To learn and bridge the gap between classroom training and practical life, Summer Internship plays a vital role for every MBA student. I was fortunate enough to get this learning experience at HSBC as an intern.
The location for my internship was Hyderabad and was a part of the Business Banking Section of the Commercial Banking Division at HSBC. There was a 2-day induction program at Mumbai followed by the 8-week Stint at their Somajiguda office in Hyderabad.
My journey began with the induction program at Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the prominent landmarks of Mumbai. This was done to introduce us to the culture and values espoused by HSBC. It helped me to calibrate myself with the work culture prevalent at HSBC and also meet interns from all over India who were also part of the same programme.
So, on the first day of my internship, I met my project guide (He is SVP, Business Banking-Hyderabad) and members of the Business Banking department in Hyderabad. I started off by networking extensively with my colleagues. Most invaluable and practical knowledge about an organisation is never found in manuals but in people. All my seniors were extremely helpful in teaching me the basics about the bank and its offerings.
The project that I was assigned, involved identifying opportunities for business lending across various sectors for the SME space in Hyderabad. I started by studying the SME Sector in Hyderabad and its current scenario covering companies in Packaging, Food Industry, Logistics, and Manufacturing industries in and around the city and tried to develop an understanding of the business models of those companies. I got myself acquainted with the core competencies associated with HSBC’s business banking segment and familiarised with the various banking products that HSBC offers. I briefly analyzed the financials of the companies and their eligibility and learned how to make working capital assessments of the companies. I got a chance to interact with the MDs, CEOs, and CFOs of potential clients to understand their needs and thus explore lending opportunities for HSBC. I had access to plenty of training modules which helped me learn more and more about the banking world. It also gave me insights into various banking regulations and norms which were important in the banking world.
I was given immediate guidance on how to go about any problem I faced. I always felt very comfortable from the first day because of the helpful nature of all my colleagues in the office. My mentor was kind enough to take out time from his busy schedule and teach me the nuances of the banking system. He made sure that I made the most of this internship and guided me in every possible way to gradually understand the various concepts and banking products with real-life examples. He also periodically reviewed my work and gave me critical inputs on how I could improve and add value to my work. I was also urged and motivated by him to go alone when meeting potential clients which helped me gain immense confidence in myself.
The internship ended with a cocktail event specially organised for the new interns. There we got an opportunity to interact with the business heads. This was, indeed, a befitting end to my journey marked by corporate vicissitudes.
I had the best time of my life in Hyderabad, catching up on movies and feasting on street food on every weekend. Those two months were truly memorable and I would remember them for the rest of my life.
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About the Author:
Siddhant Dixit
Second-year PGDM student at Institute for Financial Management and Research, Andhra Pradesh who loves to read and travel, write blogs and is involved in social media advertising.