‘The course at this institute prepared me for real-world investment decisions’

She is, at present, pursuing a PGDM in Finance and Operations at Apeejay School of Management (ASM). Her strong interest in finance stems from understanding how data-driven insights support real-world investment decisions. She recently completed her internship at Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance as a Finance Intern, where she conducted fundamental and technical analysis of private sector banking stocks, applied financial modeling, and explored practical trading strategies. Alongside academics, she has actively contributed to the Finance Club and E-Cell, strengthening my leadership and analytical skills. Meet Vanshika Jain.

In a candid interview, she talks about how the ASM programme helped her during the internship.

Can you walk us through a typical day during your internship?

A typical day started with market analysis, tracking private banking stock performance and macroeconomic updates. Then, I worked on collecting and analysing financial data. Afternoons were focused on technical analysis and back testing to assess trading indicators. I also documented my findings and updated my mentor on progress. Toward the end of each week, I prepared reports summarising insights from the ongoing analyses and strategy results.

The most valuable lesson you have learnt to date.

That data-driven decisions outperform emotional decisions in finance. I realised how discipline, patience, and rational analysis can minimise risk and maximise returns; something retail investors often overlook. It also reinforced the importance of risk management and diversification in real-world investing.

How have your classroom learnings at ASM helped you during your internship?

Subjects like Financial Management, Business Analytics, and Security Analysis & Portfolio Management were particularly useful. For example, understanding ratios, DCF valuation, and portfolio diversification from class helped me analyse 13 private banks and evaluate investment opportunities during my internship. The emphasis on Excel and data visualisation in our coursework also made it easier to work with tools like Excel and Power BI efficiently.

How do you plan to apply the knowledge gained from this internship in your final year and future career?

I plan to integrate the analytical and modeling skills I gained into my final-year projects and future finance roles. The internship strengthened my understanding of investment analysis, risk evaluation, and financial modeling, which are crucial for roles like Financial Analyst or Equity Research Associate. I also plan to use this experience to participate in finance competitions, club activities.

How did you prepare for this internship interview, and what helped you stand out?

I prepared by revising core finance concepts like ratio analysis, DCF valuation, and stock market fundamentals. I also practised explaining market trends confidently and built a strong resume highlighting my Finance Club involvement and academic projects. What helped me stand out was my keen interest in both fundamental and technical analysis, and my ability to connect theory with real-world financial decision-making, which aligned with Bajaj Allianz’s analytical approach.