Which office to apply to in order to have greatest shot at getting an internship?

I heard that the locations you select when applying can very much influence whether or not you get the internship. Should I always put the main office location as my first choice location to maximize the chance of getting the internship? Ideally, I'd want to work full time in LA...

 
alexpasch:
If you want to work full time in LA, and they have an LA position, why wouldn't you apply for that position?
Well a friend of mine told me that the location you pick might determine whether you get the job and that it might be smarter to get a job first and then negotiate location later (like after you get a full time job offer haha).
 

Better idea...apply to the office where you want to work. Get the interview, do well, get the offer, accept THEN worry about 'trying' to negotiate.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
happypantsmcgee:
Better idea...apply to the office where you want to work. Get the interview, do well, get the offer, accept THEN worry about 'trying' to negotiate.

...right but then you wouldn't need to negotiate because you'd have gotten the offer in the office you want to work...

I'm also curious as to the OP's question...I'm interested in working in NYC FT, but I know for a fact that one of the MBBs only had 7 interns in their NYC office last summer. Probably 20-30 in Boston. Should I try applying for Boston for Junior Summer and then try to transfer to NYC for FT?

 
aspiringbankerchick:
happypantsmcgee:
Better idea...apply to the office where you want to work. Get the interview, do well, get the offer, accept THEN worry about 'trying' to negotiate.

...right but then you wouldn't need to negotiate because you'd have gotten the offer in the office you want to work...

I'm also curious as to the OP's question...I'm interested in working in NYC FT, but I know for a fact that one of the MBBs only had 7 interns in their NYC office last summer. Probably 20-30 in Boston. Should I try applying for Boston for Junior Summer and then try to transfer to NYC for FT?

My thoughts exactly... Really hope someone can give us some insight into this - applications are due pretty soon for me.

 
Best Response

Alright, maybe I was a bit of a dick but look at it this way. The 'more popular' offices also generally have more openings. (IE New York is where most people want to work but also, usually, has the most openings.) I would apply to the office that you want.

My buddy works at Deloitte Strategy and he interned in DC as that was close to where he was from so he wanted to go 'home' for the summer. When it came time for FT recruiting, he obviously got a FT return offer from DC and had to fight tooth and nail to try to change his offer to Boston. So, long story short, apply to where you want to work and worry about trying to change it later. If you are good enough to work there, they'll find a place to put you regardless of what you put as the first choice on your application

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

I've been through the internship recruiting process and noticed that MBB absolutely does not want their interns to switch locations for FT unless its for a very good reason.

To prevent it, many firms prefer to recruit locally for the summer (eg: Boston office wants kids from local schools so theres more of a chance they wont want to switch offices for FT).

Unless you have a strong connection or are a stellar candidate, I would say your best chances to just get into the firm would be to recruit at the closest office to you as they would expect. Then maybe try to move around once you're in the firm.

Just my experience, others may have seen it differently.

 

The other thing I'd make sure is that the office actually takes on summers. Don't waste a choice on an office that won't hire you. I know some offices of some firms will not hire interns from UG and then hire a big FT class to make up for it.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of Starwood Points
 
petergibbons:
The other thing I'd make sure is that the office actually takes on summers. Don't waste a choice on an office that won't hire you. I know some offices of some firms will not hire interns from UG and then hire a big FT class to make up for it.

Thanks for the advice - I'll try making phone calls to make sure...

 

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