White House Internship -- Put it on Resume?
So last year I worked for seven months as a finance intern at the White House. It was very research-based and I did end up writing a lot of reports. When looking for an internship, is this something I should include on my resume/mention in my cover letter?
I thought I should because it illustrates that I can work exceptionally long hours in very frustrating environments. But it might make me seem like a "liberal" or a "politico" and I don't want to send the wrong message with it.
Background: I go to a very non-target school and will be getting degrees in finance and political science. My other experiences listed are an auditing internship and a logistics analyst; I was offered a corporate finance internship at a F500 for this summer. Overall, the resume is not lacking for somewhat relevant content if I were to remove the WH position.
EDIT: My default decision was to include it. But once I added it, responses to my outreach attempts dropped drastically. That is the only reason I am asking -- to understand if including this on my resume played a role in the lower response rate.
A White House internship sounds very selective. If it doesn't take up a position on your resume for a more relevant position, I say include it.
Agreed. White House internships are incredibly selective and a great conversation starter. You should without a doubt include it on your resume.
are you kidding me? why in the hell wouldn't you put it on there
Is this a humble brag post?
If you don't know the answer to this, you should really reevaluate yourself.
After putting it on my resume, I noted a decreased level of communication from people I sent my resume to. Responses to cold emails/cold calls fell significantly (in the range of 35%). I made a few smaller changes in that time, so I want to understand better if this played a role in that decrease.
On a forum where people are fretting between accepting a position at GS or BlackRock, I don't know that this is the most intelligent effort at a humblebrag. Which means it's all the better that I'm asking in earnest.
Unless you work for GS, BX, NSA.... White House for sure. Troll?
I mean anyone who dings you because you interned at the White House is an idiot. The only thing I could think is someone might consider your internship to be akin to you supporting the President and his policies, but that is such a massive leap.
I just don't know. Personally, I think it is awesome. I would include it.
Include it.
Senate Internship - Useful? (Originally Posted: 07/17/2008)
For the upcoming semester I have the option of working for a congressman or senator possibly on one of the banking or finance related committees. I have worked two PWM internships thus far and trying to get into IB. I know some private sector people look down on government positions, but wanted to see if that could be considered a relevant internship.
My question to you is, how would working for a Senator represented on the banking committee be viewed when applying for IB, assuming I will speak intelligently about my position? Also, only considering these 3 internships how will my work experience look when compared to the general applicant pool? Thanks
People need to chill out about overanalyzing things in terms of banking.
Ask yourself: Will working for a senator an enjoyable, interesting, self-bettering use of my time? If yes, then proceed.
P.S. I know thats not what you wanted to hear. I know a few people in my BB internship this summer that worked for Congress last summer. Your work experience will look just fine, though of course not as good as IB intern- nothing is as good as ib intern for working in ib.
The thing to also remember is that ib interview selections are COMPLETELY arbitrary. Basically, some first year analyst from your school receives a pile of resumes and picks who gets to interview. They could pick their friends and focus on other external factors (sports teams, fraternities, etc) and overlook the merits of your Senate experience.
Bottom line is...IB recruiting is BS and everyone who has seen the ins and outs of it can attest to that.
Do what interests you, be it the Senate. If you are going to let some 23 yr old analyst judge your worth and decide your future, don't let that happen. Besides, when else in one's life can he/she work at the Senate?
Political Campaign Internship as a Freshman (Originally Posted: 07/04/2012)
I'm currently a freshman (rising sophomore) at a school considered a semi-target for IBD and target for S&T. I wasn't able to get a finance related internship for the summer around the area that I am from). I tried cold-calling many boutiques and PWM firms but was either told that they weren't hiring any (even unpaid) or that they wanted someone for the entire year (impossible because I go to school across on the other side of the country).
I've been using my summer so far to learn more about finance through self-studying and reading, as well as trying to improve my math abilities.
I've gotten an opportunity to intern for a Senate campaign in my state, and was wondering if it was worth it? I would probably doing a good amount of field work. Or should I continue doing what I am doing and enjoy my summer?
