Doing almost nothing in my internship…should I be worried?

I’m currently working at a MM bank as a Summer Associate, and while I’m staffed on three deals, I have done next to nothing aside from some light Excel work and small slide updates. My deals are all targeting a launch after Labor Day, so there’s not much work to go around to begin with, but im becoming more and more concerned that I will be evaluated poorly compared to my fellow interns who have more on their plates. Is this concern of mine justified? Is there anything else I could/should be doing aside from communicating my low workload to the staffers?

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Class of '29 Nov 2026 Cohort

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“I had a fantastic conversation with him and genuinely appreciated the time he took to share his experiences and insights from working in Investment Banking, particularly within the Metals & Mining sector. He was extremely knowledgeable, approachable, and happy to elaborate on the industry, the nature of the work, and his own career journey. His perspectives gave me a much better understanding of the sector and further strengthened my interest in pursuing a career in Metals & Mining Investment Banking. What I particularly appreciated was his willingness to offer guidance and remain a resource as I navigate my career development and upcoming internship recruiting. Overall, it was an incredibly valuable conversation, and I am very grateful for his generosity, advice, and willingness to help going forward.”

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Class of '28 Nov 2026 Cohort

4.85/5

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“He was extremely knowledgeable, he has obviously spend a lot of time within the Australian market and really understood the nuances of the market compared to other markets. Because of this he was able to give me some really interesting insights, for example I really want to understand why certain firms stand out more than others within the Australian markets, he was able to explain how the main attractiveness of bulges in Australia is their product offering .He was extreme kind and enthusiastic to give up his time to talk to me.”

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2 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

O

2y

Based on previous WSO threads, here are some steps you can take to address your concerns and improve your situation:

Communicate with Your Staffer:
- Clearly lay out what’s currently on your plate and express your willingness to take on more work. This can help your staffer better understand your capacity and potentially assign you additional tasks.
Take Initiative:
- Proactively seek out opportunities to contribute. This could involve asking team members if they need help with any tasks or suggesting ways you can add value to ongoing projects.
Build Relationships:
- Try to build relationships with your team. Arrange time to speak with them, especially at the end of the day or week, to catch up and discuss any questions you have. This shows your interest and dedication.
Ask for Feedback:
- Schedule a performance review with your supervisor to get feedback on your work so far and understand areas for improvement. This can also be an opportunity to discuss your current workload and seek advice on how to get more involved.
Engage with Fellow Interns:
- Create a group chat with your fellow interns. This can be a good place to ask questions and share experiences in a more informal setting.
Focus on Quality:
- Even if the tasks you are given seem minor, ensure that you complete them with high quality. This demonstrates your attention to detail and commitment to excellence.
Prepare for Future Work:
- Use any downtime to prepare for upcoming tasks. This could involve learning more about the deals you are staffed on or improving your skills in areas like Excel and financial modeling.

By taking these steps, you can better position yourself for a positive evaluation and demonstrate your proactive attitude and willingness to contribute.

Sources: Advice on how to perform well during a virtual summer internship, How the hell are return offer candidates going to be assessed this summer?, nervous about S&T internship beginning in a few weeks - how to calm my t*ts?, Q&A - Left First Undergrad with Sub 2.0 GPA====>Booth MBA/"Tier 2" Consulting, Help! Not Getting more work as an Intern

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Doing almost nothing in my internship…should I be worried?

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Doing almost nothing in my internship…should I be worried?

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