Undergrads: Spring and Fall internships; can you handle the pressure?
This is for all undergraduates seeking a spring or fall internship without prior experience.
What does 20 hours thrown onto your current schedule look like to you? How about 40?
The goal in college is to get good grades, land internships and have a job when you get out. However, when you mix the two, the result might not be as satisfying.
I am currently a sophomore computer engineer at a semi-target. There is infrequent OCR which is why I call it a semi-target. Realistically, it’s not the school that BB banks look to for their first picks. I realized I wanted to get into IB in the fall and managed to acquire an internship for this Spring. However, not much could prepare me for the monster I have taken on.
Currently interning at one investment bank and on the horizon of interning at a boutique at the same time…this is what my schedule looks like:
6:30-7:00AM: Wake up, quietly creep around getting ready while avoiding waking up my dorm mate.
7:00-8:30AM: Just make it out the door and drive to my internship. Praying that I don’t hit traffic along the way. The drive generally takes 40-45 minutes.
8:30-11:00AM: Conduct market analysis, do filing, more grunt work, etc.
11:00-12:00PM: Rush back to college just in time for class. Change. Grab takeout on the way to class.
12:00-8:00PM: Class, studying, dinner.
8:00PM+: This time varies. There is no guarantee for socializing. I may have responsibilities for my club leadership positions, have to study more, etc.
What kind of personality do I have?
I am hard working but I am also lazy at times. There are times I want to sit around and do nothing or play video games with the screaming kids across the dorm. There are times after work where I don’t feel like doing more work but I have to because I need to do well in school. I am not a robot. I am a person and I’ve noticed that I tend to fall behind and I have to put forth a lot of effort to keep up in this situation.
What are my goals?
I am trying to secure an analyst job for the summer as a sophomore which is potentially why I am under a lot of pressure. Realistically, almost all of my opportunities have closed. I am just trying to finish up my resume and send it out to the last places in hopes of an interview.
Are the internships unpaid?
Yes…yikes.
What do I gain from what I’m doing?
I gain experience. One internship is at a sizeable named company but I haven’t learned a whole lot of finance. The smaller company that I’m about to take on will allow me to gain more exposure to finance and have more freedom to practice certain skills like company valuations.
How this affected school work?
I am always catching up. I have to cram ridiculous amounts. It is not a comfortable way of going through the semester for sure.
You’re an engineer, how strong are you in finance?
Not strong enough. I am buying the breaking into wallstreet guide. I definitely need to brush up on my terms and skills in finance. My interest in finance has grown within the last year and I honestly have not spent enough time developing it for a real internship as an analyst.
What do I miss out on?
I miss out on the time spent goofing off and the time spent at the gym. Those are the two main things that I miss out on currently as a college undergrad and it’s sad to think about. I pledged for a fraternity and I also barely find the time to stop by and say hi. My time is utterly consumed.
My advice to undergraduates who are seeking Spring or Fall internships
College is technically the last time that you get to screw around and have fun. Afterwards, you have your whole life ahead of you to work. While a spring or fall internship is nice, you have to weigh the pros against the cons. You need to determine whether or not you are capable, emotionally and physically, of taking on an internship during this time. Your main considerations should be:
How much time will this take out of my week?
Will this internship make a difference when it comes to getting a job/next internship?
Can I manage my grades or even improve my grades with this new obstacle ahead of me?
Can I handle the commute and potential stress that comes with an internship ON TOP OF school work
Final words
As someone who has dealt with internships during the semester first hand, I feel like this will be the last that I may potentially deal with such a thing. Especially if it is unpaid. These are very time consuming and costly and they put a lot of wear and tear on you emotionally and physically.
