Not Getting Responses from Internship Applications

Quick background: graduated from a community college with a 3.7 (A.S. in Business Admin). Transferred to a competitive -state business school, although non-target, and majoring in B.S. Economics (on track for a ~3.5). While earning my A.S. I worked at 3 insurance agencies and progressed from entry level to manager position. I had company-record setting accomplishments at 2 of the 3 companies. I included all of this work experience and college projects/certifications (like BMC) in my resume. I applied to about 80 companies for many positions including IB and Sales/Trading (essentially all BB, MM, and a few boutiques that had internship postings). I began to network, but a lot of my connections are early in their careers and have little influence. I only got one call for an operations internship I applied to (its MO and not really what I am interested in). I need to change my strategy for the Spring/Winter to at least get more calls and interviews for sales & trading or institutional sales. I wrongly believed that my sales experience (and great track record) would be highly weighted in S&T. One thing I decided to do is join my college's Financial Management Association (FMA) in hopes that it would show my interest in finance (I am also doing it out of interest, not only for the resume).

Does anyone have any advice? Am I not applying to enough places? Do I need to show something on my resume that I might not be showing (if so, what are some good ways to show it? Any strategies to find a boutique/mm that might let me get a leg in the door?

Any feedback would be awesome!

3 Comments
 

Thats a good question. I just transferred so I dont know too many people who are pursuing careers in banking. That is one of the reasons i am joining FMA. Although it is a strong business school, it is hard to find alumni in banking. I fear that my best shot is to cold call boutiques, but that sounds like it will be the only available strategy for me in the spring.

 
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