What was the #1 factor in getting your current/upcoming finance-related job or internship?

What was the #1 factor in getting your current/upcoming finance-related job or internship?

Networking through colleague/boss/friend/alumni
24% (107 votes)
Cold Networking
9% (41 votes)
In-house promotion / lateral / transfer
0% (2 votes)
Past internship lead to job offer with same firm
4% (19 votes)
Resume
8% (35 votes)
Interview skills
13% (59 votes)
Advanced academic degree (MBA, MSF, or similar)
2% (9 votes)
Advanced certification (CFA, or similar)
2% (8 votes)
Grades / test scores
2% (8 votes)
Luck
7% (32 votes)
Kissed a lot of ass
3% (15 votes)
School I currently attend, or attended in the past
4% (17 votes)
Nepotism
5% (21 votes)
Recruited (by firm directly or a recruiter)
4% (17 votes)
Lied / cheated
2% (7 votes)
N/A I don't have a finance job/internship now, nor upcoming for the future
10% (45 votes)
Total votes: 442
 

I am going to be a senior next fall. I need to secure an internship as soon as possible. The thing is I have been looking everywhere, but my GPA is just under a 3.0 and am afraid I won't even be given a chance once they know my GPA. Has anyone been in this position and what should I do?

Traps
 

yup, cold call every firm in your area....literally, every firm. Takes time and patience, and probably a few of them will want to meet and give you advice w/o actually having a position open,but this is just the beginning of your networking. Stay in contact with them and they may refer you to other people. I got a PE internship, even though my undergrad was construction lol (which i regret and hated)

 
traps:
I am going to be a senior next fall. I need to secure an internship as soon as possible. The thing is I have been looking everywhere, but my GPA is just under a 3.0 and am afraid I won't even be given a chance once they know my GPA. Has anyone been in this position and what should I do?

since my GPA was subpar I didn't include it on my resume. if/when people asked I told the truth. i had a pretty decent mix of interviews where they either asked or didn't. i tried to spin it the best i possibly could.

This to all my hatin' folks seeing me getting guac right now..
 
Cruncharoo:
traps:
I am going to be a senior next fall. I need to secure an internship as soon as possible. The thing is I have been looking everywhere, but my GPA is just under a 3.0 and am afraid I won't even be given a chance once they know my GPA. Has anyone been in this position and what should I do?

since my GPA was subpar I didn't include it on my resume. if/when people asked I told the truth. i had a pretty decent mix of interviews where they either asked or didn't. i tried to spin it the best i possibly could.

Would you still apply to firms that required a 3.0 and 3.2 even though your GPA was slightly below?

Traps

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