How To Correctly Insert Future Internship/Position Into Resume

Hey everyone,

Today I accepted a position at a BB (GS, JPM, MS) as a GWM intern.

What I am wondering is if Is it frowned upon to put this in my resume NOW, without actually starting the internship yet?

If it is not, could I get some advice on how to correctly word it in my resume? Thanks.

~ GrandJury

Upcoming Internship Experience on Resume

Users on the forum have mixed opinions regarding the question of whether or not to include an upcoming position on your resume. Generally speaking - it is wise to only put current or past experience on your resume.

User @NorthSider", a private equity associate, shared this sentiment saying:

NorthSider - Private Equity Associate:
The point of your resume is to be an exhibit of experience that you have and things that you have done. Putting a future position on your resume looks a bit desperate.

User @Nouveau Richie", a corporate development associate, took the opposite perspective sharing that it was okay to share your upcoming internship experience:

Nouveau Richie - Corporate Development Associate:

I would say it isn't unreasonable to include for stuff like conferences and scholarships when you're still a student, as the actual offer itself can be a signal of a competitive candidacy in some cases.

That being said, you should only do it if you've already signed and it should only include three things:

  1. Name of the company
  2. Title as "Incoming [real title]" (e.g. "Incoming Global Wealth Management Intern")
  3. Start date instead of a date range: "Starting May 2013"

Don't include more than that. Be understated about it.

Sample Resume Lines

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney | New York, NY
Incoming Global Wealth Management Intern | Starting May 2013

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The point of your resume is to be an exhibit of experience that you have and things that you have done. Putting a future position on your resume looks a bit desperate.

Out of curiosity, what do you need a resume for if you've already accepted an internship?

"For all the tribulations in our lives, for all the troubles that remain in the world, the decline of violence is an accomplishment we can savor, and an impetus to cherish the forces of civilization and enlightenment that made it possible."
 
BTbanker:
I was thinking of becoming global head in about 10 years. Any way I can wriggle that into my res? Perhaps after my aristocratic middle name?
So frat.
NorthSider:
The point of your resume is to be an exhibit of experience that you have and things that you have done. Putting a future position on your resume looks a bit desperate.

Out of curiosity, what do you need a resume for if you've already accepted an internship?

I understand where you are coming from. However, I've also seen some resumes in this forum before which have had "future" expected positions on them and they were pronounced OK so I didn't know if it was deemed acceptable or not.

And it is for a Big 4 leadership program/conference.

 
GrandJury:

I understand where you are coming from. However, I've also seen some resumes in this forum before which have had "future" expected positions on them and they were pronounced OK so I didn't know if it was deemed acceptable or not.

And it is for a Big 4 leadership program/conference.

I would say it isn't unreasonable to include for stuff like conferences and scholarships when you're still a student, as the actual offer itself can be a signal of a competitive candidacy in some cases. Obviously as you start to get to the point in your career when people have actual accomplishments the practice becomes pretty ridiculous, but for now it's harmless (and in fact, still possibly helpful).

That being said, you should only do it if you've already signed (in your case, it seems you have) and it should literally only include three things: 1.) Name of the company 2.) Title as "Incoming [real title]" (e.g. "Incoming Global Wealth Management Intern") 3.) Start date instead of a date range: "Starting May 2013" Literally don't include more than that, if you want to go on about what sort of things you will be learning and doing in the internship, save all that shit for the interview. Be understated about it, selling future results will make people assume you're full of shit.

In this case, should take no more than two resume lines:

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney | New York, NY Incoming Global Wealth Management Intern | Starting May 2013

“Millionaires don't use astrology, billionaires do”
 
GrandJury:
I understand where you are coming from. However, I've also seen some resumes in this forum before which have had "future" expected positions on them and they were pronounced OK so I didn't know if it was deemed acceptable or not.

And it is for a Big 4 leadership program/conference.

If it's for a conference, I think that you can get away with putting it on there without any bullet points. But I wouldn't put it on there for interviews or any professional correspondence.

"For all the tribulations in our lives, for all the troubles that remain in the world, the decline of violence is an accomplishment we can savor, and an impetus to cherish the forces of civilization and enlightenment that made it possible."
 

I have a similar issue. I've accepted an internship that will start in a couple of months but as it only lasts for a few months and I am seeking further internship opportunities afterwards, what would be the best way to go about this? This internship experience based on division and brand name will definitely bolster my chances for further internships, so in that sense I would like to bring it up but I understand the pointers coming regarding it shouldnt be on a resume as that is supposed to exemplify experience, which I do not have yet from this internship.

Perhaps mention it on a cover letter? It certainly will help me get further interviews for internships due to the nature of the work and it is what I am focused on regardless of me not knowing exactly what I will be doing and accomplishing.

 
trionfatore:
I have a similar issue. I've accepted an internship that will start in a couple of months but as it only lasts for a few months and I am seeking further internship opportunities afterwards, what would be the best way to go about this? This internship experience based on division and brand name will definitely bolster my chances for further internships, so in that sense I would like to bring it up but I understand the pointers coming regarding it shouldnt be on a resume as that is supposed to exemplify experience, which I do not have yet from this internship.

