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Is this an actual internship?
 

ormossa's picture
(Monkey, 33
 
Points)
 on 5/30/12 at 7:40pm

Long time WSO lurker here, but never really had any questions I couldn't find an answer to from prior posts. However, I couldn't find anything like this.

I am a sophomore who pursued an internship with a major energy company in their finance department, but did not get it. However, I was able to reach out to and convince a minor executive at the firm to allow me to work for him as an intern (completely unpaid), where I have been going to his office twice a week.

He couldn't get it HR approved or anything so there really is no record of me working there. However, he said that if my future employer were to call him, he would vouch for me that I did work there for him. However, there are other interns at this firm who are "official" and getting paid, who have records in the HR system.

Does anyone know if I can even put this on my resume? Thanks guys.

re-ib-ny's picture

Risky. Don't think there's

PE
(Gorilla, 690
 
Points)
 on 5/30/12 at 8:17pm

Risky. Don't think there's enough value in working for an energy company's finance department to warrant this.

prudentinvestor's picture

Yes you can put it on. At the

(Orangutan, 317
 
Points)
 on 5/30/12 at 9:11pm

Yes you can put it on. At the end of the day, assuming that prospective employers bother checking they will contact your references first. Also be up front about it at interviews. Write on your resume that you worked there but at the interview explain what actually happened.

bullbythehorns's picture

The firm you end up working

O
 
Points)
 on 5/30/12 at 9:12pm

The firm you end up working for full time will do a full background check on your registered places of employment. I got flagged for not listing the restaurant I worked at freshman summer. Might come back to bite you (doubtful) but if this is all you have for the summer take it and cross the aforementioned bridge when you get there.

Here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

Cries's picture

of course you can. Thats

HF
 
Points)
 on 5/30/12 at 9:24pm

of course you can. Thats what I did after working under an MD at a notable consulting firm - off the records, of course.

cphbravo96's picture

Yeah, just explain the

PE
 
Points)
 on 5/30/12 at 10:02pm

Yeah, just explain the scenario if you are asked. Chances are it's unofficial because in many/most states you can't actually work for free, so the company either has to pay you or you have to get school credit for it. If you are volunteering your time under the table, that is great...it will show employers that you will make sacrifices to get the experience you want/need.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan

In reply to bullbythehorns
BTbanker's picture

bullbythehorns: The firm you

IB
 
Points)
 on 5/30/12 at 10:17pm
bullbythehorns:

The firm you end up working for full time will do a full background check on your registered places of employment. I got flagged for not listing the restaurant I worked at freshman summer. Might come back to bite you (doubtful) but if this is all you have for the summer take it and cross the aforementioned bridge when you get there.

Wait, so they expect you to put down every single employer on your resume?

"A man generally has two reasons for doing anything. One that sounds good, and the real one." - J.P. Morgan

In reply to Connor
Neighbor's picture

Connor: bullbythehorns: The

IB
(King Kong, 1,236
 
Points)
 on 5/30/12 at 11:20pm
Connor:
bullbythehorns:

The firm you end up working for full time will do a full background check on your registered places of employment. I got flagged for not listing the restaurant I worked at freshman summer. Might come back to bite you (doubtful) but if this is all you have for the summer take it and cross the aforementioned bridge when you get there.

Wait, so they expect you to put down every single employer on your resume?

I've not listed many jobs I had and never have gotten in trouble for it.

I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

blackjack21's picture

If you weren't able to put

(Orangutan, 280
 
Points)
 on 5/31/12 at 12:32am

If you weren't able to put this on your resume what's the point of working there. After all that's the reason college kids do crappy unpaid internships.

Just like one of y'all looking for a chance.
My Finance and Investing blog: http://froginvestor.blogspot.com

In reply to Neighbor
roymondito's picture

Neighbor: Connor: bullbyt

IB
 
Points)
 on 5/31/12 at 12:33am
Neighbor:
Connor:
bullbythehorns:

The firm you end up working for full time will do a full background check on your registered places of employment. I got flagged for not listing the restaurant I worked at freshman summer. Might come back to bite you (doubtful) but if this is all you have for the summer take it and cross the aforementioned bridge when you get there.

Wait, so they expect you to put down every single employer on your resume?

I've not listed many jobs I had and never have gotten in trouble for it.

I think bullbythehorns might be referring to the forms HR has you fill out after you get an offer (background check stuff) rather than the resume. No one expects you to list every work experience on a resume.

Moneyball's picture

cool post. i almost have the

ER
 
Points)
 on 5/31/12 at 12:47am

cool post. i almost have the exact situation, but even more ambiguous. My situation is that I'm writing research reports for a portfolio manager at quite a large investment firm. I had applied for them about a year ago as an equity analyst, but was subsequently rejected. i asked if i may write equity research reports for free (pro bono), and send it to him through e-mail, as we live in different states. we also talk on the phone for a while to discuss my report. as a recent graduate with no experience in finance, i am desperate to put something finance related on my resume, as I really want to get into ER. do you think it is appropriate to put it on my resume, but of course be honest about the nature of the relationship? thanks

Moneyball
See my other WSO blog posts

In reply to roymondito
bullbythehorns's picture

roymondito: Neighbor: Con

O
 
Points)
 on 5/31/12 at 2:01am
roymondito:
Neighbor:
Connor:
bullbythehorns:

The firm you end up working for full time will do a full background check on your registered places of employment. I got flagged for not listing the restaurant I worked at freshman summer. Might come back to bite you (doubtful) but if this is all you have for the summer take it and cross the aforementioned bridge when you get there.

Wait, so they expect you to put down every single employer on your resume?

I've not listed many jobs I had and never have gotten in trouble for it.

I think bullbythehorns might be referring to the forms HR has you fill out after you get an offer (background check stuff) rather than the resume. No one expects you to list every work experience on a resume.

Yes I was referring to the background check. Its relevant to OP however because if he lists this energy firm on his resume, gets an offer down the road from someone who does such a background check on firms listed on your resume, and there is a blank gap in employment because OP was not registered as an employee, it may draw some questions.

Here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

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