Quick profile
- Nationality: Russian
- University: Philipps-University of Marburg, Germany, studying Business Administration. Also studied Management Science at the State University of Management in Moscow.
- Position: Intern working in Investment Banking, CEEMA Debt Origination
- Interests: Travelling, taekwondo, mountain biking, skiing
- High points: Just to be able to work in London on the trading floor of a bank that’s very involved in Eastern Europe, a place that’s very important to me, is fantastic. And to be able to learn from such clever, experienced and helpful people is really great.
- Low points: To begin with everything was very new and I found it hard work with my English, but with the help of one-to-one lessons the Bank helped arrange, I have learned quite fast.
Originally, I went to school in Moscow and then, when I was 15, I went to banking college. After this I worked for the largest bank in Russia and while I was there, I obtained a scholarship to study Business Administration at university in Germany. This current internship is my third with the Bank (I did the first two in Düsseldorf).
I was really excited when WestLB gave me this internship in London because London is a really important financial centre, and of course, English is the international language of business too. So naturally, I wanted to work here to develop my knowledge of financial markets and improve my English at the same time.
As a Russian I have a particular interest in the financial development of Eastern Europe and one reason I really wanted to do my internship with WestLB is that the company is very active in Central and Eastern Europe.
And for me it is very important to be able to work in an area where I might be able to contribute to Russia as the country’s economy grows to match the West.
Even as interns, we’re given real responsibility and are encouraged to think for ourselves, and that’s very satisfying because you can get really involved and see how things work. I’m on the trading floor working in Investment Banking in Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMA) Debt Origination. I am getting lots of ‘hands-on’ experience. All of which can be used in any area of the business later in my career.
The trading floor is a dynamic place. Millions of pounds can change hands in seconds. It can be pretty exciting.
The clients we deal with are people like Ministers of Finance so, as an intern, I don’t get to have direct meetings with them. But sometimes my first hand knowledge of Russian banking can be useful to the team. I hope so, anyway!
People are allowed to have a life here. The hours are more reasonable than you would expect from an international investment bank and, although you have to work hard, no-one seems to get too stressed out.
They don’t want robots at WestLB. They like real people and they really do go out of their way to make you feel included. Even the most senior people will make time to help you. I’m certainly enjoying it here and I hope maybe when I finish my degree there will be a chance to come back here to work.
This is no kindergarten. To get the best out of it, you have to use your initiative and get on with things, without waiting to be told. You need to know your stuff, think fast and be ready to make quick decisions.
And you need to ask questions. Lots of questions. In fact, I’d say for an intern, the saying ‘don’t ask, don’t learn’ is very true.
Intern Profile
Stanislav Plakun