Summer Internships- London
Im going to start my first year undergraduate Econ and Finance at uni of York.
Is it possible to get an internship in first year? And if not what can I do to make a good foundation and something to show off on my cv for second year internship applications?
Also, what courses and extra curricular activities will help to get in as a non target uni applicant? (second language, etc…)
Ok.
First Year Internships
This is not only possible, but according to the last summer analyst recruitment cycle, quite necessary if you do not convert your Spring week(discussed later). To get a first year internship you'll probably just have to send off a bunch of cold emails throughout the year to smaller less mainstream firms that don't partake in structured Summer Analyst programs or Spring Weeks.
Good Foundation on CV
If you have anything that you can talk about from secondary school that shows you are Hardworking, Focused, disciplined, sociable, and a leader, this would be helpful.
Work hard to get Spring Weeks. Spring Weeks, in and of themselves, are not always the most useful, but if you can convert them, you would already have your 2nd year Summer internship sorted. If you can't convert... well it's not the end of the world, but you're just going to have a lot of competition for those second year summers. Helpful for this is to check the Bristol Trackr daily so you can get your applications in early.
Courses
Accounting and Finance courses, which I'm sure you will do during your degree anyway, will be useful. If you're willing to spend money on external courses maybe do that. Like an M&A course, modelling course, Restructuring course, but it's not at all compulsory, I don't think.
Extra Curricular Activities
This is very Easy: Join Finance societies. Go to the talks and make sure to apply for leadership positions when they come. The best types of finance societies would be those that do stuff like teach you modelling or write reports and aren't just a finance bro version of TEDX.
Join an external student finance society: These are where super keen students create groups such as Mergersight, Global Platinum Securities, Junior IB, where they write reports, conduct analysis, and run stock pitches. If you can get GPS... well done.
Join a society that relates to a genuine interest that you have so that you don't come across as a robotic hardo whose first words as a child were "Shareholder Value".
Sign up to and partake in external stock pitch competitions.
Languages
Having additional languages is gold dust in finance, but only if you're basically fluent, otherwise, it's probably more of an effort than its worth if your last time doing a language was at GCSE.
Hope this helps!
Hey. That was actually very helpful. Appreciate it 🫡.
Vel possimus corporis et quam quis quos. A iste eveniet ut. Voluptate dolorem neque non dolor facere accusantium. Magnam eos aliquid ipsam amet molestias repellendus distinctio.
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...