SAncient: BB internship when I'm old as dirt

I was lucky to get an SA spot at a BB in London after a year in another career after undergrad, and another year getting a masters. So I'm oldish (24 in a couple weeks)

Anybody have any perspective on being an older intern? I'm know that I was not the only old guy interviewing, but did any fellow Methuselahs make it through? Is it any easier in Europe where everyone seems to have six masters degrees?

I know I'll be older than many of the analysts, but I'm incompetent so I'll have no problem looking up to them. But I suppose I'm most curious about my fellow interns:

I just don't really know any 20 year olds! Any tips for cool lingo so a product of the 80's can kick it with some 1992 vintage? Will they even get my TMNT jokes?

6 Comments
 
Best Response

Don't sweat it. You're 2-4 years older than the people you'll be working with, that's barely any age gap at all. Considering that we're all the perfect "90's kids" (someone who spent the majority of their post-infant, adolescent years in the 90s ... born '87-'92 in my book), don't overplay any generational gap. I actually got along better with most of the summer Associates during my summer than analysts.

As I see it, you have two options: one, don't even mention it and see if you get by without ever being noticed, and two, don't be afraid if it comes out in natural conversation and simply be cool about the whole thing. Either way, I see no huge storm coming of it. Be natural, relaxed, smile a lot, ask questions just like anyone else, treat everyone as a peer, and be prepared to talk sports/video games/news as readily as the rest of 'em. Don't overthink it.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

To OP, just a few questions because I had an SA position last year at a boutique but no FT offer this year. There's more open spots for SA's then FT's and more people apply FT so I'm just asking for some advice because I'd rather not have to do a Masters to stay in education to get another shot at a BB SA.

1) Did you apply through the online for SA positions for BB banks in London like everyone else or did you go through a different process?

2) When you applied did you have lie and say you were currently in education?

3) Were you straight rejected from anywhere by not being a second year undergrad?

4) Which places where okay about you no longer being in full-time education?

5) If you don't mind saying so, where are you interning?

 

My group has an intern now thats 25. The only tip I can give you is don't bring it up constantly and remember that you're there to learn.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

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