Getting a return offer in a group with a ~50% return rate?
I'll be interning at a group that historically has only taken ~50% or less of its interns. It's a great gig, but I'm really scared about not getting a full-time offer given how tough FT recruiting has become. Does anyone have any tips on getting a return offer in a more competitive intern environment where getting one is far from guaranteed?
Do a "Trump" and if someone is a threat then coin an insulting nickname for them that sticks. Something like "Little Rocket Man" that makes people not take them seriously.
Make sure engage in ruthless sycophancy. Praise, eat lunch with, and look up to the MDs. Focus your efforts on the MDs who bring in the most money for the firm.
Try to maneuver taskings so that other interns get hit with things they can't handle. This is called offering them a "development opportunity" or "exposure opportunity".
If you know a document will have mistakes in it, then ask another intern to review it. Then have them do you a favor and send it over.....they'll think they're getting a chance to get their name out there, and they're correct for all the wrong reasons.
For said MD's note their writing style. Mimic yours as closely to it as possible. Work to make sure that documents attributable to other interns are as far away from that as possible.
Everyone else will be focused on face time because they're trying to be seen as working harder and thus liked more. Keep in mind that the goal is more important as the means....there MAY be times when you need to do something that undermines the immediate goal but helps the ultimate goal (throwaway example: leaving the office to golf with a director who is likely to help you).
Your performance doesn't matter unless people notice. Make sure your name appears next to/on any work that's GOOD regardless of how much you actually contributed to it. People are associative thinkers so make them associate.
If you get tied to a stinker, try to use every legalese/policy rule you can to prevent doing it. Should you be able to back up a refusal by citing the exact policy most people can't push you further. Compliance, Internal Audit, and other policies may be bullshit but they're lethal weapons in the hands of a skilled office politician.
Don't just accept EVERY project. Try to avoid stinkers or ones that will damage your ability to perform well on high visibility assignments.