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.

I joined MUFG Global Subsidiary Banking in the latter half of 2020 as part of the Analystclass. Before moving to London, I studied Mathematics at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Prior to joining, I did a number of internships and took a year out to work for a FinTech. These experiences provided me with a number of opportunities to find a role that was most suitable to me and this is what led me to MUFG.

I now work in a team that focuses on servicing European clients, mainly large corporates, enabling them to connect globally. These clients come to us for a wide range of needs; anything ranging from trade finance, cash management and other advisory services. My role is broad and requires me to have a wide range of knowledge about many different aspects of the bank. Each client’s needs vary widely, and it is the responsibility of my team to ensure that they are catered to in the correct manner, leveraging MUFG’s large global footprint.

This role means that on a daily basis I am engaging with clients who are spread all over Europe and connecting them with other MUFG managers, both product and relationship managers, all over the globe. As a sociable individual with a strong team ethic and communication skills, the role is suitable for my particular skillset. Each day at MUFG provides me with a new challenge and opportunity to refine these skills, ultimately providing our clients with a service that will keep them returning.

Our clients find a great fit in the bank and the same can be said of the employees. When working at MUFG, it is clear that the employees find great satisfaction in what they do. This is evidently part of the culture of MUFG.

For future graduates, I would recommend researching various positions and aiming for a role that aligns with your skillset and your interests. I would recommend that future graduates do not become too narrowly-focused on a particular career without properly exploring lots of different roles within MUFG; it is a large organisation with many divisions, so you might discover an avenue you didn’t even know existed! Ultimately, these jobs become our main focus Monday to Friday and it is very important that you find value in what you do.

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.

Shortly after joining the Graduate Analyst Programme in 2019, I decided I wanted to know more about the steps taken internally in regards to environmental sustainability. So, I took the initiative to contact the Environment Committee and joined the Community Engagement Stream. It was important to me to learn about green initiatives within the firm, but also to work together with the team to find out ways to develop our environmental considerations as an organisation.

The months that followed included a series of exciting and informative activities, where we focused on our core objectives: developing relationships with other companies and organisations, as well as increasing our external exposure to environmental issues. Some of the highlights included a site visit. This helped us to understand our structural and operational environmental capabilities and what resources we would need going forward, as well as meetings with local organisations which aided in remaining in touch with the developments within the arena as far as the local community is concerned.

The achievements of the Committee as well as future plans align with the industry-wide push towards increased environmental efforts. In terms of my own development so far, being part of the group has proven to be highly beneficial in many ways. Through my engagement within the team I have quickly become acquainted with internal structures and processes and have gained a better understanding of the thorough planning involved in all collaborative efforts.

As an Analyst, one of my roles within the firm is to play an active part in supporting the business – whether it’s through my core responsibilities within my department or via wider projects and conversations, I aim to improve and develop. Being part of the Environment Committee allows me to do that and is a positive addition to my role which extends beyond my career and personal development.

The close link between the economy and the environment is increasingly recognised by many financial institutions, as well as regulators. As a business, we analyse the risks associated with climate change whilst playing our part in shaping markets via green products and analysis of our environmental impact. As individuals, we try to make small changes to our daily lives, such as transitioning to reusable cups or switching off our screens at the end of the day. These all contribute to a shift towards a greener future for the industry and the world as a whole, and are things worth pursuing whenever we can.

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.

Joining a large organisation like MUFG can be intimidating, especially as a junior member new to the industry. It can be difficult to answer the question of how to network and meet colleagues apart from those in your immediate team, and how to build your network. Joining Mosaic, one of MUFG’s Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) networks, was an easy solution to this question! Mosaic’s focus is to help MUFG and its employees gain the maximum benefit from our cultural diversity across EMEA.

There are five core employee-run networks, that explore different topics, raise awareness, and drive change through the organisation – Mosaic, Balance, disABILITY Works, Family Matters and Pride Alliance. The networks are open to anyone within the organisation, regardless of position, team or seniority.

Mosaic meets once a month to catch up, discuss and plan initiatives and future events. Mosaic’s cultural events have been varied and have included external speakers on diversity, panel discussions, sake tasking, ethnicity and diversity-related movie screenings, amongst other things. One prominent event I helped organise was an evening celebration of cultural diversity. As a junior member of the organisation, I didn’t expect to be given the opportunity to have such an impact on the network! The culture day celebration featured games, arts and crafts, cuisine and entertainment from all over the world ranging from Dutch Shuffleboard to Japanese Calligraphy. This event partnered with CSR, and raised money for a local North London based charity “All Change Arts”.