Is the internship going to be something worth putting on a resume and a talking point for later on?
One of my friends used to work for MS and he told me that having any political affiliation could be a major negative for a resume. He and other analysts interviewed for SA positions and if they saw any political stuff, it would be a turn off for them. I heard many IBs tend to be political-neutral and thats a good thing because you never know what party the interviewer sides with.
You can do it and just not put it on the resume.
I know somebody who started out as a janitor with no network and worked his way up to PM at a hedgefund. Political campaigning got him the network and it all went on from there.
But that is a major exception. Don't think just because you volunteered for somebody, they will help you get a job. You should do it because you actually care, not because you want something.
IMO This site over emphasizes networking. People don't help you just because they know you, they'll help you if you actually did something valuable for them. THe more valuable, the more likely they will return the favor. Blind networking with nothing to offer is almost like begging.
Bump, so should I leave anything political off my resume, or should I list it but remove the name of the campaign and make the bullet points political-neutral?
Do not express your ideas on politics on your resume. However, I don't think you should leave it off your resume (depends on what you did). Try to show any skills you learned while doing your internship!
Government (DC) Internships (Originally Posted: 02/05/2011)
Anyone have any experience with finance/consulting/lobbying government internships in the DC area? There are multitudes of information about the typical finance/consulting path but I'm considering widening my approach for this next summer.
I'm also interested in this
I had a close friend do an internship at the old exec office building for a fairly high-ranking official in the Bush administration. If you're going for an internship in DC I'd aim for highly placed staffers (OEOB or White House) or for a Senator.
Does a summer internship w/ the government help/hurt? (Originally Posted: 08/03/2007)
Hey, everyone,
I'm a rising senior who is interested in landing an IB job at a BB. My grades are really good, I go to a reputable school, but I'm kind of new to the IB scene, and I'm spending this summer as an intern at the Department of State. I'm working with economic policy, although there really isn't any number work involved; it's mostly just writing memos and reports and such.
My question is, does this experience put me at a disadvantage when applying for IB jobs in the fall, since it isn't a summer analyst IB internship? A State internship is pretty prestigious in the gov't sector, but I'm not sure if that translates to finance.
Thanks.
The fact that you are working with economic policy is definetely going to help you, but its not going to stand out as much as a boutique or mm internship. If you get interviews you can spin your story and claim that part of the reason that you are not going to the state department full time is because you want something more quantative. Also make sure to list math and quantative heavy econ courses you took in college on your resume so you can show that you like working with numbers. Additionally if you do like working with governmennts you might want to consider getting in touch with the government sector of FIG departments within IBs.
Is a FIG dept in IB?
on a related question, is having an internship on economic policy better or working at a full service brokerage firm?
i'm not a banker or anything, but it only makes sense that it would help if it's applicable to the position you're looking for...
maybe try for public finance banking
FIG is a coverage group within IB that stands for Financial Institutions and Governments. They cover banks, hedge funds, insurance companies to a name a few financials plus governments.
thanks whatlife...i'm actually a math major who wanted to try out something more...nonmathy...i'll try to present myself as more well-rounded during my interviews...if i get them.
Which division are you working in?
I remember when I was a sophomore I got an offer from the Bureau of Economics and Business Affairs in the Commodities Department, but I luckily got a BB summer analyst program and pursued that instead.
Anyway, I was under the impression that my specific bureau assignment would help for my junior year, when I was under the impression that I would be doing it that summer.
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How do MBB feel about top government internships? (Originally Posted: 10/18/2012)
Hi guys,
First time poster- I was wondering whether anyone has experience on how MBB feel about top government internships in fields like economics? Think White House, Department of Treasury, National Economic Council, etc...
Does MBB consider these internships to be brand name internships in the same way they might see an internship at a bank?
Thanks in advance.
