What makes a successful finance internship

For many students, a finance internship is where academic knowledge finally meets the realities of the corporate world. For Vanshika Jain, PGDM (Finance & Operations) at Apeejay School of Management, that experience came through her internship with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance.

Internships are often where learning becomes real. For Vanshika Jain, interning at Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance opened her eyes to how financial principles take shape in everyday business decisions. “It was the first time I could connect classroom concepts with real client data,” she shares. “The internship taught me that finance isn’t just about calculations; it’s about understanding people, patterns, and precision.”

During her internship, Vanshika worked with analytical and visualisation tools like Microsoft Excel and Power BI, while exploring financial models and data interpretation. She also learnt how platforms used in the financial sector simplify complex data for strategic decision-making.

Working on live projects gave her a sense of responsibility, discipline, and attention to detail; qualities she believes are vital for anyone entering the financial domain. These hands-on experiences helped her move beyond theory and develop confidence in her analytical approach.

Equally important were the soft skills she gained. From presenting findings to collaborating with mentors, Vanshika learnt how clarity and communication matter as much as technical expertise. “Explaining numbers in a way that others can easily understand was one of my biggest takeaways,” she said.

The experience, she believes, has been transformative. It strengthened her understanding of how financial data supports decision-making and deepened her appreciation for teamwork, adaptability, and time management.

For Vanshika and many students like her, an internship is more than a résumé milestone; it’s a journey of growth that prepares them for the real challenges and opportunities of the finance world.