Organising this event required collaboration with people from all over the organisation. As a new joiner, having the opportunity to meet and work with people at different levels and departments so early in my career at MUFG was invaluable. Joining Mosaic has given me an immediate network throughout the bank of people I wouldn’t normally see in my day-to-day role. This makes me feel great – being able to support and promote initiatives around cultural and ethnic diversity, and feeling like I am truly a part of the larger organisation with a role to play.

Find out more about what Inclusion & Diversity means to MUFG

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.

Attending MUFG’s Female Insight Day marked my introduction to the financial services industry, as I gained first-hand exposure to the corporate environment. I came across the event through my university’s newsletter, and what initially appealed to me was the prospect of getting a general flavour of finance, as my degree is in humanities. However, the insider perspective that I left with that day propelled me to want to pursue a career within the industry, and more specifically, at MUFG.

During the day, I attended several lectures and panel sessions which focused on both the business structure particular to MUFG, as well as more general aspects of finance that were relatively new to me. I found the discussions to be stimulating, whilst the atmosphere gave me a sense of confidence as I listened to women within the bank share their stories, what challenges they had faced throughout their career development, and what they most enjoyed about their work.

Perhaps what excited me the most was that my hopes about finance had been substantiated, and my expectations exceeded. I remember sitting down at a table with a relatively new analyst who was fascinated with her work and keen to answer all of my questions, whilst being the biggest advocate for her department and what the day-to-day work entails; she had come from a languages background, had learned everything she knew about finance since joining the bank, and took great pride in both her team, and what the company stands for. That, to me, proved to be just what I needed to embolden my ambitions and to take the next steps.

Almost two years later, I am now happy to begin the next stage of my career as a graduate analyst. The Female Insight Day is a great opportunity to learn more about what you are interested in, as well as potentially discover areas of business you might not know about. For me, it was the first opportunity I was given to build contacts and to get a realistic picture of what working in a bank might look like.

Given the competitive nature of finance, an event like this is not only a great way to enhance one’s commercial awareness and begin to learn to navigate through a business environment, but it also acted as a deep educational session that successfully guided and encouraged me to select the career I wanted to follow. It is a great foundation upon which to base your theoretical degree and apply your practical skills to.

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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There are many different perceptions of corporate banking amongst graduates coming into the industry. If I were asked to describe my graduate role in three words, I would say: dynamic, challenging and well-rounded.

Dynamic – As cliché as it sounds, it truly is the case that no day is ever the same. I would describe corporate banking as the overarching umbrella, under which falls all of MUFG’s financial products and relationship management, both locally and within the global network. Hence, the nature of the role is that you can identify business opportunities across the product suite, but also across jurisdictions. As a result, you can be pitching a Securitisation deal in Australia one day, and completing a Foreign Exchange deal in South Korea the next.

Challenging and rewarding – It is within the corporate banker’s scope of responsibility to identify and pursue opportunities with clients that benefit both parties. However, given the competitive nature of the industry, the corporate banker must distinguish MUFG from the other banks. This can be done by offering excellent services, tailored solutions and competitive pricing. For MUFG specifically, a significant highlight is our global presence, and being able to match any corporate’s international footprint.

Well-rounded – As a graduate moving towards the 12 month mark since starting in corporate banking, I can say with confidence that it is an exceptional opportunity to start your career.

Your ability to build relationships and develop your network is essential to the role. As a corporate banker, you ‘own’ transactions from start to finish and you will be able to build relationships internally and externally. The internal teams you will work with range from specific product teams such as Loans Syndications and Bonds to Credit, Legal and Compliance.

You are able to take on a lot of responsibility quickly and as a result, the role is a great opportunity to gain well-rounded and transferrable skills. Clear communication skills are vital in order to interact with clients and internal teams. Considering the fast-paced environment, analytical and problem-solving skills are also vital for day-to-day responsibilities.

I am very thankful for the support and exposure I have been given by my team. I have been able to work on significant transactions across products, industries and jurisdictions, alongside some inspiring colleagues. In hindsight, I am grateful for having made the decision to join MUFG to get me where I am today.

