All work, no play
The ID picture I used is 5 years old. Hah.
My summer wasn’t that bad after all. Waking up early everyday, receiving no allowance from the company, having to wear corporate attire every day… Not bad at all. Actually, scratch that. Probably the most difficult thing during my OJT (as stupid as this may sound) was picking an outfit every day. Guys have no problem with wardrobe because all they have to do is buy 3 or 5 barongs and no one will care that they’ve worn a million times. Unfair.
Yeahuh.
Anyway, I have just passed my final paper this morning so my “assessment” of the practicum is still fresh. I really enjoyed my OJT in the Treasury Department because I have finally experienced how a bank works. Our finance classes are pure textbook material compared to the hours me and my other co-trainees spent in the trading floor. We also had lectures and exams (ugh) during the practicum, but the atmosphere was more relaxing and encouraging since all kinds of dynamic activities surround us.
Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to trade GS, currencies or whatnot since a Treasury certification is required. Most of the time we sat with the traders and officers to observe and to listen to them as they explained the processes of tinkering with OPICs, PDex, Reuters and spreadsheets. And most of the time, we stared blankly into space because they were really really busy, especially the Forex division! Haay. We also got to answer the phone. It was sort of embarrassing since they had these special phones with too many buttons and sometimes I pressed the wrong ones. I got to give rates to a client on the phone… but with a LOT of help from one of the officers who dictated the rates for me since my mind blanked out and I couldn’t concentrate on Reuters.
From the brochure! I absolutely regret not taking pictures with our supervisor and the traders in the fab trading floor/room. The red mark is where the four of us sat most of the time. If an officer is on leave, we get to use their computer and surf the internet!
The officers/traders were very very nice, brilliant, silly and funny. lol. Especially our supervisor. The traders were mostly Ateneans and a few Lasallians, so there was quite a lot of teasing going on since all four of us were from DLSU. A local channel aired “classic” UAAP games between Ateneo and DLSU in the afternoons and they would sometimes switch the channels from Bloomberg to the game. Which reminds me, I am somewhat updated with the NBA thingie since they always watch the playoffs live before the start of trading.
I was also able to use my skillz when they asked us to prepare their power point presentations. I installed my animation program in one of the computers so they can continue putting sparkles and dazzles in their emails and presentations. During one of the “slow” days we’ve experienced, we tinkered around the GIF animation program as well as Blingee.
omg this was totally a group effort. We also made a GIF animation for one of their bowling championship email thingie. lol. I wasn’t able to save a copy.
Anyhoo, more happened but I can’t really type them all since they’re too ~personal~. I wish I was graduating already so I can already work and earn money. Haaaay. Bye.