Value of Internships Outside the US

Hello, freshman at Target here. As I am searching for an internship for this summer, I heard some of my friends are targeting internships in Hong Kong as they accept freshmen. Some of my Korean friends are getting theirs from Seoul (Obviously nepo, why would Lazard in Korea pick a fucking freshman)?

However, I am targeting internships in the United States, since I heard recruiters discredit/devalue internships obtained outside of the USA and also see them as nepo (although this logic doesn't make sense admittedly).

Is this true? Are internships in the United States seen as more credible and valuable than ones obtained elsewhere? As an Asian, if I get mine from Hong Kong could they suspect it was nepo?

13 Comments
 

Bump, need responses ASAP before firms stop hiring for the summer.

 

Technically, I got a PE internship in NY, but it seems like the tasks I’m doing is more basic corporate development. Previous interns listed it as “PE intern” but I’m gonna try to find something more finance related.

 

So it all depends on luck? But if I got an internship at Lazard or McKinsey in Korea, wouldn't recruiters find it slightly suspicious at least, despite the big brand names?

From what I've seen, countless Koreans fail to break into IB because their resumes are filled with these obviously shitty nepo internships, despite being from a US Target.

If not, what is the right decision to make on average?

 

No one cares lol. Even plenty of Americans have nepo internships on their resumes and no one cares. Most Koreans struggle to hold a conversation and they struggle due to their immigration status, not because of nepo internships.

 

Temporibus in fugiat voluptatum voluptatem molestias qui. Laudantium dolores neque praesentium qui. Non officia aut quia voluptatem ut incidunt omnis. Eius dolore minima veniam eum quia illo.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.6%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.0%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.6%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
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...”