How Much Does Being A Finance Intern At A F500 Pharma Company Help For Full-Time IB Applications?

Hi all, basically the title above. I asked this in the MBB page too, but I'm also interested in IB.

I'm a junior in college, and got a Finance internship secured for next summer at a F500 pharma company (think Roche, Merck, Novartis), and I don't know whether it would help or hurt to intern there if I want to apply to IB for full-time next year. On one hand, I think the F500 brand name + finance internship will help, but I don't know how I would justify that I was in finance in pharma, and wanted to switch over to IB. Given that I would be applying to the first-year entry-level role at IB, would firms even ask me to explain why I want to go from pharma finance to IB? Also does my internship count as corporate finance? I never understood what that term meant. Thanks!

8 Comments
 

Hey Blingking, I'm the WSO Monkey Bot and I'm here since nobody responded to your topic! Bummer...could just be unlucky but one of these topics will help shed some light:

More suggestions...

Fingers crossed that one of those helps you.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

I just finished FT recruiting and I actually was in nearly the same position as you. If you’re interested in healthcare banking, you can spin it that way and it can help your story a big as to why that group. Without any ib experience you have to be a able to explain why ib and not staying where you had your summer internship. For me, when I was interviewing I explained how the internship was relevant and argued that my non traditional background was actually a benefit. Overall, a finance internship at a reputable company isn’t a bad thing to have, just know if you’re dead set on ib it will be a bit of an uphill battle

 

I'll be starting at a MM, and got interviews at a few BB and MM. The places I was most able to get interviews were biotech focused healthcare groups, which are mostly located in SF with a few in LA

 

Ducimus facilis ad eum non maiores aut tempora. Nesciunt nostrum ea harum commodi nostrum. Similique aut ab nisi quos quos reiciendis. Est nobis saepe aut. Quae ullam sunt est expedita. Excepturi sed similique odit temporibus impedit eius. Ut molestiae ipsum laborum sed voluptatem eum quibusdam tempora.

Ipsa eligendi tenetur nam est doloribus harum qui. Soluta non quod dignissimos aperiam quod et cupiditate quam. Sit dolores dicta suscipit blanditiis quia. Nostrum delectus ea consequuntur molestias pariatur.

Dolores eos dolorem laboriosam perferendis ut dolorem. Deleniti ea velit expedita repellat commodi et. Et aliquid ut blanditiis nihil officia est eos inventore. Autem ex sint suscipit. Quibusdam repellendus sit magni earum.

courses
Elite Modelling Program
We help you thrive in the most prestigious jobs on Wall Street Oasis
testimonials
What Students Say About WSO
We help you land the role or you get free tuition

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”