Intern Commute Time?

What is the maximum time you would commute each way as an intern?
1 hour?

While we're on the topic, analyst commute time?

Long commute times as an intern

If you are not working long hours commuting long distances is not usually an issue. A commute of around 45 minutes is reasonable if the hours are easy. You can also probably lower your cost of rent if you are willing to commute longer distances.

On the other hand, if you are working extremely long hours you do not want a long commute. A long commute can potentially take away hours of free time. Those hours of free time become extremely precious as you start working

The only finance FO finance jobs it makes sense to commute for would be a position that requires a lot of reading. I know many people in HFs AM and ER who prefer the 30-45 minute train ride because it gives them time to read the paper, reports etc. which they otherwise would have the chance to do because they would either spend that time sleeping and not do it when they get into the office.

If you are in banking though, commuting will pretty much push you over the edge.

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YMCM-IB:
I will have a 40 minute commute. Hopefully it doesn't suck.

ooohhh! When do you start? Let us know how you go if you get a chance! Cheers

"All things are difficult before they are easy" - Thomas Fuller
 

My first internship was a 45 minute commute and my second internship was a little over an hour. Never worked more than 50 hours/week at either of those so it was manageable. If you're doing IBD, I honestly would not be comfortable with a commute longer than 15 minutes.

 
Best Response

Back when I had an internship that I rarely required overtime, I didn't mind the 30-45 min commute. Anything above 20 minutes or so when you're working long hours is terrible. I know some who are able to get work done on the train or whatever, but it sounds miserable.

Even in horrible conditions, lots of snow or what have you, I wouldn't want it to take me longer than 45 mins tops. No more than 30 mins for the average day. If it was any longer I'd seriously be re-evaluating my housing situation. Only do the long commute thing if you can get free or dirt cheap rent, but realize the impact it's going to have not only on your sleep but quality of life/nightlife opportunities if you're into that.

 

Don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a similar question. I'm a junior whos probably going back to my sophomore job at a boutique PE fund. Its about an hour away door to door from my house, but I also want to network heavily and try to put more hours in at the fund. I'll be getting paid a living stipend but it won't be very much, and I'll likely lose money this summer. Does it make sense to get a place in the city (Toronto) or should I just commute?

 

My first internship was just under an hour drive (all expressway and no traffic made it quick and easy). It was pwm and it was the closest finance anything to my house and it was over 60 miles away.

For me personally, I would say I'd be willing to commute 1.5 hours each way, any more and it really sucks. But obviously for any internship in IB where you will be working 60+ hours, you shouldn't have a commute more than 20 min.

Funny thing is, one of the main guys at our career center commutes 2hrs each way to work and always tells students that until the commute is longer than his to do the internship.

 

You are in the office ~100-110 hours as a summer in IBD. There are 168 hours per week. Lets say you have 60 hours outside the office.

Now add 12 hours (1 hour each way, 6 days/week) of commuting: you now have reduced your "free" time by nearly 20%. I don't think anybody in finance likes paying Manhattan rents as an entry level employee. But there is almost no way to remain sane.

 
West Coast rainmaker:
You are in the office ~100-110 hours as a summer in IBD. There are 168 hours per week. Lets say you have 60 hours outside the office.

Now add 12 hours (1 hour each way, 6 days/week) of commuting: you now have reduced your "free" time by nearly 20%. I don't think anybody in finance likes paying Manhattan rents as an entry level employee. But there is almost no way to remain sane.

Couldn't say it much better.
I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

Last summer I was doing 20-minute commute by public transport. Best thing ever. I also lived right next to a major subway stop though.

Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

Depends on how many hours per day and days per week you work.

I interned twice a week 7 hours a day at a place 2 hours away (1 way), and didn't think it was too bad.

Then again, commuting to school took 1 hour each way, so I was quite used to long commutes.

 

1.5 hours to get from upper west side manhattan to stamford during internship few years ago. walk, metro north, shuttle. did it to balance social life and work life. not a smart way to use money or time. lesson: find cheaper place near work, have friends to crash with in city.

 
DeanPortman:
My first internship was an 1 hr 20 min at 530 AM...miserable

currently my commute is a 7 minute bike ride...doesnt get any better than that

Always wanted to hear from those that ride to work. Do you wear full suit for the bike ride? Get sweaty? Any problems?

