Best internship/junior role to aim for?

Fecking second time to post this as I lost the last one somehow.. public library connection :(

I've discussed this in another thread where I was asking for advice about breaking into finance but my background is 2.1 BA degree and 1.1 postgraduate degree, again non-finance. (These are European qualifications, 1.1 is first class hons). I'm going to be doing masters in finance/investment in 2013 and have started the ACCAs and am continuing with other self-study.

I'd love to get a junior role/internship which would be of benefit to me in breaking into an analyst role in the future and would really appreciate suggestions as to what I can aim for given my background and lack of financial work experience. I've worked mainly in archaeology since i graduated but do have a crappy 2 month account payable temp role (useless of course).

I've seen advertisements for fund admin internships but can't see how that would be too useful in itself, or should I be looking to get my foot in the door and take a not so perfect internship?

Would really appreciate your advice. P.S I'm hungry so will be happy to graft all the way!

11 Comments
 

Man it's going to be tough with your GPA that's for sure. At this point it doesn't matter what you do just try breaking into it however you can. Are you more interested in a sales&trading position or an Investment Banking position or what? Different positions will require you to carry out different actions in order to increase your chances of making it.

"Well, you know, I was a human being before I became a businessman." -- George Soros
 
Futures Trader ManMan it's going to be tough with your GPA that's for sure. At this point it doesn't matter what you do just try breaking into it however you can. Are you more interested in a sales&trading position or an Investment Banking position or what? Different positions will require you to carry out different actions in order to increase your chances of making it.

Edit: Thanks to those who explained the 2.1 and 1.1! I thought it was the same way of grading at uni level in the US as here (Ireland). Anyway, yes, here 1.1 is first class honours, 2.1 is the nearest thing to first class honours. I've also won a UNESCO scholarship based on my postgrad degree score in first semester. My academic results are good.

 
Best Response
bobbiebrown
Futures Trader ManMan it's going to be tough with your GPA that's for sure. At this point it doesn't matter what you do just try breaking into it however you can. Are you more interested in a sales&trading position or an Investment Banking position or what? Different positions will require you to carry out different actions in order to increase your chances of making it.

Edit: Thanks to those who explained the 2.1 and 1.1! I thought it was the same way of grading at uni level in the US as here (Ireland). Anyway, yes, here 1.1 is first class honours, 2.1 is the nearest thing to first class honours. I've also won a UNESCO scholarship based on my postgrad degree score in first semester. My academic results are good.

God damn... my bad for putting you down man

"Well, you know, I was a human being before I became a businessman." -- George Soros
 

Sit down in a quite room and ask yourself why you received the grades you received. Then and only then will you be able to work hard to make something of yourself.

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 

Sit down in a quite room and ask yourself why you received the grades you received. Then and only then will you be able to work hard to make something of yourself.

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
bfinSit down in a quite room and ask yourself why you received the grades you received. Then and only then will you be able to work hard to make something of yourself.

Seriously man... you'll be lucky to even get an internship with those grades, like I said it's going to be tough, if I were in your situation I would probably do my undergrad all over again in something more related to a financial job and aim for a 4.0.

"Well, you know, I was a human being before I became a businessman." -- George Soros
 

Just as an FYI, 2:1 in the British system equates to a 3.5, and 1:1 equates to a 4.0.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 
seabirdJust as an FYI, 2:1 in the British system equates to a 3.5, and 1:1 equates to a 4.0.

I was going to ask.. if it was British it seemed too low to be American.

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
seabirdJust as an FYI, 2:1 in the British system equates to a 3.5, and 1:1 equates to a 4.0.

Oh i see... that is a lot better then. Yeah like the above have stated, try shooting for a PT or internship role where is it likely you will get a full time offer.

"Well, you know, I was a human being before I became a businessman." -- George Soros
 

I figured that had to be some different notation...that is just too terrible otherwise. The best internship to shoot for is the one that could give you the full time offer that you desire, or at least in the same industry.

 

Nihil repellendus fuga maiores facere repellat porro. Quod ad ut occaecati. Quam excepturi cumque labore nihil amet excepturi magnam. Explicabo quaerat voluptatibus in iure qui repellat. Inventore facilis quibusdam velit et hic id atque. Corrupti esse suscipit voluptatem maiores et.

Nesciunt sint error quisquam eos esse. Ut odit necessitatibus quisquam sequi. Corrupti eos quas atque est sint enim architecto. Minima quis qui ut eum sed quos ipsa eum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”