Advice for Non-target seeking local P/E internship?
I am non-target sophomore with a 3.6 GPA and a mediocre resume--no prior internships just summer jobs. I'm looking for any advice on how to acquire a private equity internship with smaller firms in the Southeast Region. An alumni advised me that my best bet is to reach out to people via email. Is there any strategy or anything in particular I should say when I cold-email private equity firms? Is there a certain position I should email at the firm? Thanks for the help
Hi aumzero, any of these threads helpful:
If those topics were completely useless, don't blame me, blame my programmers...
The first thing I'd do is come up with a list of all the PE shops in the region. Then go through and see if any have alumni or former interns you can reach out to. Prioritize these first. A firm is much more likely to be receptive to interns if they have had them in the past.
It's probably best to email an individual at the firm if their email addresses are listed. If they have an HR person, email them. If not, try a midlevel person on their investing team. Barring that, most firms have some generic contact info email address you can use instead.
Your note should introduce yourself, give a bit of background, and say that you're looking for an internship. It sounds like you don't have much in the way of professional experience so really highlight your interest in the industry and opportunity to learn. Not sure if you're a business or econ major or have take many relevant accounting/finance classes, but that would be helpful for you if so.
The reality is that most places don't need interns. If a small firm is open to having you on for the summer, it's probably as much them wanting to give back and give a college student a chance to learn as much as anything else. You may or may not get interesting/meaningful work. Some places may or may not offer a paid role.
Either way, it's going to be a numbers game. Reach out to as many firms as you can. Keep in mind that for small firms, many won't be thinking about internships until after the new year, if at all.
If you've been at it a while and aren't getting any traction by say late winter/early spring, I'd cast a much wider net and look at other industries/roles. The worst thing is to not have an internship at all
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