Great Pacific Securities

Intern

November 2023 • Costa Mesa, CA

What I liked

I liked and appreciated the mentorship I received from the CEO and everyone who worked there. Observing closely with the CEO and traders really allowed me to gain a strong understanding of the daily operations. It has been an excellent opportunity for me to gain experience and new knowledge of trading securities and investment banking.

What I wish was different

I wish I could have started sooner to gain even more time at the company.

Advice

It is essential to pay close attention to the traders and learn their lingo. Ask many questions, and the people there will be happy to help teach you things. Once you consistently come in to learn as much as possible, you will be pleased with how much new knowledge you gain.

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Fall Intern

August - December 2022 • Costa Mesa, CA

What I liked

Great Pacific Securities provides an abundance of knowledge in the fixed income market. Working closely with the trade desk exposed me to all the various types of fixed income securities, how they are traded, and why the figures are the way they are. You will also learn about the investment banking operations at Great Pacific Securities as they work on underwriting deals very often. The workplace culture was one that was very helpful, welcoming, and influential.

What I wish was different

At times you may feel that you could use more supervision but that is what school is for. In this office you are given a project and you are expected to deliver the best results you can on your own, as it would be in any professional workplace. With that said, you should seek advice when you need it.

Advice

Pay very close attention to the trade tickets and try to make sense of the figures. Pay very close attention to the traders do their work and try to pick up their lingo. Take the time to speak with everyone and you will find that they are happy to have you and share their knowledge of the markets with you.

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Securities Trading Intern

June - August 2021 • Costa Mesa, CA

What I liked

The hands on experience and the focus on learning. There was little if any busy work, everything had a purpose and helped me understand the field of finance and asset trading.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more time. I wish I had the opportunity to start the internship sooner in the summer.

Advice

Never say no. Accept every opportunity to learn and be taught.

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Summer Intern

June 2021 • Costa Mesa, CA

What I liked

It is one of a kind internship experience, highly recommended as a current intern. Interns are exposed to real life day to day front trading desk experience, from equity to fixed income. If you are 101% serious about becoming a future investment banker, institutional broker or trader, look no further, it is the right place to submit your resume. Learning subjects will include but not limited to Bloomberg Professional Terminal, Finra Trace system, blotter system and excel Macro/VBA models. It is shocking how much I have learned in last two months, and there are still much much more to learn. Yes working environment can get super intense, end of the day it is a very serious business. However, all my colleagues and mentors are super nice, helpful. They also try their best to make some jokes to keep us entertained. Be aware, projects I have worked on have been all real. If you are accepted into the program and you decided to come, remember it is not the place to have fun, screwing up your projects do mean the company lose money potentially. Be detail oriented, be mentally strong, have a winning mindset, and make sure to be smart to ask questions at right times.

What I wish was different

Nothing, it is a real business. Do not ask for the company to change anything, adapt in.

Advice

It is a program where you will work very hard, you may complain or may feel hard to keep it up. BUT I promise you will gain big if you made it to the end.

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