"All things are difficult before they are easy" - Thomas Fuller
 
burnsy:
DeanPortman:
My first internship was an 1 hr 20 min at 530 AM...miserable

currently my commute is a 7 minute bike ride...doesnt get any better than that

Always wanted to hear from those that ride to work. Do you wear full suit for the bike ride? Get sweaty? Any problems?

no..dont have to wear a suit to work..just chinos and a wso/">shirt, so yea i get a bit sweaty cause i have my backpack...only problems are really when ppl dont pay attention when driving..ive had to knock on a few windows to stop drivers from hitting me...but its great to skip through lights and take roads that cars cant take (one ways and stuff)

I eat success for breakfast...with skim milk
 
DeanPortman:
My first internship was an 1 hr 20 min at 530 AM...miserable

currently my commute is a 7 minute bike ride...doesnt get any better than that

Who rides a bike to work? Did you confuse work with Occupy Wall Street protests?

Eventus stultorum magister.
 
Johnny Ringo:
DeanPortman:
My first internship was an 1 hr 20 min at 530 AM...miserable

currently my commute is a 7 minute bike ride...doesnt get any better than that

Who rides a bike to work? Did you confuse work with Occupy Wall Street protests?

People who live too close to the office to take public transportation but want to get an extra 20 minutes of sleep

I eat success for breakfast...with skim milk
 

Currently a freshmen doing a corporate finance internship.. I have two residences and the commute is 90 minutes (one way) from one of the residences and 20 minutes from the other. Unfortunately, I have to keep bouncing between the two residences so sometimes it gets irritating.

 
IBDaspirations:
Currently a freshmen doing a corporate finance internship.. I have two residences and the commute is 90 minutes (one way) from one of the residences and 20 minutes from the other. Unfortunately, I have to keep bouncing between the two residences so sometimes it gets irritating.
If this is because of a divorce agreement between your parents I would really suggest talking with them. A 3 hour round trip commute like that can really affect your productivity and happiness. Maybe you can see the 90 minute commute parent on the weekends. (I don't know how you feel about either - I'm just thinking about what you've provided.)
 

I've experienced the whole spectrum. Going to school near LA, the only method of transportation is car. You'd be a fool to even consider taking buses. First internship was 45 minutes one-way, but it was only once/twice a week. Second internship was 15 minutes one-way. Third internship at a boutique IB was 20 minutes one way. I'd say that 25-30 minutes is the most I can handle, before the internship starts to invade my social life/academics. That being said, if the opportunity is worth it, I'd drive up to an hour each way.

 

Can't go all the way, but after all it's an internship. Although my current workplace is 25~30min by car (which to be honest is still irritating), for learning experiences I'd consider max 1.5hrs (even for 12~14hr /day job)

couldn't let go of my pair of aces...
 

I had to be in by 7 last summer and didnt leave til around 6:30 or 7. I had a commute of a bit over an hour each way and it was horrible. Don't underestimate how great it is to get even an extra half hour of sleep in the mornings.

I'm like one of them marriage counselors. Charge by the hour to tell some fool he needa bring some flowers home. Then charge another hour telling the bitch she oughta suck some cock every little once in a while. Keep a marriage strong like that. -Prop Joe
 
Gate_Crasher:
Are we talking about one way or round trip ?

I am confused/

"What is the maximum time you would commute each way as an intern?"

"All things are difficult before they are easy" - Thomas Fuller
 

The only finance FO finance jobs it make sense to commute for would be a position that requires a lot of reading. I know many people in HFs AM and ER who prefer the 30-45 minute train ride because it gives them time to read the paper, reports etc. which they otherwise would have the chance to do because they would either spend that time sleeping and not do it when they get into the office.

If you are in banking though, commuting will pretty much push you over the edge

 
IamObama:
The only finance FO finance jobs it make sense to commute for would be a position that requires a lot of reading. I know many people in HFs AM and ER who prefer the 30-45 minute train ride because it gives them time to read the paper, reports etc. which they otherwise would have the chance to do because they would either spend that time sleeping and not do it when they get into the office.

