Koen de Dreu

Dear Hiring Manager,

I would like to apply to the Equity Research Analyst position at KBC Bank in Brussels, Belgium.

At time of writing, I am a student of political economy and international relations at the University of Amsterdam. This is a top ranked program at a world class university (ranked 9th to 18th globally in political science). The program is a very selective one, with an acceptance rate of 5%.

During my studies, I was also engaged in professional work. I worked at a public relations analytics company and later as a trading assistant for the biggest stock brokers in Europe. In that capacity, I was responsible for maintaining good relations with high profile clients and assisting them in their trading activities while being in a position at 21 where the usual age is 26.

Here, I was successful in acquiring several multi-million Euro portfolios for the company. During my undergraduate studies, I was very involved in one of the major governing political parties in the Netherlands, as both an organizer for the local youth political group and as a liaison between the members and the parliamentary faction. In this capacity, I was responsible for communicating visions of party members and laying out policy proposals to several members of the national and European parliament.

I believe I am suitable for this job for several reasons. This internship involves relationship management, which is something I already have experience with from my time at flatexDEGIRO. I am hard working, which is illustrated by the fact that I was pursuing a master’s degree and a job at the largest stock broker in Europe at the same time.

This occasionally required 60-hour work weeks. This job requires working in a team, which is also something I excel at. Most of my previous education and work was very team-focused and I have learnt well how to operate in both a small and a large firm.

I have I am very flexible and curious, both traits that would suit this job well. My significant other is French-American, so I have gotten very used to travelling all over the world on a regular basis and interacting with different cultures. I thrive on operating in an international, challenging workspace.

I particularly appreciate KBC Bank because of its vision of customer centricity. Putting the customer first is the key to a successful and sustainable business and ultimately a way to make the economy function better. KBC also excels at innovation and implementing digital solutions.

I would love to be a part of an innovative environment like that. I also think I would be a valuable addition to the firm because I speak Dutch and English fluently and have a proficient understanding of French. All in all, I am attracted to KBC bank due to its reputation as a world class bank.

Based on the previous reasons, I am confident that I would make an excellent fit for the role and the firm. Please do not hesitate to contact me in case of any questions and I am looking forward to the interview.

Kind regards,

Koen de Dreu

I have been working as a Trading Assistant since June 2022. Here, I learnt the intricacies of the financial world. I also learned how to maintain client relations. I was responsible for assisting clients in trading and

Master's degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations and Political Economy from the world renowned University of Amsterdam