Not sure specifically, but two of my classmates had "prestigious" govt. internships the summer before they started (White House and some sort of BLS/something statistics related)
I think it is going to be great. It is a hard path to get an internship at a top government level. Governments are important as well, and so are connections in the goverment. In the end for banks and sometimes even more consultancies governments are important clients, and inside information on the government is even better. Next to this it is just a sigh of quality, as long as its prestigious as a place the recruiter at the bank or consultancy will know it was hard to get in to for you, and know you stood out against other people, so you are talented, which is what they look for. Sometimes I see people who are not academically amazing, but still land great offters in banking or consultancy, they have had crazy internships, or have been PAs of senators, these things are so special that you are up there in a network, it wont be hard to get a cool job anymore. I think becoming a PA of a senator is not that merocatric though, probably more for the kids of the buddies of the senators, but prestigious internships at the white house may be in your reach.
Great, thanks so much for the tips!
In my opinion, Government experience in general is a great thing to have on your resume. Many, if not all of the top tier firms do Gov work, so having a background in this area will likely help get you noticed. Add to that a strong "brand" (like the White House), and you're in great shape.
But as much as Gov + brand is good, what's equally (if not more) important is the nature of the work you were doing there. It's not enough to have worked at the White House. Demonstrating that you have worked on complex, analytical type projects that required strong leadership, proj mgmt and client skills are what will really help you stand out.
Case in point - when I was recruiting (back in 2006), I had a background in small business, so a top brand wasn't on my side. But I was able to demonstrate that I was doing highly analytical work, that I understood the importance of establishing strong client relationships, etc. etc... that's what helped me land interviews.
Obama for America Fall Internship (Originally Posted: 06/05/2012)
For this fall I'm looking at either part time interning at a boutique PE firm/IBD firm to beef up my resume prior to bulge bracket recruiting or am also considering seriously networking and applying to the Obama for America Internship in Chicago for the fall term. I know that the pe/ibd internship would be more relevant to what I'd like to do in terms of my long term career aspirations, but I was wondering which departments for the OFA internship would be most impressive and relevant for banking/front office jobs. So OFA, like other companies has easier departments to get into than others, so just like in an investment bank, you wouldn't want to do IT/Human Resources/Accounting/Analytics but would want more "strategy" oriented positions.
I was wondering which of these options seemed most interesting to you guys, these departments that I picked out seemed the most "front office" to me
Road to 270 Team - "Directs campaign's state strategy and programs. Oversee grassroots programs and coordinates the president's ground game"
Finance- "The finance department oversees the fundraising operations on the campaign and is responsible for raising the funds that fuel Obama for America activities in all 50 states. An intern in finance will learn the ins and outs of political fundraising and assist finance staff in the planning and execution of OFA fundraisers across the country."
Political- "The political team seeks to help the campaign’s efforts by ensuring that key national and state stakeholders are engaged and working in synergy with the re-election operation. They work closely with elected officials, party leaders, Labor, and opinion leaders around the country."
Research- "The Research Department gathers information, provides content and answers questions about the President and his administration’s record and accomplishments to staff at HQ and in the field, supporters and key allies. We monitor attacks and smears, correcting the record when opponents and critics attempt to distort it. In addition, we fact-check the President and First Lady’s remarks for campaign events."
Surrogates- "The surrogate team engages with people outside of the campaign (from business leaders to politicians to musicians and actors) and gets them involved in re-electing the president. We connect with all departments both in HQ and across the country to make sure our surrogates are well prepared to help the campaign raise funds, amplify messages and grow grassroots support."
The application only allows top 3 choices and so I was wondering what your opinions were on your top 3? I'm currently favoring the political/finance/surrogate options but extra input would be much appreciated.
Also no hate from Romney supporters, I'll likely be applying to his internship program as well and it will likely have the same functions as Obama's campaign
Even though I love politics, I've learned to avoid ostensible political engagement not out of apathy, but out of self preservation. Whichever campaign you choose to work on, people will make assumption and jump to conclusion no matter what. The may make decisions on these views consciously or else subconsciously.
Just always remember to be careful with politics or politics may bite you in the ass.
Obama For America, you say?
Shitstorm commencing in 3... 2... 1...
Also no hate from Romney supporters, I'll likely be applying to his internship program as well and it will likely have the same functions as Obama's campaign"
lol wat. troll?
troll
seriously this wasnt even funny its just dumb
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