junior at target with no internship
Hi everyone,
I'm a junior with a low GPA at a target school. Due to COVID and personal stuff, I have had a really tough couple of years that have affected all aspects of my life, including my academic performance. I'm a first-generation and low-income student so I have had basically no support or guidance throughout college and as a result I'm in a bad place now. I've wanted to post for a while as this is the only place I can really go for advice.
Obviously, I'm feeling really discouraged and stressed. I want to go into consulting after college but I got rejected from all the internships I applied to this fall. I didn't get a single first-round interview. I did an internship last summer in data science, for context, so if you have any advice, it would be much appreciated.
I'm applying for internships again now that it is winter break but I don't even know where to look. I was hoping to work for a company as a business analyst but I'm having a hard time thinking about which companies would look best when recruiting for full time next year. I was thinking marketing could also be a good option since this could provide me with a unique perspective of promoting products to consumers which I could spin in interviews (if I get them) next fall. I would also love to do economic consulting, but I know most firms are done recruiting (although I'm seeing a lot of postings from Charles River Associates who I know would reject me so I'm scared to apply). I'm desperate at this point and am willing to do almost anything, as long as it is paid. Any tips would be appreciated.
Thank you so, so much for your time and input. It is much appreciated.
Sincerely,
A struggling and discouraged junior
I’m a junior too- I recruited into a middle market consulting firm, and I didn’t get into MBB and it was tough too, so I understand your pain somewhat. I know that consulting does recruitment for internships early, but depending on the city/cities you’re looking at, there are smaller boutique firms that will start recruiting in the spring. They were on my list and when I went to do networking calls this summer they told me their recruitment cycle was a ways away. Did you network with any of these places? Even with a low GPA, having someone advocate for you from the inside based on something you have in common (school, major, hometown, etc) can help you get your foot in the door and maybe into those first rounds. I wish you the best of luck!!
You should apply to get whatever decent internship you can in a field that you'd like to work in upon graduation. Marketing can be a great field and it sounds like you're interested in it. I'd start with your campus recruitment fairs for internships
Honestly with low GPA (not sure how low but assuming <3.0 here) and having missed the primary wave of recruitment for competitive internships (fall), the good consulting jobs just might not be realistic goals right now. It's not the end of the world (really it's not - first job out of college doesn't define your career and consulting probably isn't as cool as you may have it hyped up internally), I'd just suggest optimizing around more realistic jobs upon graduation
Network, email MDs at MM/lower MM banks. I’m happy to chat, we take interns.
Honestly from a target leave gpa off put on test scores (since you’re in a target they must be super strong) get a solid resume template and format and fluff that shit up with your clubs and stuff. A lot of companies will throw you a bone for being at a target if it’s not after the most sought out positions ie IB/MBB
I sent a private message.
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