Is it unwise to request one week off in a 6 month off cycle internship?
I will be doing a 6 month off-cycle internship at a BB in London in the fall. I will be taking a semester off of school to do this. My school, a semi target, has a big networking trip to New York every fall. This trip is decently important as some of the firms they visit do not have much OCR, and typically take kids who have networked from the trip.,
I guess it's not hugely important, especially considering I will be at a BB anyway (not GS/MS/JPM). I know time off is kind of taboo in this industry, and almost unheard of as an intern, so would it be unwise to request seven days off? It would be right in the middle of the internship.
if you're planning to convert there then not the best idea
Yeah that's what I figured.
You're asking for only 1 week off. I don't see why you can't ask HR. Can you throw in a white lie and say it's for school and to visit family based there (a family member went through a health issue and you would want to see them)? Pose the request as optional and that you understand if you can't go.
If this works hope that no one from your London Office will be at those networking events lol.
A friend of mine mentioned to me that British law requires something like 25 vacation days per year, so since this was a 6 month contract, I may be allowed to just have like 6-7? I guess it is worth asking HR, but you think it's a bad idea to tell them the reason? I'd only be a sophomore, so conversion isn't necessarily the biggest priority.
Conversion should be a concern. Don't be spoiled. It's very hard to break in, make sure you work your ass off to get a conversion. Nothing is guaranteed.
Don't tell them you want to go to NYC to network with other firms. They'll just fire you and find someone else. Just say school trip.
i think the thing a lot of people don't really think about is that it's not what's written in law or whatever (and not trying to be an asshole here - just speaking from experience), it's how you look compared to your peers / other interns.
if everyone is working and you're the only one asking for time off, regardless how much the firm / hr talks about work life balance and such like, you'll still be judged in comparison to the others
"oh why did Prospect in IB -M&A ask for/take time off when the others didn't?"
i caveat that if you're not looking to convert there, AND if you've done (or think you've done) a great job there, just take the time off, it's always an opportunity cost thing. if you're not going to convert there, you could DEFINITELY use the time off before summer starts!
If you are working for me and you are not upfront I would make sure you dont get the offer. Say whstever you wsnt to HR, donr lie A&As
So best to just tell the whole truth, ask nicely, and drop it if they say no?
agree with this as well - especially if you know the role will not / does not convert, most of the time if you've done a good job, your A&As will want to see you do well, and if you broach the matter tactfully, they will usually help you out
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