Freshman @ UVA in need of internship this summer. Help
Hi all, I'm a freshman at UVA in a top finance club and I don't have something secured this summer. I am currently working in a search fund internship, but want to secure something at a PE/IB shop this summer. All the firms I have talked to seem to be too big and not open to a freshman. What should I do? Should I just look for very small firms? Max 4 people? Or should I continue my current search fund role or find another one? Any help would be appreciate.
To maximize your chances of securing a meaningful internship this summer, here’s what you should consider:
Leverage Small Firms: Based on the most helpful WSO content, small firms, including boutique investment banks, private equity shops, or even family offices, can be gold for freshmen. These firms often have less structured recruitment processes and are more open to hiring younger candidates. Firms with fewer than 4-5 people can provide hands-on experience and direct exposure to decision-makers, which is invaluable.
Continue Your Current Role: If your search fund internship is providing relevant experience, it’s worth continuing. Search funds often involve tasks like financial modeling, due diligence, and market research, which are transferable to PE/IB roles. Highlight these skills in your resume and networking conversations.
Expand Your Search: Don’t limit yourself to PE/IB shops. Consider roles in corporate finance, startups, or even wealth management. These positions can still provide relevant finance experience and help build your resume for sophomore and junior year recruiting.
Network Aggressively: Networking is critical, especially as a freshman. Reach out to UVA alumni in finance, attend info sessions, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. Personal connections can often open doors at smaller firms that don’t post internships publicly.
Be Persistent and Creative: If traditional applications aren’t yielding results, consider cold emailing small firms. Tailor your emails to highlight your interest in finance, your current experience, and your willingness to learn. Many small firms appreciate proactive candidates.
Focus on Skill Development: If you can’t secure a new role, use the summer to build technical skills like financial modeling, Excel, and PowerPoint. These will make you a stronger candidate for future opportunities.
In summary, continue your search fund role if it’s providing value, but also actively pursue opportunities at small firms. Networking and persistence will be your best tools to land something meaningful this summer.
Sources: Freshmen: What to do during your freshman year summer, Please Advise: Never-Ending Job Hunt, Non-Target Recruiting Guide Part I: Resume and Networking, Some advice on getting a job or internship by Monty09, Advice for summer and return offer rate?
Use any connections you might have from friends/family or your parents’ friends to get in at a small firm. No big firm is giving out internships to freshman. There are tons of boutique banks and small pe firms out there so if you really want this you have to cold email them. Don’t ask for pay. Getting to have that in your resume heading into IB recruiting is worth thousands anyway. Frame it like “I’m looking for some exposure to the field” something sounding like an educational opportunity more so than an internship - but you can call it an internship on your resume. This is what I did and it worked well for me
look at your upperclassmen to see where they interned as a freshman, then cold email or apply. You can find lots of places or like government finance internships that are open to freshman
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