Meet Noah, an intern on the Global Markets FX trading desk at Mizuho EMEA. We asked him to describe a typical day as an intern, why he chose Mizuho and his advice for future interns.
I wake up…
Usually between 05:00 and 05:30, depending on when I manage to get to sleep the night before.
My morning routine…
I aim to be out the door by 06:00 latest, so brush teeth, shower, get dressed and head straight to the station. On the tube I read a few pages of whatever book I’m reading. Right now I’m reading a book on options theory recommended to me by one of the traders.
The first thing I do when I get into the office…
I arrive at the office between 06:30 and 06:45. I first use Bloomberg’s DAYB function for my morning briefing on markets. I also read through emails and any research reports I’ve been sent. At 07:20 I join the rates/credit morning markets call and take notes. After all that, I pick up whatever project I’ve been working on.
My role involves…
My day to day involves a lot of coding based on projects I’ve been set by various traders on the desk. For instance, I recently built a function which breaks down seasonality analysis for a given currency pair. Alongside the coding, I also spend a lot of time shadowing salespeople/traders/quants across the trading floor to get a holistic view of the Global Markets.
At university I study…
Philosophy, Politics and Economics. In particular, I have enjoyed my macroeconomics modules the most, which lends itself well to the desk I’ve been working on. The pace of learning on the desk has been incredibly fast. I feel I’ve learnt more in the space of two months than I did in two years at Uni!
The thing I am enjoying most about the internship…
Learning about the various products different desks trade. Things can quickly get complicated, but when you begin to understand the different products more, and how you can express a view with them, it’s a very satisfying feeling.
I chose Mizuho because…
I was drawn to their graduate programme. As a grad, the bank is eager to get you in front of clients or managing your own book as soon as possible. Once you've proved your worth, you can expect to be given a lot of responsibility, very quickly.
What surprised you most about working at Mizuho?
How much agency interns have. It’s completely up to you how you shape your experience. If you’re proactive, the bank really empowers you.
One piece of advice to future interns…
Ask where you can add value, no matter how small the task. Take notes, set goals, and always say yes to new opportunities.
How has your internship shaped your career goals?
Its confirmed to me that my interests and skillset are aligned with a career in global markets. Being able to meet various people and learn about the different desks not only gave me a solid foundational understanding of markets, but also a better idea of which desks I’d most like to work on.
What skills have you developed the most?
Definitely my coding ability. I’d taken a few python modules at university however I hadn’t completed many projects on my own. Coming in, I was given various tasks that I opted to do in python rather than excel. Quickly, I found myself improving and took on more and more projects for the traders. It’s definitely not all coding though. Friends of mine on other desks have developed other skillsets. The internship is whatever you make of it.
How would you describe the culture at Mizuho?
The culture is incredibly supportive. On the desk I was given a lot of assistance in getting up the curve. Everyone is happy to make time for you and answer all your questions. Especially useful were the lunch and learn sessions with desk heads early in the internship, which gave us exposure to senior leaders straight away. Also, the early careers team do an exceptional job of making sure you acclimatise seamlessly in your first week. They genuinely care about making the program the best it can be and actively invite feedback at every opportunity.
Step into a 10-week journey where learning meets impact. From trading floors to tech teams, Mizuho’s internship programme gives you hands-on experience, expert mentorship, and the chance to shape your future in finance.
The internship programme is now open for applications. Learn more about the programme here.