If you are in banking though, commuting will pretty much push you over the edge

on the dot

 

My fault. I was leaving the office at 7 at night. The point is that even a marginally shorter commute can be a huge difference

I'm like one of them marriage counselors. Charge by the hour to tell some fool he needa bring some flowers home. Then charge another hour telling the bitch she oughta suck some cock every little once in a while. Keep a marriage strong like that. -Prop Joe
 

Sorry for bumping this old thread up. For those of you who are studying in small town colleges, do you guys travel to other cities for internships during fall and spring? I ask this because most students in big cities are able to do some part-time work and then take classes at the same time. I imagine students outside the big city do not have this privilege?

 

I did a nearly unpaid, 40 hr/wk i-banking internship fall semester of my junior year. The commute was ~1 hour each way and my pay didn't even cover my parking and tolls. While it felt ridiculous at the time, the internship was definitely a crucial factor in my ability to secure a full time position. If you have no other relevant IB experience and are approaching graduation, I recommend you take the position. You can always leave if you find something better.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Yeah, I agree with CB. I like the SCU program, but don't really consider it prime for IB type jobs. Having a relevant internship will go a long way towards recruiting if IB is what you want to do. Also helps that the program is at night.

 

Good luck man. I interned in NYC last summer and commuted 2 hours each way (1 hr drive, 1 hr train) with shit stipend and worked on the desk so I had to be in at 7:30am each day (woke up at 4:30) and finished around 6pm.

It sucked, but ended up in directly contributing to my landing a FT position (granted, at another firm).

People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for freedom of thought which they seldom use.
 

Totally worth it - I did an unpaid internship at a boutique for ~14 hrs/day with a 2 hour commute (though I did get a taxi back if I stayed past 10PM) last summer. During interviews for FT, I mentioned that I worked near banking hours unpaid because I really wanted to break in and they all took that well.

 

Are you on the island or in an outer borough?

Even if you're taking a cab, it's easier to be in the city because there are lots of cabs that are willing to take you to any of the neighborhoods (some parts of inwood and the heights are an exception). If you live in BK, QNZ or BX then you might have a harder time taking a cab. Unless of course the cab is a one of those limo cars ordered through your company's provider.

Another aspect to look at is your social life; on the weekends and late nights the trains are usually undergoing maintenance and more often than not you would have the urge to either assassinate an MTA representative, or just jump on the tracks infront of an incoming train because of the route changes and limited express/local services. Do you want to spend 2.5 hours commuting on a weekend or just 45 mins?

I may not be on the Jedi Council, but I sure am great with the Force. See my WSO blog posts
 

how much are you getting paid (worth to live in the city to get extra hours of sleep)? how far is the commute if you were to decide to stay at home? have you talked to people at the office whether you will need to work long hours?

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."
 

about 30 min from home. take bus, then take subway.

Not sure of my hours but it wont be anything late like IB.

 

Live at home... save some $$ and in a year - 2 years / whenever move out and know that you'll have money to fall back on and you'll be able to put down first months rent no prob.

Also, make friends who live in the city / hoboken / brooklyn and crash w/ them on the weekends, get the benefits couch surfing.

 

it can be done. a friend of mine lived in nassau county the summer he interned at GS s&t. he also had a gf in the city, so he would stay with her periodically if he had a night outing at work. still got an offer. that said, it certainly isn't for everyone. almost everyone else i knew who was from li or westchester when i interned stayed at an nyu dorm during the week and went home often on weekends.

 

If you're working downtown, and you're in banking (vs. S&T) definetely get a place downtown. You'll hate your life otherwise.

Remember, your internship is an 8 week long interview. You need to perform on very little sleep, so a shorter commute is a definete advantage. If you're exhausted, you're going to be slower and make more mistakes. The intern next to you with 2 extra hours of sleep a night will look like a superstar next to you.

Socializing with co-workers may not be worth it? Why not? Networking is one of the most important things to get the internship, the full time offer and to keep rising later on. Take every opportunity that you get to socialize with coworkers. That way, they'll remembmer you, teach you more, and gives you an opportunity to ask those stupid questions.

 

thanks for the input. i felt i might be being unreasonable looking for an apt downtown as my parents both work in the financial district and make the commute. However, viewing the whole experience as an interview is a good way of looking at it. Thanks again.

 

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