Annabelle Guillermo

Name: Annabelle Guillermo
Job: Investment banking analyst
Employer: Bank of America Merrill Lynch
University: BSc Economics, University College London (2009)

I did an internship at Merrill Lynch, prior to its merger with Bank of America, during the summer of my penultimate year at university, which included rotation among different teams. Not only did this provide a good insight into the various different areas within banking, it also allowed me to meet different people and join the group with whom I worked best.

My job

I enjoy getting to understand an industry − how the market works and what makes a company attractive to invest in. The ability to navigate a steep learning curve and good attention to detail are standard requirements in this job. What really helps you improve as an analyst is a willingness to believe in yourself – being able to learn from your own mistakes, take on challenging projects and take ownership for your actions.

The highs and lows

I enjoy working within a multicultural environment – in investment banking people come from all over the world. Managing the balance between work and outside activities, and learning to deal with the pressures, is a challenge though. There have been occasions when I have left the office at 2.00 am or later, but on other days I leave at a normal hour. It all depends on how busy the team is and how well you can manage your time. The highlights so far have been when the team has executed a deal and when someone has acknowledged my hard work and progress.