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Marian Emmanuel

I love the variety and constant challenges the job brings. Each day is very different, and I'm often dealing with different clients, ideas and projects on a daily basis.

Where did you grow up?
I went to school at Canberra Grammar before moving to Sydney for university. I studied abroad at the University of Pennsylvania in the US. I still see my decision to live away from home as a formative experience and would recommend it where possible.

Why did you choose to work in the finance industry?  
My journey to working in finance wasn't a typical one. Studying engineering, my intention was always to go into that field, until I got around half way through my degree and realised it wasn't for me. It was at that point I started to think more broadly about possible alternatives. I was fortunate that a large number of my friends studied commerce or finance, and my brother was also in the industry at the time. Through speaking to them and reading more broadly I thought banking was something I wanted to try. 

What was your recruitment process like? 
The recruitment process for my internship was fairly straightforward and involved submitting a CV and cover letter. Following this, successful applicants were contacted to arrange a first round interview. The second and final round was an assessment centre at the UBS offices in Sydney. The day was a morning of case studies and one-on-one interviews. The interviews were a mixture of both behavioural and technical questions, as well as a general discussion about ourselves and our interests. Following my internship that summer, I was offered a position as a graduate.

What does your employer do?
UBS provides a range of financial services globally. In Australia, I work in the Investment Bank (Corporate Client Solutions) which covers Equity Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets and M&A Advisory.

Can you describe a typical workday? 
As an analyst, my day can vary quite significantly. It often involves research tasks, valuation analysis as well as speaking with clients and dealing with different aspects of project and deal administration.

How does your engineering degree help you in your current role?
Although my engineering degree doesn't have any direct relevance to my current role it does help me in various ways. Modelling, problem-solving and lateral thinking are key aspects of both engineering and banking. The skills and thought processes I developed through my engineering studies help me bring a different perspective to the team.

What do you love the most about your job? 
I love the variety and constant challenges the job brings. Each day is very different, and I'm often dealing with different clients, ideas and projects on a daily basis. This creates a steep learning curve which can at times be challenging but is something that I also find deeply rewarding.

What’s the most challenging thing about your role?
Being able to quickly absorb and understand information. Because deadlines can be tight, it is often necessary to research and understand a business, client or problem in a short time frame. As a junior, this can often mean having to process large amounts of new information quickly. Although this can be difficult, it is enjoyable and very gratifying.

What advice would you give to current students interested in working for UBS?
If banking and finance interest you, give it a go! It's a great place to work. Apply for an internship, and experience the culture and work that we do here at UBS.