I recall being very tensed for my summer internship interview for HSBC since I desperately wanted to get through as early as possible. Fortunately, things went well and I was able to convert. The location for my internship was Chennai 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 Cathedral Road office in Chennai.
The project that I was assigned, involved identifying opportunities for business lending across various sectors for the SME space in Chennai. I started by studying the SME Sector in Chennai and its current scenario covering companies in plastics, chemical, manufacturing, garments and textiles 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 analysed the financials of the companies and their eligibility and learnt 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 blessed to have the best possible mentorship and guidance at each stage of my summer internship. All the people working around me were extremely helpful and helped me settle down on the first day. My mentor was very 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 and self-belief.
The two-month stay at HSBC in Chennai was filled with memories. All my senior colleagues treated me very well and we often went out for lunch. I am very happy that I would be joining this organisation as a full-time employee very soon.
I was fortunate to have my college mates staying along with me during the two months in Chennai. We had the time of our lives strolling around Marina Beach, 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:
Vijay Subramaniam
‘A positive thinker, total foodie and hopefully a successful banker in the future’
Final Year PGDM Student at Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR)