Done nothing in Internship for weeks?

This situation, while frustrating, is not uncommon in large investment banks, especially during internships. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s how you can navigate this:

1. Is This Normal or a Red Flag?

• Normal: It’s not unusual for interns to experience downtime, especially if the team is not currently overloaded with work or if they are unsure how to delegate tasks effectively. Sometimes, teams are simply not prepared to fully utilize interns.
• Red Flag: If this persists throughout the internship and there’s no effort to engage you, it could indicate poor team management or a lack of interest in developing interns. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get a return offer.

2. What Can You Do to Develop Skills and Learn?

• Proactively Seek Learning Opportunities:
  • Use downtime to work on financial modeling, Excel skills, or valuation techniques. The WSO Financial Modeling & Valuation Bootcamp could be a great resource.
  • Review past deals or pitchbooks from your team (if accessible) to understand how they approach transactions.
• Ask for Feedback:
  • Schedule a quick coffee chat or informal meeting with an associate or VP to ask for feedback on how you can add value or improve.
• Network Internally:
  • Reach out to people in other teams or divisions to learn about their work. This can help you build relationships and potentially find tasks to contribute to.
• Take Initiative:
  • If you notice inefficiencies or areas where you can add value (e.g., organizing data, creating templates), take the lead and present your ideas to the team.

3. How to Position Yourself for a Return Offer?

• Show Enthusiasm and Commitment:
  • Even if there’s no work, maintain a positive attitude and continue to express interest in contributing.
• Document Your Efforts:
  • Keep a record of the tasks you’ve completed, the skills you’ve developed, and the initiatives you’ve taken. This will be useful during performance reviews.
• Build Relationships:
  • Focus on building rapport with team members. A strong personal connection can sometimes outweigh a lack of work in determining return offers.
• Leverage the Internship Survival Tips:
  • From WSO’s insights, homework or extra practice assigned during training sessions is a great way to absorb concepts. If your bank provided training, revisit those materials and practice.

Final Thoughts:

While the lack of work can be disheartening, use this time strategically to upskill, network, and demonstrate initiative. Even if the team isn’t engaging you, your proactive efforts can leave a lasting impression and increase your chances of securing a return offer.

Sources: Offer rescinded what can I do now?, I don’t do shit in my internship, A Guide for Switching From Commercial Banking to Investment Banking, First Year Summer Internship Enough for IB?, Racism on Wall Street as a SA