Quick profile
- Nationality: Mongolian
- University: LLB, MSc King’s College London and Cass Business School
- Position: Manager, Project Manager in Origination - Energy
- Interests: Music, dance, boxing, travel, art
- High points: The work is so versatile and there is always something different and new to learn.
- Low points: When the market is quiet, it can get rather quiet on the desk.
Essentially, what got me hooked on investment banking was the finance-based work experience I did. I found large corporate deals with interwoven webs of complex financial, legal, tax and commercial considerations just did it for me.
I’d heard a lot about WestLB from friends and people I met through work experience. The culture, the people and particularly, the Bank’s long-standing expertise in emerging markets, all sounded really attractive.
Also WestLB is known as the best in areas like structured finance and project finance. And I wanted to learn from the best.
When I came for an interview, I really wanted to get in. It was the only UK bank I applied to and I was so nervous, I had to run around and stretch in the Ladies just to loosen up. But they were all so nice to me and made me feel really relaxed. I ended up actually enjoying the whole experience.
Coming to the Bank as a junior, I expected to be filling in functional gaps around the office – filing, photocopying, getting coffee, etcetera. Because, from what I hear, when big banks say they’re committed to nurturing and developing graduates, what they really mean is pretty much the opposite. But here, it really is about building us up, giving us opportunity and helping us become real assets to the Bank.
They’re very inclusive and always ready to help. The senior people are very friendly and sometimes come to your desk to chat and see if everything is OK.
The training is great and everyone’s really helpful. Of course at the end of the day, it’s up to you to make the most of it. But the resources are always there for you and if you put in the effort, you really can get on here. The work is challenging and a constant learning experience, and compared to my friends at other Banks, I get far more responsibility and loads more opportunity.
The reality of working here has exceeded all my expectations to be honest. Every day is different. I could be doing anything from working on a pitch, financial modeling, translating, researching, writing reports, delivering presentations the list goes on.
WestLB is a place where if you are keen and ambitious, you really can get on.
Not that you have to give up your life or anything. I still have time for my boxing classes, running, going out, dancing, manicures, museums and very importantly shoe shopping. And I can’t stress enough how lucky I feel to be among such a friendly and sociable mix of people.
I really enjoy working here. Every deal is different and brings its own intricate compilation of considerations and challenges to analyse and quantify. I absolutely relish the complexities, the more the merrier.
I feel about the job rather like I feel about cocoa solids. I could eat nothing but chocolate for three consecutive days and still want more.
“When I came for interview, I really wanted to get in. It was the only UK bank I applied to and was so nervous, I had to run around and stretch in the Ladies just to loosen up”
Ujin Erdenebileg