Minority nervous for BB internship
I'm going into a S&T rotational internship at a BB this summer. I know this is a crazy opportunity that I am so thankful for but I can't help but feel like I am not prepared to speak professionally at all times and I just don't want to work 70 hours a week for my full time job.I know I am a hard worker and will adjust anyway but there is just so much I don't know because I come from a low income family and ever really had people to look up to and I just feel like this BB is not the place to make mistakes at. I have a lot of confidence in myself but this is the first time in my life that I just don't know if I deserved this opportunity.This sounds like I am very weak but I really believe in myself and I generally impress a lot of people with how I carry myself. These are just my back ground thoughts that I can't seem to resolve so I am just struggling with this.Any advice, thoughts, or past experience?
Update:I feel a million times more confident now and I am actually so excited for my internship. I have been networking a lot with people within my division and they are so nice and welcoming. All the advice I have received on here so far has been insanely impactful, you have no idea. Thank you everyone!
Extra Update: Got a FT offer after the internship and just started working at the firm. I fit right in and truly enjoy the environment. It was an adjustment (and still is at times) but I fully embrace it and love the outcomes. Thanks again!
you got the internship, therefore you deserve to be there. Don't discount yourself because you didn't get hired during the regular process. Firms have these different hiring processes for a reason - you still had to submit a resume, do a interview and at the end of the day, these people you look up to looked at you and thought you would be able to successfully do the job.
Don't worry if you like the job or not (or if you can handle the hours or the cuture) - it's an internship. If you like it, great and if not, use this experience and find something you will enjoy for full-time - nothing is set in stone in your life, especially in your career.
Lastly, nobody has any expectations of you - you're an intern. So knowing nothing and making mistakes is perfectly fine just learn from them and be yourself (which is why they liked you in the first place to get the job).
Take a deep breath, go into this internship with a mindset to learn and have a great time. No point in stressing - doesn't do you any good.
Wishing you the best - good luck!
This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you so much for this advice
First off, congratulations. You deserve to be there. Second, don't be afraid to ask for help. You might think everyone else knows what they are doing, but most people will be figuring it out too (especially other interns). Good luck!
Get out of that mindset asap. I’m a minority too but never went down through the spiral. You need to sack up and realize that you deserve to be there.
Thank you for motivating me. I truly take your advice seriously
What do you mean that you're not prepared to speak professionally at all times. Unless English is not your first language or you are under the age of 16 it doesn't matter if you are working at GS, Bridgewater or Wendy's drive through, you have to be able to convey yourself properly and if 2 or 3 years of university haven't prepared you then there are deeper issues.
As for the job, its S&T so 70 hours that can feel like 100 hours in IB is not uncommon, but you are an SA. No one is go to shout at you unless you majorly screw up, which 99% of the time you won't be able to do because they don't give the SAs they keys to the castle.
haha what I mean is I've never been in a setting where I have had to speak professionally *all* day. I think how you speak at a drive through is different than how I would have to speak at GS. I find it draining sometimes to code switch like that, I will adjust eventually but it will be a growing opportunity. I know how to speak professionally, no need to search for deeper issues.
I'm going to be in S&T, I'm hoping to find a full time job that is around 40-55 hours a week but if I can't find that then I'm going to pursue wealth management. It is a deep value of mine to have time for leisure. So this summer is just going to be completely out of my comfort zone but at the end of the day I am open to it and down for the challenge, even if I have my doubts.
Thank you for your advice!
Take a listen to speeches by the magnificent Carla Harris. She is a very insightful urm executive at Morgan Stanley. A piece of advise from her is to be your authentic self. Otherwise the job can may become even more difficult and draining.
Congrats on the internship! I'm in a similar situation, only difference is that Im white. I would suggest trying to meet up with someone you will be working with beforehand (as all interviews were held online) and that could give you an idea on what to expect
Thanks! I feel like this feeling is felt amongst almost all interns but we never talk about it because we feel like we may look like weak competition. I'm all here for the 'fake it till you make it' but I'm also here for being straight up with how I feel when I'm on my grind. I hate when I doubt myself sometimes about my internship expectations but anyone with common sense also knows that I can still give it my all while still identifying as confident, nervous as fuck, and competing. I hope the best for your internship!
Truly will not lie i do think you are going to make it. Enjoy the summer and experience but doubtful this is for you.
1) You posted this in the wrong thread so makes me debate if you even know what division you going into.
2) You will be working 60hrs easily and that will be expected for first 3 years of your career.
3) S&T desk is basically the same as working at Wendys, you say same thing to every client as a jr and make small talk.
4) The environment is very fast paced and sink/swim, having this anxiety usually leads to small mistakes.
5) If I was your MD and I heard you tell anyone you are “diversity” and not sure you fit in. I would smack you upside the head.
If you really do end up enjoying this work. Get a different attitude about the hours, be humble but at the same time understand everyone is not far from working at a wendys. Never apologize just do better and move on.
Don't listen to this guy, OP.
