How to leverage search fund internship into regional boutique internship
I'm a freshman at a west coast target (not stanford) who was able to secure a search fund internship over the 2024 spring semester and a private equity insight week over winter break. How would I leverage these experiences to secure an in person regional boutique investment banking internship over the 2024 summer? I am a sophomore in unit standing (APs and college coursework), so would it be unethical to lie and say I am graduating 2026 instead of 2027? I currently have may 2027 grad and sophomore unit standing in the education section of my resume. Handshake shows no regional investment bank internship positions, and every single one says junior or senior standing only. Should I begin by cold emailing regional investment banks in the SF area, or would it be better to get another search fund internship over the summer. Thanks!
Hey there, fellow finance enthusiast! It sounds like you've already got some impressive experiences under your belt. Kudos to you! Now, let's talk about how to leverage those experiences for a regional boutique investment banking internship.
Firstly, it's important to highlight your experiences in your resume and cover letter. Make sure to emphasize the skills you've gained, such as financial modeling, deal sourcing, or any other relevant tasks you've performed. This will show potential employers that you've already got a solid foundation in the field.
As for your graduation date, honesty is always the best policy. Misrepresenting your graduation year could lead to complications down the line, and it's always best to start any professional relationship with transparency.
In terms of finding opportunities, cold emailing can be a very effective strategy. Based on the most helpful WSO content, it's suggested to make a list of all the boutique banks in the city and document as many people's information as possible. Keep track of your conversations and follow-ups. Remember, boutiques aren't as formal or structured as BBs/EBs/MMs, so don't be discouraged if the process seems less formal.
Another option could be to leverage your school's alumni network. They can provide valuable insights and might even be able to connect you with opportunities that aren't publicly advertised.
Lastly, don't discount the value of another search fund internship. Any experience is good experience, and the more you have, the more attractive you'll be to potential employers.
Remember, the journey to landing your dream internship is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep learning, keep networking, and keep pushing forward. You've got this!
Sources: How to Obtain a Sophomore Summer Boutique IB Internship, Q&A - Private Equity Internships, January recruiting? Boutiques?
Definitely start cold emailing. Since you said sf area I’m guessing ur at Berkeley so I’m not as familiar w the process, but I’d start by looking at ur university alum to see which regional boutiques they interned at, and then start to email associates at those firms for chats. A lot of Boutique IB banks won’t have a structured recruitment process for the most part and will take their interns off networking to give out interviews and such. Take this with a grain of salt tho cause I’m a student too just basing off what older students have told me/what I’ve seen.
No, that definitely makes sense. Just curious, what was your experience like from your school/anything notable or extremely helpful you'd like to share? I'll definitely start the cold emails now and definitely hit up alum. Do you have any idea how to vet a regional investment bank? ie, is there any way to verify that a self proclaimed investment bank is actually an investment bank or pe firm and not a glorified search fund? At least for search funds, its pretty easily to tell cause they say 'aiming to acquire a single firm', but I'm not really too sure what the investment bank side would look like. And would you start with emailing anyone off the firm firm website or reach out over linkedin to get the conversation started or just straight up say looking for unpaid internship?
Thanks!
From my experience the best you can get is a more MM bank like people at my school have gotten sophmore internships at stifel and the like, but for the most part if it says investment banking it should be IB, it’s the pe internships you’ll have to watch out for being potentially glorified search funds. I don’t think you’ll need to be too picky with boutiques just in general in person>>>online and you could always do a quick search and see where the bankers come from/deals they’ve done. In terms of what to say in the email I’ve heard people say both, but I’d say in general it’s easier to get responses by just asking for a chat, wanting to learn more abt IB and their career. The more you can personalize w mutual connections/alumni and the such, the better. Also just to add I used LinkedIn a lot to look through pretty much every person who has broken into IB in the area (easiest way is to track the top schools’ top club juniors/seniors), and then jotting down that specific firm for a potential coke e-mail target.
Thanks, any websites I can look at for lists of regional banks within SF/LA and their websites or do I just gotta do the work and create a spreadsheet and ask upperclassmen/alum.
Tempore voluptas tempora aut sunt optio perferendis. Possimus tenetur commodi eos quod sapiente quam. Et provident quia enim saepe veritatis aut doloribus.
Ut nam dolor praesentium. Iusto voluptas voluptas odio. Dicta similique cum in rem quam sit. Nihil ipsam hic quis quod.
Rem quia rerum consequatur est eos. Omnis nihil et aut dolores veritatis aut itaque. Sapiente sint modi et. Incidunt quisquam et libero. Omnis libero recusandae magni eaque velit. Officia cum ad non vel consequuntur dolorem quos. Voluptatem ea ullam et distinctio repellendus.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...