I'm currently a senior in high school. Any recommendations on what I can do before college to maximize my chances for IB internship sophomore year? I'm currently thinking about reaching out to search funds or accounting firms for benchmark experience. Let me know what my main focus should be. Thanks.
| +22 | Layoff Stigma | 12 | 2d |
| +20 | Down bad for career advice | 3 | 2d |
| +18 | Feeling behind | 2 | 1d |
| +18 | Don’t underestimate how risky joining a startup is | 3 | 2d |
| +18 | Advice for incoming freshman @ target | 5 | 1d |
| +14 | How to approach moving offices within a national brokerage? | 3 | 3d |
| +13 | Feeling pigeonholed due to past internships | 3 | 4d |
| +10 | Low Tiew Consulting vs Middle Office at an mid-size Investment Firm | 2 | 4d |
| +9 | Need advice - reentering industry | 1 | 6d |
| +9 | 2027 FT IB Recruiting from Private Credit | 4 | 1d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
To maximize your chances for an IB internship sophomore year, here’s what you should focus on before college:
Search Funds and Accounting Firms: Reaching out to search funds or accounting firms is a great idea. These roles can provide you with foundational finance or business experience, which will be valuable when applying for internships later.
Networking: Start building your network early. Reach out to alumni from your future college, professionals in finance, or even family connections. Networking is crucial for breaking into IB, and starting now will give you a head start.
Skill Development: Learn basic financial modeling, Excel, and PowerPoint skills. You can use free or paid resources like WSO courses or other online platforms to get a head start on technical skills.
Finance Knowledge: Begin reading finance-related materials such as the WSO guides, Vault guides, or books like Investment Banking by Rosenbaum and Pearl. This will help you understand the industry and prepare for future interviews.
Meaningful Summer Experience: If you can’t secure a formal internship, consider any role that demonstrates your work ethic, leadership, or interest in finance. For example:
Story Building: Whatever you do, ensure it ties into your personal story and demonstrates qualities like dedication, curiosity, and a passion for finance. This will help you stand out during interviews.
By focusing on these areas, you’ll position yourself well for competitive sophomore internships.
Sources: What do sophomores usually do for internships?, Pre-Investment Banking Internship: Calling all freshmen and sophomores, As a freshman what should I be doing?, Freshmen: What to do during your freshman year summer, How to Get an Internship After Freshman or Sophomore Year
Quibusdam sit molestiae fugit beatae veritatis possimus. Ea est sapiente et. Amet est tempore nemo. Et asperiores ut fugiat et similique.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...