How to get Summer Internships

Hi, I’m a first year student at HSG. I was wondering how to get summer or winter internships as a first-year. Most of the big firms don’t want first-years so I’m planning on applying to a smaller PE or Consulting firm to build some experience. I’ve heard that I need to cold email companies, but I’m not exactly sure how to, where to find the companies, and what I should keep in mind. PS I’m Swiss but don’t speak fluent German as I lived in the US and Japan, but I’m fluent in English and Japanese.

Thanks!

 

Some people might rip into you for not searching for similar threads but I been in ur spot. For what to say just search up a cold emailing guide for IB and you’ll find templates to use, for which firms Id target any regional PWM firms, search funds, smaller pe firms, or boutique banks. You can find this by looking through LinkedIn and tracking down past internships people have got, or just shoot your shot at any firm you can find. Remember to more you can personalize the emails the better

 

Ya I guess so gotta try to capitalize on LinkedIn more. Sometimes I get worried in case I do get an offer from two companies that it could overlap but I guess that’s not rly realistic. Thanks for the info!
Some people especially people perusing IB tend to already have industry connections through parents who are also in the finance industry so sometimes it can be a little frustrating but I making my own connections first would be a great first step!

 

Hey there, fellow finance enthusiast! It's great to see you're eager to dive into the world of internships. Let's break this down:

  1. Networking: Start networking across the bulge bracket now. Look for alumni of SEO, MLT, and Inroads and reach out through LinkedIn or cold-emailing based on the firm's email format. Look for diverse alumni of your school.

  2. Emailing: Keep the emails brief: introduce yourself as a freshman from HSG about to start a private equity internship and interested in learning more about banking. Best is if you can include some kind of campus leadership position that'll indicate your diversity; together, all that ought to get you a lot of responses.

  3. Cold Emailing: If you're looking to cold email your way into a summer internship at a PE / IB firm, you might be wondering who to send these emails to. It's best to send it to an employee of the firm rather than the email provided on the "contact us" page.

  4. Persistence: In finance, networking is one of the most efficient ways to get a job. Hence, be persistent with emailing advisers, reaching out firms and so on.

  5. Research: Go on Google and search for every firm in your area. Pop open excel and create a spreadsheet with the company name, email address, and phone number. You can also add a “Hit”/”Miss” heading and mess around with formatting to keep track of your progress.

Remember, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So, don't be afraid to reach out and make connections. Good luck!

Sources: What do sophomores usually do for internships?, How to Get an Internship After Freshman or Sophomore Year, Freshmen: What to do during your freshman year summer, Cold Emailing - Internship

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

Excepturi aperiam officia eum veritatis. Eos impedit voluptatem consequuntur. Nostrum in possimus qui quia omnis autem voluptates. Harum ab laborum corporis repudiandae at aliquid.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”