Perhaps mention it on a cover letter? It certainly will help me get further interviews for internships due to the nature of the work and it is what I am focused on regardless of me not knowing exactly what I will be doing and accomplishing.

If you absolutely must put it on your resume, put it as a single line item with no bullet points beneath it. No details other than "Expected..." I just don't think this is a great idea, given the risk that something falls through and you don't end up doing the internship.

Although the reality is that people want to hire students that are "in-demand", in theory, no one wants to hire you for something you haven't done, that's why it is somewhat strange to put it on your resume.

"For all the tribulations in our lives, for all the troubles that remain in the world, the decline of violence is an accomplishment we can savor, and an impetus to cherish the forces of civilization and enlightenment that made it possible."
 

I remember seeing future internships listed in either a Columbia or Wharton resume book that was passed around here. If I remember correctly, they listed the actual start date as the start date and a one liner after the pertinent information with something to the effect of "Accepted offer (date)".

I would only do this if the offer you accepted is halfway decent or it's really going to stick out. You probably aren't going to be interviewing for many positions during your internship and if you do, they'll likely be connected to your internship in some fashion so people will be aware of the internship without the awkward resume entry.

Just think about it for a sec. This is really only useful if you're doing blind resume drops and your success rate isn't going to be that great there anyway. If you're actually networking and reaching out to people, you may not have it awkwardly listed on your resume but you will definitely mention it and if you don't piss them off you will be remembered as the kid from x school with x internship.

 

Definitely agree with you. I am actually planning to network and that way I will bring it up that way, but if I do not have any networking opportunity and have to submit an application online I do not know what to do. Do not want to put it in my resume, but I would like to somehow indicate it as everyone should know that it will provide me with a skillset that is pretty much identical to the work for the intern positions I will want to be applying for after this internship and should help.

Some places just close their fall intern recruiting right now for instance and feel with my current resume would not even have a proper chance for even an interview.

 
trionfatore:
Definitely agree with you. I am actually planning to network and that way I will bring it up that way, but if I do not have any networking opportunity and have to submit an application online I do not know what to do. Do not want to put it in my resume, but I would like to somehow indicate it as everyone should know that it will provide me with a skillset that is pretty much identical to the work for the intern positions I will want to be applying for after this internship and should help.

Some places just close their fall intern recruiting right now for instance and feel with my current resume would not even have a proper chance for even an interview.

If you really feel that you have no shot unless you put your expected internship on your resume, then you have nothing to lose by putting it on there. Definitely not the ideal, but better than having no shot at all.

"For all the tribulations in our lives, for all the troubles that remain in the world, the decline of violence is an accomplishment we can savor, and an impetus to cherish the forces of civilization and enlightenment that made it possible."
 
Orbit:
I don't think you should put your future internship on the resume in general. The point of the resume should be to show past experience.

And especially if it's for the SA book. You all will be working at the same place. The point of that book is to give a sense of your own background and differentiate yourself a little from the other interns.

Agree.

Also, when summer networking (early FT recruiting) starts rolling around in August and they ask for your resume, then you should have your internship labeled.

The world has changed. And we must change with it.

------------ I'm making it up as I go along.
 

From what all my career and school advisers have told me, you shouldn't put it on there. It's a hard decision because you obviously want some experience in there. I would focus on the same things flipsorry mentioned on his post. You can write one line about it explaining the internship is expected to start in the spring but since that's all you can write, you can just put in in your Cover Letter rather than the Resume. Best of Luck!

 

Considering you have no finance experience on your resume, I would probably lean towards putting it on. However, the big mistake here is when people put these anticipated positions on their resume under work experience. It DOES NOT belong under work experience since you have not yet started your position and, hence, have not yet accumulated any experiences. Instead, put it towards the bottom of your resume in your last section (skills, hobbies, whatever) and leave it as a one-liner stating the company, position and group, start date. That keeps it clean and clear while still getting the point across. Once you start the position, however, it can go right into work experience and you can begin filling it up with experiences. Good luck.

 

The most play you would want to give to something like that is, as mentioned, in the additional information section at the bottom of your resume. Just a brief mention, absolutely no bullet points or dates.

 

Sounds good, thanks for y'all's help

"Understanding reality, and financial markets in particular, is a never ending process." - George Soros
 

With the way the program is structured it would be a little difficult for me to have any early involvement, but I went ahead and put it on my app resumes, no bullets or anything just a little "expected" note

"Understanding reality, and financial markets in particular, is a never ending process." - George Soros
 

I think you can't go wrong with that. It shouldn't be the feature of your resume anyway, but a more minor supporting point, so you should be ok. I do think it may be better to list it in your narrative statement/cover letter/essay/etc. in lieu of the resume; however you risk it not being read if it's not in the resume. Just thinking in terms of screeners separated from hiring managers.

Let us know how it turns out!

-B http://www.bburkeconsulting.com

 

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