Help with Summer Internship Situation
Hey WSO,
I'm currently a sophomore at a second-tier target. I've been applying through my university's career website for any finance positions in NYC but have had limited success in getting overviews. I'm assuming this is partly because I'm currently studying abroad until the end of May, making face-to-face interviews impossible. I understand that most formal recruiting processes have finished for larger firms, so I'm targeting small ones.
Through family connections, I have an opportunity to intern for BP Alternative Energy Ventures in Beijing. However, I'm worried that the internship will have few real responsibilities - just a desk to occupy for the summer. How will this position be viewed when it comes to junior recruiting?
I need to make a decision soon about the BP position and I'm wondering if I should keep on shooting for opportunities in NYC or just take the position in China. I really don't want to be stuck without any work this summer. Ultimately, I'm interested in working in NYC.
I would really appreciate any insight or advice on my situation. Thanks!
That sounds like a sick internship. Don't really know anything about the work you'd do, but the name sounds awesome.
Keep shooting e-mails, and make calls to NYC boutiques! Leverage any connections you have through family, family friends, to get something at a boutique - including Linkedin. There are many small shops who are willing to take on an intern - it will most likely be unpaid though, but it will be better than the BP one. Check out small Private Equity shops as well, VCs too.
You're whining about an internship that was handed to you through a family connection as a sophomore in a foreign country for one of the largest companies in the world?
I don't know what you end game here is... clearly you know this is a good opportunity or you wouldn't be posting about it. You can obviously put this on your resume and it is more substantive than a pwm internship and would likely get you shortlisted at all the major energy IB groups in Houston so I'm not sure if this is humble bragging or you just being completely clueless about who BP is and the doors it would unlock but either way this naivety / humble bragging is kind of absurd.
I definitely did not intend to brag or come off as whiny. I'm aware that it's a great opportunity. However, from what I've read on WSO, it seems that there's a stigma against internships in China since they're typically obtained through connections and often don't involve much responsibility. I suppose what I'm really trying to figure out is if the experience in China is credible and attractive when I go into recruiting next spring.
You're right in that I should probably do more research into the BP position. Thanks for your input.
If it's what you've got then it's what you've got. It's certainly better than pwm. Keep in mind you are only a sophomore and that this will prepare you to be competitive for junior internships.
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