1. Understand what Spring Weeks are for
Spring Weeks are essentially early-talent pipelines. Banks use them to spot motivated first-years, test basic skills, and build a pool of candidates to fast-track into summer internships.
Your goal is not to prove you’re a finished product. Your goal is to look like someone who: (a) understands the basics of the industry, (b) is curious and coachable, and (c) can survive the application process without breaking.
- Most programs target 1st-year undergrads (or 2nd year in a 4-year degree).
- Conversion from Spring Week → Summer Internship can be very high at some banks.
- The earlier you prepare (CV, story, tests), the less random the process feels.
2. Build a realistic timeline
Think in months, not days. A rough realistic structure for a UK first-year could be:
- July–August: clean CV, basic LinkedIn, start reading about markets & divisions.
- September: applications open → start with target firms you know best.
- October–December: online tests & games, networking events, first interviews.
- January–March: remaining interviews, assessment centres, last-minute apps.
3. Fix your CV before you spam applications
Most rejections happen before a human ever reads your application. A tight CV matters more than sending 50 rushed applications.
Think of your CV as a one-page evidence pack that says: ‘I’m serious, numerate, and I actually want finance.’
- Use a clean 1-page format: education, experience, positions of responsibility, skills & interests.
- Show numerate / analytical exposure: maths, stats, coding, competitions, trading society, etc.
- Quantify everything: number of people led, hours per week, results, money raised, competitions ranked, etc.
- Avoid buzzwords like “passionate about finance” without concrete evidence.
4. Use networking intelligently (not desperately)
You don’t need to know 50 bankers. A few real conversations are worth more than mass LinkedIn spam.
Networking helps you learn how to talk about roles, understand culture, and sometimes get a referral or at least a stronger sense of fit.
- Start with students 1–2 years ahead of you: they remember the process and are easier to reach.
- Go to campus events, insight days, and online presentations when possible.
- When you message someone, be specific: mention why you reached out and 1–2 short questions.
5. Online applications & motivational questions
Most applications ask variations of the same things: ‘Why this bank? Why this division? Why you?’
Prepare your thinking once, then adapt it rather than rewriting from scratch every time.
- For ‘Why this bank?’: mention 1–2 concrete things: deal flow, culture, training, people you spoke to.
- For ‘Why this division?’: show you understand the work at a high level and how it links to your skills.
- For ‘Why you?’: connect your experiences (societies, projects, competitions) to skills they care about: teamwork, resilience, analytical thinking, communication.
6. Online tests & games
Many Spring Week processes now use numerical tests and game-based assessments to filter large volumes of candidates.
You can’t predict exact questions, but you can control your environment, your familiarity with the format, and your focus on the day.
- Practise core skills: mental arithmetic, interpreting charts, basic probability and logic.
- Do timed practice to get comfortable working under pressure.
- On test day: good sleep, quiet environment, no notifications, stable internet, and read instructions slowly once.
7. Interviews & assessment centres
By the time you reach interviews, banks already know you’re academically strong enough. Now they want to see how you think and interact.
Expect a mix of motivational questions, basic commercial awareness, and simple technical or numerical reasoning.
- Have 4–6 solid stories ready using the STAR structure: leadership, conflict, failure, dealing with pressure, teamwork, learning something fast.
- Know 2–3 recent market or business stories and be able to explain why they matter.
- Speak clearly, don’t panic if you don’t know something — show how you would think about it.
8. Common mistakes to avoid
A lot of candidates are strong on paper but lose points on basics. Avoid the obvious traps and you’re already ahead.
- Starting in November when many Spring Weeks filled in September.
- Sending the same generic answer to every bank.
- Underestimating online assessments and treating them like a formality.
- Sounding arrogant or entitled instead of curious and willing to learn.
9. Quick checklist
If you tick most of these boxes, you’re in a strong position for Spring Week recruitment:
- ✅ CV checked by at least one person already in finance or a relevant society.
- ✅ Clear answer to: Why banking? Why this division? Why this bank?
- ✅ Some basic exposure to markets / business news.
- ✅ Timed practice with numerical tests and game-style tasks.
- ✅ 4–6 good stories for behavioural questions.