Can I still get an internship?

I am a rising Junior at a "public Ivy," majoring in Economics. I am involved in an Economics journal, but other than that I have no economics or finance related extracurriculars. For the past two summers, I have done internships in government, including interning this summer for a United States Senator. I am concerned that without previous experience in finance, it may be hard to get accepted to internships in the industry for next summer. Any advice?

2 Comments
 

Based on previous WSO threads, here are some actionable steps to help you secure a finance internship:

  1. Leverage Your Network:

    • Reach out to alumni from your school who are working in finance.
    • Utilize connections from your current and past internships, especially if they have contacts in the finance industry.
  2. Highlight Transferable Skills:

    • Emphasize skills gained from your government internships that are relevant to finance, such as analytical skills, research, and communication.
  3. Get Involved in Finance-Related Activities:

    • Join finance clubs or societies at your school.
    • Participate in finance-related competitions or case studies.
  4. Seek Advice from Professors:

    • Visit your economics professors and discuss your career goals. They might have valuable contacts or advice.
  5. Apply Broadly:

    • Don't limit yourself to just investment banking. Consider corporate finance, asset management, and other finance-related roles.
  6. Prepare for Interviews:

    • Study technical finance concepts and be ready to discuss them in interviews.
    • Practice behavioral interview questions to articulate your experiences effectively.
  7. Consider Smaller Firms:

    • Apply to internships at smaller firms or startups where the competition might be less intense.
  8. Utilize Online Resources:

    • Use platforms like Wall Street Oasis to find internship opportunities and get advice from others who have been in similar situations.

By taking these steps, you can improve your chances of landing a finance internship despite not having direct finance experience.

Sources: Rising senior looking for an IB internship for the upcoming summer - advice appreciated, Liberal Arts Undergrads: A few tips to land THE internship, Freshmen: What to do during your freshman year summer, Offer rescinded what can I do now?, Liberal Arts Undergrads: A few tips to land THE internship

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