Belén first got in contact with UBS at the UBS Female Talent Dinner in Madrid, which she was invited to after applying through IE University.
After that, she was selected for their Talent Lab, which took place this month in London.
Previously, Belén had interned at various companies, including a sustainability magazine, an online news channel, and BBVA. She has also participated in the IEU Labs, attended various on-campus advanced seminars, and is currently Environment Team Leader and Member of the Commission of Feminism for the Spanish Red Cross.
See what Belén has to say about her experience at the UBS Talent Lab:
What exactly is the UBS Talent Lab?
The UBS Talent Lab is a three-day program where students can get answers to any questions they may have about working at UBS. Each day, there are presentations and workshops on different business areas of the company. There’s also time for social activities, mock interviews, and motivational talks on how to improve our personal brand. During the three-day program, we had to prepare a group project which we had to present to a panel of senior employees on the last day.
The Talent Lab is the perfect opportunity to discover which business area matches your interests and career goals, and it’s also a great way for the company to get to know you. Plus, it puts you on the fast track to apply for a summer internship.
How did you find out about this opportunity and why did you decide to apply?
Last year, I honestly didn’t know about the Spring Weeks. Luckily, in October, while reading the Talent & Careers weekly email, I found out about the Female Dinner at UBS in Madrid, and applications were open. I was curious, as I had considered Investment Banking as one of my potential career paths, so I decided to apply and got selected.
During the dinner, we met some female employees who shared their internship experiences, explained why they loved working for the company, and gave us some tips on how to get selected. Most of the participants were older and were applying for an internship or for the graduate program. I asked if I could apply for an internship and they told me that I should apply to do the Talent Lab this year, and an internship next year, and I followed their advice.
How do you feel your ie experience and/or the support of the talent & careers department helped you secure this opportunity?
The Talent & Careers department is always sharing great opportunities with us, and that’s how I discovered the Female Dinner in Madrid. The IE University Talent & Careers team also helped me prepare for the interview and gave me advice on the type of questions that I should expect and how to answer them.
What would you highlight about this experience?
For me, the best part about this experience is that I now see myself working for UBS. After learning about their culture and meeting the employees, solving the cases, and presenting the group project to the senior panel, I know this career path fits me well. When I apply for an internship at UBS, I will be confident that this is what I want to do.
What are the benefits of participating in events like this?
One of the biggest perks of the program is the opportunity to chat with graduates and managing directors, and ask them all kinds of questions and get real answers about their jobs and their daily lives at UBS. Also, you are surrounded by people with similar questions and interests as you, but from different academic backgrounds and countries, which makes it even more interesting and enriching. In addition, there is a session with mock interviews where you have the chance to answer real interview questions with HR professionals and employees from the departments you are interested in, and they give you tips for your future application process.
What tips would you give to other students interested in participating?
For the interview, my advice is to read up, be aware of what’s happening in the market, and do as much research as you can about the company. Before the Talent Lab, keep researching about the company. And during the three-day program, they will give you plenty of opportunities to ask questions and participate in the workshops—don’t be shy and get as much as you can out of the experience.