Jonathan Hunter, head of global markets (left) and Simona Poroshenko, analyst, funding and liquidity, at RBC.Supplied
Even before Simona Poroshenko started working full-time as an analyst in the funding and liquidity group with RBC Capital Markets, she was well prepared for the job. And for that she can thank one of the many Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) programs designed to help young people make the challenging transition from education to employment.
Over the course of two summer internships and a full-time rotational program with Capital Markets, Poroshenko gained practical work experience, enhanced her knowledge and skills, and received regular coaching, mentoring and career advice.
“Even as an intern, you go to client events,” she says. “I thought that was cool since not many entry-level employees get to do that. I found them invaluable and fascinating.”
Poroshenko’s career journey started when she was studying commerce at the University of Toronto and was accepted into an RBC Capital Markets mentorship program. Open to students interested in pursuing a career in finance, the program provides one-on-one mentoring and delivers an in-depth introduction to capital markets.
It also provides an early opportunity for participants to connect with other students and begin building a network of peers. “A lot of colleagues from my cohort work right here beside me,” says Poroshenko, who now mentors more recent participants.
After her second internship, she embarked on an eight-month stint in the graduate rotational program, where participants determine which one of RBC Capital Markets’ diversified business lines interest them most.
“It’s an incredible place to launch your career,” Poroshenko says. “There are so many opportunities to learn, and the collaborative culture allows me to bring new ideas forward that have real world impact.
“And fortunately, my managers are always there to support and guide me. When I wasn’t sure which business to try next, human resources helped me choose a path to round out my experience and build my skills. They still check-in regularly with me to see how I’m doing.”
Like Poroshenko, Jonathan Hunter launched his career with RBC Capital Markets, joining what was known in 1991 as its dealer trainee program. Since then, he’s held a succession of increasingly senior roles, and in 2020 was appointed head of global markets, a key unit within RBC Capital Markets.
The name of the training program may have changed but its intrinsic value remains exceptional, Hunter says.
“RBC Capital Markets has a flat organizational structure where early-career professionals are immediately part of a team,” he says. “Young people bring bold ideas and fresh perspectives and are encouraged to voice their thoughts and opinions.”
Each year, RBC supports thousands of students from different educational backgrounds in exploring various career paths within the bank. In 2025, RBC hired nearly 3,000 students from universities, colleges and high schools around the world for internships, co-ops and work term placements across the bank.
RBC Amplify, for one, is an intensive summer innovation program where cross-functional teams of students have just 16 weeks to develop ground-breaking ideas and solutions that address some of the real-world challenges that confront RBC clients and internal teams.
Since Amplify was introduced in 2016, 677 students have participated in the program and 190 are now full-time employees. With a focus on making ideas happen, program participants have helped enable RBC to file more than 200 patent applications to date.
Hunter says that RBC offers a vast array of career opportunities thanks to its size, global reach and diversity of businesses. And it would seem that variety and meaningful experiences have an evergreen appeal.
“Every day is different,” Hunter says. “I’m continuously presented with new challenges and opportunities and finding new ways to grow and contribute.”
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