Connect – Upon joining MUFG I have had numerous opportunities to set up meetings and sit with desks across the firm. One great thing about MUFG is that there are numerous divisions on one floor. In one trip to the first floor kitchen you can meet people from 10 or more divisions. It is quite unreal how easy it is to also set up a meeting with a division of interest. In most cases I organised to sit with 1 person but upon reaching their desk I was introduced to 4 if not more people in their team and by the time I knew it I had met and sat down with the whole division. I would definitely say there is a common theme of ‘Let me introduce you to …’ amongst employees at MUFG and it is this characteristic of going beyond what was asked of them that I really admire about the employees at MUFG.

Learn – The personalised training provided in MUFG’s summer internship programme definitely distinguishes them from other banks.  MUFG offered a very practical and hands on training week. We were not only given e-learning modules but upon arriving we spent our first week learning about Financial Markets and Products in a classroom and then put that knowledge to work.

Grow – During my time with MUFG I have been able to truly develop and grow as an individual. During our 3^rd week we were fortunate to have an external trainer come in and speak to us about personal effectiveness in regards to Time Management. This was followed up in our 5^th week with a personal effectiveness session focused on Personal Brand.  Some key take away points from these sessions for me were to always under promise but over deliver, to differentiate important tasks from urgent tasks, to constantly review my performance and to always seek to understand before being understood. Aside from this, during my time with MUFG I witnessed bring your child to work day, the launch of a peer mentoring programme and an A-Level students programme. In 10 weeks alone, I was able to witness these examples of how open and encouraging MUFG is in terms of helping individuals to grow and increase their exposure to the industry. This tells me a lot about the nurturing culture at MUFG.

Embrace Culture – I have found MUFG to be a very transparent and inclusive firm. Having come from a bank with over 200 interns, MUFG’s class of 19 interns has been a huge differentiator for me. I find that I am able to develop a more personal relationship with the fellow interns and embrace our differences. Interestingly, the intern group consists of individuals from Ireland, Nigeria (myself), Italy, France, Bulgaria and Scotland who studied various courses at different universities. We often meet up on Friday’s after work for a social so it has been really nice and interesting to get to know everyone and each of their different backgrounds.

Overall, this summer internship programme has shown me that MUFG is an exceptional firm that provides ‘Endless Opportunities to Connect, Learn, Grow and Embrace Culture!’

Coming into the MUFG Analyst Programme without having been part of the internship intake, I have to admit I was not entirely sure what to expect. Even though I had some experience in investment banking, everything I read about MUFG pointed towards a different mind-set about how business is done. Now, as I go through the Analyst programme a couple of things have become clear.

Firstly, the MUFG values permeate every aspect of doing business. They are much more than words splashed on a picture of the Tokyo skyline; they are palpable and really form the driving force behind servicing clients. Putting them at the centre of what we do – simple as it may sound – has profound day-to-day consequences and helps cultivate a culture that is vital to the products we provide. How have I come across them? Well, as part of the graduate programme within Structured Finance you get the opportunity to discuss transactions you are working on with senior management, alongside the rest of the deal team.

It is not just about values though. Rotating through three different departments, Securitisation, Commodity and Structured Trade Finance, and finally, Strategic Finance, I have been surprised with how welcoming each department has been to graduates. I did not anticipate how prepared my colleagues would be to take me on board, teach me about their product, with all its intricacies and challenges, and really embrace me as part of their team. From bespoke training schemes to go through each asset class with a product expert within Securitisation, to mini-rotations within the various sub-departments in Commodity and Structured Trade Finance, I have always felt that MUFG values me as an asset and is looking to help me expand my skillset. I also found MUFG’s attitude to transparency refreshing – as part of the graduate scheme, I have been invited to participate in various “lunch and learn” sessions with the organisation’s senior leaders; we discussed a wide array of engaging topics, all of which were open to everyone’s input.

If you’re wondering what you personally will take away from the programme, it will be a greater understanding of an organisation that is both unique in the way it does business, and committed to investing in you and helping you reach your potential.

Geert Hofstede, a Dutch social psychologist, defines corporate culture as the ideologies, beliefs and behaviours that determine how a company’s employees interact internally and externally. In today’s world, this is a differentiating factor for a company and moreover, the key to success. From a millennial perspective, this is what attracts, develops and retains a graduate. Therefore in my opinion, corporate culture is a company’s most valuable asset.

