong immediately after the training program, these connections proved to be extremely useful from day one.

After the financial training, the networking opportunities continued and I had the chance to meet employees from all levels of the organisation. The highlight was a breakfast with the International Management Committee where we had the chance to ask questions and get to know the International Business Heads. Talking to the CEO or the International Business Head of Capital Markets, and having the opportunity to ask not only business but also personal questions is not very common and was a unique experience.

Having a great network is important – your hear this at university as well as at every career event for entry-level positions. And MUFG offers many different opportunities to expand your network within the company and your knowledge in different areas.

As part of my program, I am currently rotating through different business departments. The aim is to get to know a number of employees from across the business, to broaden your knowledge and get a better understanding of the firm’s strategic direction, as well as the interconnection between different departments.

Overall, I have found this to be a very valuable experience as MUFG is helping you from day one to develop a strong network across the firm and across different levels of the organisation. You are not only expanding your financial knowledge and getting exposure to different business areas but also you have the chance to learn from different people that are happy to share their experience with you. The only limit is your personal commitment. I am sure that this network and this experience with my colleagues and senior executives will be be a value asset in the future.