For interns - tips and tricks for getting attention on a busy desk

Today, what I would consider to be one of the top interns I've seen this year arrived at my desk pale, panicky and not in a good way.

I asked him what was wrong and he told me he was messing up on his new desk. Having watched this guy for a number of weeks and seen how capable he was its unlikely he's stuffing up - turns out he is on a very busy desk where no one has the time to even acknowledge you're there!

It reminded me of when I first started and after a few months of struggling to learn and get to grips with the ins and outs of my job, I decided it wasn't for me. My boss sat me down and gave me ideas of how to learn, be effective and make a good impression with the desk. It changed the course of my career.

He made me aware that while people didn't give the impression that they even knew I was there, they did, and were watching my moves. A lot of people in banking have had it hard and had to work their a**s off to get to where they are. This makes them less likely to hand it to you on a plate. You need to make the right moves first and earn their respect and then they'll be more likely to give you their time.

Here's how to do that:

Become Useful

Find the most junior person on the desk and find out what their morning tasks are. Printing research, typing a simple morning wrap, doing the coffee run? Offer to take some of these tasks off their hands. Believe me they will be more than happy to have the few extra minutes in bed! It also becomes a good way for you to be in the faces of the desk you are working on and allows them to see how you will fit into the junior role.

Be strategic and pick your moments

Look for your opportunity like a lion looks on its prey. Wait for members of the desk to be relaxed, maybe eating lunch, chatting to colleagues after the markets shut, and then approach. There is nothing worse than an intern asking if you are busy when you are frantically typing an email or have two phones to your ear!

Make sure when you pick your moment you are prepared. Have your questions ready, know what you're going to say so you don't faff and fumble.

Listen in on the phone

Too many interns are too scared to ask for this privilege but it is actually a great way to learn.

Most Sales and Sales Traders have 2 phones so ask if you can listen in on the other one when they are making their morning calls - listen, take notes, be interested and it will give you some questions and conversation topics to bring up with that person later on in the day. Make sure not to overstay your welcome - thank them for their time and ask if they have time could you follow up later.

Come up with ideas

Not all desks will have a great project for you. BE PROACTIVE. Come up with a good trading idea and send it round. Look for ideas that may make someone's life a bit easier or a process a bit quicker. I've seen interns take a spread sheet that teams have used for years and written Macros which make the sheet a hundred times better. This is value add. Try to follow what the desk is doing, who has the big tickets and in which names, and make sure the latest research is on that person's desk by the time they arrive in the morning.

Increase your Scope

You do not only interact with the people on the desk you're working on. I speak to people in different parts of the business every single day - maybe more than I speak to the guys who sit either side of me. Reach out and expand. If you're coming up with a trading idea and you're on a sales desk speak to the trader and get his view on the stock/idea, speak to stock loan and see what the short interest is on the name.

MAKE AN EFFORT. Not only will it make your project/idea better but it gives you the chance to demonstrate you're willing to talk to other people, you reach outside of the box without people telling you to and hey maybe in this process you'll find another desk you're interested in.

Ask for Feedback

Speak to the senior member of the team. Actively seek feedback on how you are doing and what you could do to be more useful. Don't over do it but it's important to show you really care what they think of you and that you want to improve.

The author is an anonymous saleswoman at a major investment bank.