People post in the IB one because they know it will get much more attention than other posts. Not that deep
Which is a fallacy cause this very topic has been discussed a few times in recent months on the Trading Forum. Majority of people do not even see these posts. Excelling at a S&T internship is a totally different mindset than a banking internship. Likewise is the pay trajectory and overall career path.
Thanks for your advice. I actually did post in the S&T forum. I got an email this morning that WSO moved it to IB as a correction. Not sure why they did that... it's not worth you or me stressing over. And I would never tell someone I am "diversity" haha. The only reason why I bring it up here is because I look at my white peers and they generally have a parent or someone close to look up to. Even then, It's not that deep, which is why I post my thoughts anyway. I appreciate you being straight up
Thanks for follow up info. The WSO sorting algo seems off at times for sure. The way you responded shows you are aware of the situation walking into maybe in the original post did not make it so clear.
In terms of your fear, understand the vast majority of people attracted to S&T are competitive and somewhat scrappy, yes for sure many people have connections etc…But lots of people in your shoes as well. Even guys like PTJ or ones you read in Liars Poker. Most of us look up to an earlier mentor so possibly an MD or so.
As for the hours thing, yes it sounds daunting now but its also probably cause to your point you never knew people in an environment like this. Once you are on the desk and really get into it you will see hours are much easier and you adjust your life around it. Many days youll look up and be 2hrs from close and shocked day is just gone.
Also, I have heard plenty of non-professional talk on a trading desk.
You’re more then your race. Don’t forget that.
You're right, that is very important, thank you. I brought it up to discuss the fact that it is going to be more of a shock to me to adjust to this work culture than others who had people to look up to in their past. But nevertheless, I'm going to give it my all and not let it get in the way of my career. I'm glad I'm working through these feeling now rather than when my internship starts.
Don’t assume all white males grew up UMC with connections in finance. Working class white males are white but have no connections.
The head of markets at GS is an Indian, don't worry. You're gonna be fine
This is exactly what I look forward to seeing. Thank you
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From a minority - These big banks (was at gs as well) are the absolute best places for minorities in terms of comfort at least in NY. There is such a mix of people and so many outlets and resources for development that after going through it I was scared to leave to the smaller niche industries.
That’s something to look forward to, thank you for this insight. I have never thought about that.
Here is what will happen.
The first day, they are going to ask you to grab a sandwich. As you get up to go to the cafeteria, 2 white men are going to grab you, tie a tie super tight around your neck and yell 'This is MAGA country!'
Finally! Someone honest!😂 jk jk
If you even find this funny you’ve drunken the Kool-Aid quite well. I find that comment to be insulting. I grew up not too far from MAGA country and let me tell you there are plenty of black folk who live among the rural whites and go about life as normal. They talk to each other as friends. The idea you are going to get lynched if you even so much as enter a rural village is absolutely ridiculous and honestly after what I’ve seen in the big cities black folk live a far more equal life compared to the white folk in rural areas compared to the city where you have the hood and then a bunch of 5 star hotels and luxury high rises. I don’t have much time to go into detail rn but liberal policies have kept black people down by simply giving just enough to have a life but cut off any ways to empower the folk (such as quality education) which was intentionally done by the racist LBJ and his “Great Society” because he was mad that blacks had gained more rights under JFK (not to wear a tinfoil hat but I believe that the establishment intentionally hired out a guy to kill RFK for this reason and Vietnam war).
Yep. Blame NYC gentrification, NYC wealth gap inequality, and struggling literacy rates among the poor minorities on MAGAs who don’t even live in NYC and probably have not even been to NYC.
based
Don’t psych yourself out. Have a positive attitude and don’t think about the hours or your race. Banks want to hire out of internships so just prove you were a good choice for them. Make your superiors’ jobs easier
Thank you, I genuinely feel a lot more positive after all this motivation and truthfulness.
I appreciate this. I think you're right, I was overthinking the professional talk. Things like that will eventually come to me more naturally and I am not the only one feeling that. Thank you for your recommendation and advice. I am going to look into those videos to feel even more comfortable.
I know executives that still can't speak professionally about their company and industry unless they have it written out word-for-word for them
How did you get that internship being shy and scared and why did you apply in the first place if you weren’t ready for a very strong professional atmosphere? S&T is the one place you can’t really hide in. Drum up your confidence and rock it. Worst case scenario you embarrass yourself but either way it’s a net positive overall for your career. We’ve all been there and if somebody hasn’t yet he or she is likely to fall from over-confident behavior. Pull your pants up and do it. That’s an amazing internship to have. Good luck
I am the complete opposite of shy and insecure. That's why I felt so moved to post my thoughts on this because I knew I was overthinking but I did not know where to go and air out my thoughts. I feel 10x more confident after receiving feedback. Thank you for your advice. S&T is not a place to hide, which is why I am looking forward to it.
Good! Didn’t mean to disrespect you. Yeah don’t overthink it man, you’ll be good. The oasis is routin for you. Best of luck
Pm me
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