If you are in college and hoping to use an internship to get your foot in the door of the financial industry, you are not alone. The competition for such slots will likely be intense, but the good news is that there are certain things you can do to enhance your chances of landing a position that will provide you with the skills and experience necessary to succeed in a variety of finance-related fields.
This article will highlight some of the important considerations to check off the proverbial list before going after that internship. If you know the approximate career path you want to take, why not get started as quickly as possible?
Key Takeaways
- An internship while in college can be a great way to get your foot into the door in the financial industry.
- Many financial firms offer summer internship programs which they then offer full-time positions from.
- The number of internship slots is limited and the competition is fierce given the high demand for these roles.
- Prospective candidates need to ensure they market themselves well to land an interview and then ace that interview to land the internship.
- Candidates need to make sure their resume is perfect, highlight relevant experience, apply early, and over prepare for the interview if they want to grab an internship.
1. Triple-Check Your Resume
First things first, you need to have a clean and clear resume. Proofread your resume for any spelling errors. Don't just trust the built-in spell-check program on your device and, if possible, have someone else read it too. Correct any spelling, style, or grammatical mistakes. Then, check it again. You can never proofread your resume too thoroughly.
Check your resume for any inaccuracies or situations where you may have stretched the truth—like where it says that you worked in "cash management," but the job really entailed working the register at Panera; or the job that shows you as holding a position in the entertainment industry, which actually was the job of a movie theater ticket-taker.
If a prospective employer uncovers a lie on the resume, application, or during the interview process, your candidacy could be revoked. Or, if you've already landed a role,then you could be fired.
Further, would-be interns should make sure that they're including the information that employers frequently want to know about, preferably toward the top of their resume, or in some other prominent place. You should describe all relevant experience you have in the industry, as well as any special knowledge you may have acquired in the field thus far.
2. Highlight Related Experience
It should be emphasized and, if possible, inserted in a highly visible place on the resume if you have
- Been part of a school's mockinvesting club
- Taken special economics classes
- Scored high marks in finance or statisticsclasses
- Worked in a fast-paced sales environment
If your practical job experience or participation in finance-related clubs or organizations is lacking, you might consider either attempting to garner that experience or else emphasizing your other marketable skills, such as your writing ability. Writing experience and a proven ability to communicate effectively are both qualities that are desirable in finance, where professionals and clients work together every day.
3. Year-Round Internships
Often, internship candidates don't give much thought to the internship they are trying to land during certain parts ofthe year—thinking that they happen only in the summer. But some universities and companies offer co-op positions throughout the year, and many encourage fall and spring internships,which opens up the time that students can be applying and landing intern positions.
So, be open to year-round opportunities. An internship at a good firm at any time of year could potentially lead to positive letters of reference, a much more impressive resume, and perhaps even a future job offer.
4. Apply Early
It should go without saying, but you should know the deadline for submitting an application, then make sure that you send it in on time.What's more, when working on your application, you should pay attention to its details; read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly.
Internships can be paid or unpaid. When deciding between a paid and unpaid internship, make sure the unpaid internship comes with additional benefits, such as more learning opportunities or a better "brand name" institution.
Your writing should be neat and easy to read; and preferably, you'll be typing into a computer form. Remember that employers receive a plethora—in some cases hundreds or even thousands—of applications for their internship positions, and making a great first impression is of the utmost importance.
5. Ace That Interview
It also should go without saying that you should be presentable—which generally means conservatively dressed—and on time for your interview. It is a good idea to visit the company's website to gain basic knowledge about the firm and to come prepared with some questions about topics that interest you.
You could, for example, ask about the company's strategy, what the employer expects from the intern, or about some of its products or services. Asking intelligent, thoughtful questions during an interview could convey the message that you are a thinker and are truly interested in the position and the organization.
You also should be prepared to answer questions, and not just about the nuts and bolts of the internship itself.
Some of the more popular open-ended interview questions include:
- What do you want to do with your life?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Why did you choose the major you did?
- Why are you interested in this profession?
- What do you bring to the table in terms of skill sets?
- What makes you different or special?
6. Demonstrate Flexibility
Interns may have set job duties. That is, their task might be to simply enter data into spreadsheets all day or to make cold calls; however, many times interns are used as "gofers"—as in go for this, or go for that—and are given tasks that nobody else in the office wants.
As such, your assigned tasks may vary frequently and may not be known by the employer at the time of your interview.For this reason, you should make it clear that you are willing to do grunt work and can be flexible based on the organization's needs.
7. Ask About Full-Time Roles
There is usually no guarantee that an internship will lead to a permanent placement at acompany. In some cases, though, it may not hurt to ask about full-time roles either during the interview or once you land the position. In fact, it may be good to ask because it conveys your interest in joining the organization, and gives the company some time to consider the possibility of hiring you full-time or creating a new position for you.
Searching for Internships
You may want toconsider taking time to visit the assigned guidance counselor at school to learnabout the many different types of financial services firms, and the number of slots they have available for internships.
It also is important to visitthe websites ofmajor firms, such as Goldman Sachsor Morgan Stanley, directly as sometimes they carry listings thatsome colleges won't.There are also a number of otherwebsites that cater to would-be interns. You also can search for "intern" or "internship" on any ofthe major onlinejobsitesto find a wide range of opportunities in your area.
It would be worthwhile to try to determine which firms might interest you the most or might be most consistent with your envisioned planned career path. For example, if your goal is to become a broker, a position at a retail brokerage might make sense. If you are ultimately hoping to become a fund manager, a position at a large mutual fund company might be appropriate. Gaining relevant experience in your field of interest early on means you'll be prepared when the ideal job opportunity comes around.
How Can I Get a Finance Internship With No Experience?
Some ways an individual can get a finance internship with no experience include high-level knowledge of finance, economics, business, and statistics, to demonstrate an understanding of the material; networking with anyone who may have a lead or contact; working closely with your college's career center, and reaching out to appropriate individuals on social media, such as on LinkedIn.
How Can I Prepare for an Internship in Finance?
If you have managed to land an internship in a financial institution then you want to ensure you are prepared from the moment you walk in the door on your first day. Tips to prepare for an internship in finance include understanding basic finance, economics, and business; being up to date on financial news; understanding the financial industry and the lingo; being comfortable with various software, primarily Excel; being extremely familiar with the company you are working for; practicing good communication skills, which include being personable, humble, eager to learn, asking the right questions, making yourself useful, and public speaking.
What GPA Do I Need for a Finance Internship?
A strong GPA is essential to landing a finance internship. With little to no work experience, human resource departments at financial institutions rely on a student's GPA as an indicator of their work ethic and intelligence. That being said, there is no specific GPA that would ensure an individual is hired. For example, an individual with a 3.3 GPA but excellent personable skills and a strong understanding of finance may beat out another student who has a 3.8 GPA, poor communication skills, and little knowledge of finance. Typically, individuals should try and have a 3.5 GPA or higher to ensure they are attractive candidates for internships at financial institutions.
The Bottom Line
Landing an internship doesn't need to be an overly stressful experience. These seven tips are practical guidelines that can help you to land a position, but it is the act of practicing them repeatedly—the search, itself—that is most valuable, as it will add to your reservoir of experience that will become your career.
