Back office Internship, to take or not to take?

I am currently a high school senior, going to a target school next year. I interviewed at a local quantitative Asset Management firm (40 billion AUM) and they have me a choice of two back office internships: IT or Product Management. They are currently launching a series of new funds. Would it be beneficial to take one of these two internships or would it be better to take summer classes and learn more finance on my own so that I have a shot at OCR in the fall? Also how would I go about asking if they could include more MO or FO duties? The name of the firm is INTECH. Thanks in advance for the comments and suggestions.

12 Comments
 

You will learn everything in School Take the internship Product Management and go thanks your dad for it! It is an amazing opportunity

Btw you probably wont do anything interesting! They wont give MO or FO duties.. Well I wouldnt you are too young However again great thing

 

Product Management. No brainer. Network within the firm for a better offer next year and when you are farther into your education. Having the experience will also help you stand out during OCR when you get to college.

 

@bamb92 lol at the dad comment. You couldn't find a less connected individual than I am: first-generation, low-income, not in major city.

Also I had an offer for the compliance department, if that makes a difference. Will a product management internship actually make much of a difference if I go for a FO internship for next summer like asset management in a investment bank? The last question I have is, what is the typical average salary for such a internship, or for product management in general?

 
Best Response

Considering you're a HS senior and will hence be a freshman at your target this fall, don't really think you'll be having a shot at OCR compared to more senior students 1) because you clearly know much less and 2) because firms won't want to waste a limited summer analyst spot on a freshman because you are then useless for 3 years to them (unless your dad got you in, which you say he didn't).

Working in any role at a large shop will just give you a name on your resume which is much faster than for most of the people you'll be competing with. As a recruiter, this would mean more to me that you clearly have a genuine interest in AM than if you know finance that much better than your competition since they clearly expect you to know nothing anyway. Take the internship, network with everyone you can at the firm and be thankful!

 

@Khameer33

So which of the options that I listed would you take? Also, there are freshmen programs through OCR such as the one at JPM and a few other places. Also, the lack of finance knowledge is not true, I got the PRM certification last year. However, I am not sure how to bring up the fact that I actually know a decent amount of finance without my interviewers laughing at me, since I am a current HS senior.

 
ikemblem@Khameer33

So which of the options that I listed would you take? Also, there are freshmen programs through OCR such as the one at JPM and a few other places. Also, the lack of finance knowledge is not true, I got the PRM certification last year. However, I am not sure how to bring up the fact that I actually know a decent amount of finance without my interviewers laughing at me, since I am a current HS senior.

Why in the fuck did you get the PRM?

Take the product role, perform well, and then go from there.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

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