Help a Struggling Sophomore Out?!

Hello, my little monkeys, I am in the midst of trying to understand the erratic world of finance and I am happy to announce that I have just learned the basic difference between buy-side and sell-side (not even what PE, credit, and hedge funds mean) which totals my understanding as of right now. Though I have taken a basic accounting class before, I am still incredibly behind on the lingo and just about everything. Please please recommend some resources to understand the basics and prepare me for technical interviews. Also, feel free to mention ANY early opportunities for sophomore summer I can apply to!!

P.S I am not from a target school or have a bunch of people helping me out, so I would be immensely grateful forever to kind strangers who can give me their advice and support :)

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4 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

O

2y

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some recommendations to help you out:

Resources to Understand the Basics and Prepare for Technical Interviews:

Networking and Learning:
- Networking: Start networking with regional/industry-specific boutiques for sophomore positions and top-notch firms for junior year. Follow the networking guides available on WSO.
- Learning: Take finance courses in college, read finance/interview Vault guides, and WSO guides. This will give you an edge in recruiting.
Technical Preparation:
- Technical Interview Questions: Familiarize yourself with technical questions like WACC, DCF, and PiK interest. Over-preparation is key as technical soundness is crucial.
- Behavioral Questions: Understand how to approach behavioral questions as they are equally important. Demonstrate a strong interest in finance and IB.

Early Opportunities for Sophomore Summer:

Sophomore Summer Internships:
- Local and Smaller Firms: Look at smaller, more local places for internships. Many sophomores have interned at lesser-known companies.
- Big Firms: Some big firms like Citi start their recruiting process over a year in advance for junior year internships. Start looking for companies hiring for summer 2025 as early as December.
Freshman/Sophomore Accelerator Programs:
- Bank Programs: Many banks offer accelerator programs that are great for getting your foot in the door and putting you on the radar of recruiters.

Additional Tips:

Networking: Talk to students in your college who will be interning in banking, attend info sessions, and coffee chats offered by BBs on campus.
Experience: For freshman summer, aim for something meaningful that ties well to your overall story and shows your dedication and diversity. If it’s related to finance, even better.

Encouragement:

Don't Get Discouraged: If you don’t get an internship for summer 2024, don’t feel discouraged. Your junior year internship is the most important.

For more detailed advice and resources, you can always reach out to the WSO community for support and guidance. Good luck!

Sources: Can we get a list going of sophomore summer 2019 programs/internships? (Confused), https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/job-search/advice-for-sophomore-summer-internships?customgpt=1, As a freshman what should I be doing?, What do sophomores usually do for internships?, How to prepare for summer ASSOCIATE internship

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Drage987

IB

2y

Look up “leveraged commentary and data (LCD): Leveraged Loan Primer”. One of the best quick reads that can give you an overview of LevFin which IMO is a good starting point to understand lingo even if your goal is coverage

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random dood

ER

2y

thank you it was a great read!

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laminatedtable

IB

2y

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Nancy.Pelosi

IB

2y

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Help a Struggling Sophomore Out?!

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Resources to Understand the Basics and Prepare for Technical Interviews:

Early Opportunities for Sophomore Summer:

Additional Tips:

Encouragement:

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Help a Struggling Sophomore Out?!

Resources to Understand the Basics and Prepare for Technical Interviews:

Early Opportunities for Sophomore Summer:

Additional Tips:

Encouragement:

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