Is This “No Name” IB Boutique Too Small For A Non-Target Freshman?

Hey Everyone,

I’m a incoming sophomore at a non-target (top 60 school nationwide) trying to land a BB IB offer for my junior summer. I currently just wrapped up a search fund internship for my freshman summer & have sent some hail mary cold emails to IB boutiques in my state to see if i can somehow get a IB internship for my freshman summer that would run into the start of my sophomore fall semester.

Still early in the cold email process but looks like I may have an intern offer. I’m just wondering if this no name boutique is just too small? It’s a two person boutique based in Hartford, CT, CT’s capitol. The website looks like it’s 15 years old but the boutique has been in business for 37 years, so I guess that’s a good sign. The Linkedin page for the firm hasn’t even been created, it’s automatically created by Linkedin. The two employees, the founder/president & the CEO didn’t go to target schools (one went to my school, top 60 in the country, & the other a top 150, but known for business). Looks like the founder is like 80 years old, so maybe that’s why his company online presence doesn’t appear too strong. (not sure if any of this info is useful at all I’m just trying to give you a sense of it it’s too small of a boutique).

It seems landing a IB internship of any kind as a freshman is very rare, this guy is an alum of my current school so obviously he’s half doing me a favor even though I think my resume is solid for a freshman. I’m just wondering if this is a job offer I should take, no matter how small the firm is, or should I keep trying at other no name boutiques?

4 Comments
 

I would go for it, something potentially less than ideal is better than nothing. You may also find that you get significantly more exposure at a firm like this than you would at a more traditional place. I've worked at no-name shitty boutiques and an EB and probably learned more at the former. You'll also still be in a great position for junior recruiting.

 

dude unless you are a diversity candidate you are not likely going to land anything substantial or "prestigious" your sophomore summer, let alone your freshmen summer. what is more important is how you use those internships in your story to tell why you want to do ib. if you can't do that, a candidate with a bullshit internship will do better than you in recruiting if he interviews better than you 

 

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