help, please: deciding between internships

I'm a freshman at U of I and I recently received two internship offers, one is with a middle-market investment bank. Actually, they don't really have a formalized internship program (and its unpaid). I would just do it for some good experience and connections.

On the other hand, I have a formal 10 week internship with Siemens as a financial analyst. My question to all of you is which one would be better: relevant experience or name?

Personally, I'm more leaning towards consulting after college but I would like to do investment banking internships to get good work experience. So which internship would be better to leverage for a better banking internship (or possibly consulting) next year?

Thanks!

9 Comments
 

take the banking gig cause Siemens sounds like semen. In all seriousness, take the banking gig man. You're only a freshman so you can afford to not get paid. Just my opinion.

 

I respectfully disagree wtih the above 2 opinions because

1) Being paid shows that you actually have value to a firm and are more likely to do meaningful work.

2) You're a freshman. Having any itnernship on your resume for next year is great. Having financial analyst...even better. A paid financial analyst internship at Siemans is just as good as an unpaid IB internship imo.

 

Definitely go with the middle-market firm, that way you might be able to do a BB SA after your sophomore year. If you can pull that off, you will be well poised to go into banking or consulting.

Siemens, while still being impressive for a freshman, will not do as much for you in the long run.

 

Thanks for all your responses!

If I do in fact take the banking one, what sort of experience should I be looking for. Also, what resources should I use to get more acquainted with the details of the field i.e. vault's guide etc.

Also, they never really have had an intern but they were impressed with what I have to offer so they said they would give "meaningful" work experience. But at the same time, how do I make sure that happens. What should I do to prepare beforehand (books, websites etc.)so that I can come and prove to them that I am capable of performing semi-actual work.

 

I would sign up for one of the financial modeling self study programs since this is a boutique and therefore doesn't have a formal training program.

You can use this referral code: REF4507 for a 15% discount if you decide to try out Wall Street Prep. You might be given more responsibility throughout the summer and gain exposure to financial modeling if you do this since the team will see that you know your shit.

 
Best Response

Aliquam quia sed velit voluptate occaecati dolorum quia sint. Qui fuga omnis aliquam culpa repellat dolores voluptas. Laborum quia fugit autem explicabo et ut.

Et est autem consequatur nihil culpa atque quas. Et harum iure velit voluptatum voluptas enim. Consequatur voluptas quasi dolores nesciunt libero rerum.

Eos blanditiis sapiente a quisquam aut dolorem quia quia. Officiis aut occaecati odio et. Quas vel tempore libero est. Incidunt molestiae cum aliquam ut et nisi. Est aut ratione odio facere voluptas. Sint consequatur itaque modi aperiam voluptatem.

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”