Im a sophmore at a non-target state school in the south with below a 3.5 GPA and decent extracirriculars at best (compared to most of you guys). I know my resume needs some help and I'm working on that pretty hard. I am not positive what field of investment finance I want to work in, but S&T (specifically the T) is what sounds most appealing to me at this point. I feel strongly that I need to do something this summer in terms of (semi) releveant work experience because with a lacking resume I know its going to be difficult to get a solid internship after jr. year. Keep in mind I'm working hard on GPA and E.C. so it will look better by next spring. So what can I look for this summer that will help out my resume. I know I have no chance at any legitimate internship but what about volunteer/unpaid internship at one of the many investment advisory firms in my home city. What can I look for, paid or unpaid that would provide even a modest boost to my chances next summer?
Trending Content
| +106 | At what point should you give up? | 56 | 1d | |
| +81 | Shafted for SA 2025 Recruitment. Next steps? | 31 | 3d | |
| +37 | Recruiting while unemployed | 16 | 1d | |
| +37 | I am lost on the next step - Need Advice | 8 | 3d | |
| +29 | Tips for: LSE MSc Finance-->IBD SA. Should I go for a third internship in M&A?? | 7 | 6d | |
| +22 | SF vs NY IB Stint | 10 | 2d | |
| +22 | Incoming freshmen at bocconi - SA 2025 recruiting | 15 | 23h | |
| +20 | Can I leverage my sister's attendance at Penn to break into IB? | 16 | 5d | |
| +19 | NYC Consumer PE/Growth Funds with decent comp but amazing WLB? | 6 | 19h | |
| +18 | Job Switch Advice | 3 | 1h |
Career Resources
You should NEVER work for free. If all you can find is an unpaid internship try to get school credit for it, so that you can spin it and say that you originated an internship program relationship with X company and your university.
It is good that you are on top of things now and so determined. I hope something works out.
Im a junior and I can tell you to only focus on extracurriculars where you have leadership positions. They come up in interviews a little, but its usually only in passing. Focus on business societies like investing or trading clubs-They will spend five-ten minutes on these and usually use them to jump into economy and market based questions to survey your interest and how much you keep up with the market.
As a sophomore, getting a summer internship shows initiative and is good. You should try for anything you can. PWM and Ops are the most likely, but you could look for something in research, corp. finance division in a F500 company. Depending where you are in the South, there maybe some trading firms. Cold Call-higher ups in a company and saying you WANT an unpaid internship, that your interested in finance and learning more about different opportunities (Say this no matter what, don't mention trading or another interest). They key sophomore year is to get something that "looks" like finance even if you only got coffee and made copies-you just need to be able to talk about and understand what your group did do that you can answer interview questions.
Starting NOW, go to your school's career services and look at the alumni database that lists alumni and where they work/what they do. Every college has one. You can use this to find an internship in the Summer, but use this to start networking for junior year. Make a well crafted email (three paragraphs, similar format to cover letter) First paragraph will always change depending on who you are emailing/what they do/you interests in what they do. Second paragraph stays the same and says your skills and what you have done to date. Third paragraph is closing...please contact me, thank you for time and consideration, ect... Ask for informational interviews (even if its an area that your not really interested in) You need to spread your net wide. I have also had an MD in one area forward my resume to his friend who was an MD in S&T and get me an interview. Talk about their experiences and what they have done. Why they like their job, whats the internship like, ect? Sine you want trading..the best way to network with traders and get them to like you is to talk about the market..ask their opinion, and while their talking show that you know what your talking about as well.......I have literally had 45 minute conversations with traders and after they hang up, get a text asking to "re-send" them your resume.
Good Luck!!
Wow... appreciate the responses, this is a lot to take in, but is very exciting. Also I might as well throw out there that I go to U of Tennessee (Knoxville) and am from Chattanooga, TN so my summer work (at least this summer) will probably need to be in one of those two cities, preferably Chattanooga. If there are any other questions about my specific situation, feel free to ask.
Any other advice? The most logical choice (for this summer) seems to be to just cold call a bunch of local pwm firms for whatever position I can get. They are very numerous around here so I should have a decent chance of finding something (plus I'm connected to one through family friends). Obviously this is nothing prestigious but does everyone agree that it is the best route for me? Will it be significantly helpful for a legit internship next summer/will it be worth the time if I have to accept an unpaid position?
Et quos occaecati itaque. Animi temporibus placeat voluptates adipisci nobis temporibus architecto consectetur. Odio dignissimos repellendus reprehenderit alias perspiciatis quis magnam. Voluptas quia quia earum sequi placeat dolores qui. Rerum voluptate debitis sit est nulla necessitatibus quo culpa.
Quis rerum nobis laborum explicabo ea. Eligendi et et recusandae vitae quia repellat. Non consequuntur deserunt deserunt quam explicabo enim est. Necessitatibus accusantium quos aliquid vero.
Alias officia hic dolores omnis repellendus. Dolorum expedita neque dolorem. Deleniti officiis eos aut minus quo eum autem.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...