MUFG’s differentiating factors from a business perspective may be its extraordinarily large balance sheet or its widely appreciated expertise in project finance. However, in my eyes, it is its corporate culture. MUFG has created a corporate culture in which its employees can grow and excel. As a result, the bank is able to obtain its globally competitive and outstanding performance.

Day in and day out, MUFG employees emphasise its corporate culture as one of the benefits of working here. After gaining first-hand experience, I have been astounded by MUFG’s corporate culture which can easily be defined as diverse, friendly, yet ambitious and successful. Specifically, it is the diversity, the work-life balance and the family-like environment that I can confidently confirm are factors that makes me want to return to the office every morning.

Firstly, MUFG’s diversity can be characterised by a mosaic; a plethora of cultures and nationalities that merge to create MUFG’s identity. Every day I am pleasantly surprised by the number of languages I hear and the different people I meet. It is truly a place where one can broaden their views and become more accepting of others and the world as a whole. Additionally, it is very apparent that MUFG is making the effort to move towards gender equality. Awareness raising, backed by a gender strategy, is a key focus to alter the internal views and attitudes towards this issue, and the firm is working towards increasing female representation at a senior level by at least 10% by 2022. In every meeting I have attended, I have made a conscious effort to pay attention to the number of women in the meeting. I am happy and proud to say that I have yet to attend a meeting where I am the only female.

Secondly, MUFG’s corporate culture also exhibits an exceptional work-life balance. There is a common consensus that this is rare in the industry. After having spoken with a myriad of employees from various levels, I have realised this is appreciated and valued by every employee. It is an aspect of MUFG’s corporate culture that renders the demanding nature of the industry as sustainable. Furthermore, it enhances efficiency, productivity and creativity, which in return has a positive effect on MUFG’s financial performance.

Finally, MUFG’s corporate culture features a family environment, which stood out to me from day one. Every employee is a member of a team that strives towards a common goal to achieve success. Being part of a team at MUFG gives a sense of belonging and creates an environment where each employee feels comfortable to be themselves and share their opinion. This allows formal working relationships to translate into friendships. MUFG’s corporate culture exhibits the right balance between professionalism and familiarity and consequently, optimises its workforce’s productivity to obtain the best possible results.

All in all, MUFG has an exceptional corporate culture. It stood out to me from the very first moment I stepped through the door on the day of the assessment centre. Corporate culture is an aspect of a company I truly value and I am proud to say I have been a part of it throughout my summer internship and my analyst programme.

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 my 10-week internship at MUFG, I completed two rotations. My primary rotation was with Prudential Risk Management (PRM) and my secondary placement was with the Rates Trading Group (RTG).

The learning curve for both rotations was exponential – I came into the internship with only a vague knowledge of investment banking. Coincidently the first question I was asked when I sat on my secondary rotation was “what is an investment bank and what exactly do we do?” The question seems pretty obvious, but explaining it was a different story. The lesson I learnt from that experience was before getting into the details, understand the basics.

To get the most out of the internship, I had a specific plan that I devised beforehand. The gate pass works for 10 weeks, that is 50 working days, hence I should at least learn 50 different aspects about the financial sector and, more specifically, how MUFG contribute, within this time.

In terms of day-to-day activities, my work differed between the two divisions. With PRM I was mainly reading Basel papers and implementing the new changes into the current methods used, with the aim of calculating capital requirements for counterparty credit risk. It was imperative I understood the different departments within risk. These include, credit risk, market risk and operational risk. My secondary rotation with RTG was more of a learning placement and gave me huge exposure into how MUFG directly interact with clients and how they price their trades. During this rotation I was given the responsibility of P&L for the traders. Rather than just writing down what figures I was told, I would ask why there was such a swing in the P&L and what exactly caused the deviance. Hence I would be able to follow the markets and see how adverse movements affected each trader.

The 10-week internship was exceptional. Apart from the actual rotations, we had speakers from across the business give us an insight into their departments, therefore broadening our exposure. There were many social events for the interns to network and get to know each other as well as graduates who have joined the firm. The internship has definitely met and gone beyond my expectations. We even had a brunch with the CEO, which was the icing on the cake for me.

At the end of the internship I was lucky enough to be offered a position on the Analyst programme and I now work as an Analyst within our Rates Sales & Trading Team. I would strongly recommend this internship to you, if you are willing to be proactive, willing to treat every day as an opportunity and are willing to be a sponge for information.

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.