Really? You get a number of interns with an attitude? That's pretty surprising. I'd think that even if they were arrogant -- which I'm sure a bunch of 'em are -- they'd at least be able to hide and fake it for the summer.

 

I dislike interns who are obsequious and do not understand boundaries. Yes, it is important to demonstrate a good attitude and try to establish a working relationship. No, it is not necessary to try to forcefully and awkwardly bond with me during your few weeks here. This includes straining to engage me in conversation when I clearly don't want to converse, and just generally trying too hard. We will not build a meaningful personal relationship in your limited time here getting up to speed. But, if you're one of these try-hards, you will leave me with a bad taste in my mouth due to your surprising lack of self-awareness, and I will not be your fan when it's roundtable time.

 
Most Helpful

...ask me a question, then interrupt me as soon as they think they know the answer so they can show me that they know.

I really enjoy the teaching and mentorship part of the job. I like it when people come to me with questions, and they leave my office slightly more capable than when they entered it. I am not, as a rule, impressed with your knowledge base, and I don't expect to be. I really, really don't like being interrupted, especially when I'm taking the time to answer a question that you asked me.

Ask, listen, learn, say thanks.

"Son, life is hard. But it's harder if you're stupid." - my dad
 

Ha. Again, I see where you're coming from, and the internship... sometimes we "kids" don't have enough self-awareness to realize what can be annoying... hearing the perspective from the other side is super helpful.

 

Just a weird/logistical question... do some interns actually type your info. into their phones while you give it to them? Or do just expect/assume they'll write it down later? Just wondering if it's weird for intern to be walking around with notebook/typing into phone while talking to you. It makes sense to do so... just wondering if some actually write down the info. while you're dispensing it.

 
Funniest

... Treat me like the fucking search feature on Google.

"I'm at a loss, he was part of that whole Yale thing... Well, I think, for one, that he was probably a closet homosexual who did a lot of cocaine... You know, that Yale thing."
 

Today there was a meeting with our director to review a deck that was put together by one of the analysts. There was a spelling/syntax mistake that I saw but I wasn't going to point that out in front of the director. Just made a note to let him know after the meeting ... until our team's intern decided to point it out in front of everyone. The director didn't take too kindly to it either, because on the next slide he asked the intern "hey, you want to use your HP 12C to double check the math?" which got some laughs from the room.

Interns: don't throw your peers under the bus

 

Agree. It's an internal meeting, it's nothing personal. If calculations would off, it would be another question, but just some formatting and spelling is something that can happen and is worth correcting and pointing out.

 

Thanks for the info, chief. Maybe I should have clarified that I meant primarily using the mouse to navigate Excel. Maybe that should be a given. Maybe being clear and precise in a not serious thread on WSO isn't everyone's top priority.

Thanks, let me know if you ever need an introduction in the industry.
 

Definitely for chart formatting menu / quick switching tabs.. there are other good examples of course. But there was another intern at my firm that was using the mouse to select ranges / arrays, right clicking with the mouse, even clicking copy and paste and all the paste specials (which he barely knew about). I don't think he knew where the alt key was or had a quick ribbon. It was painful to watch. His technical skills were absolute ass overall even in week 9

 

...Over promise and under deliver.

Don't "Excessively" stack your to-do list so high that you begin faltering on your deliverables and pushing other people's deadlines. Understand what a human can accomplish in 24 hours, and staff yourself accordingly. You will be better off at the end of your internship with a small group of people in the office thinking you were instrumental to their team, as opposed to everyone thinking you were overstretched and underperforming.

"A man can convince anyone he's somebody else, but never himself."
 

Aren't professional.

I'm mentoring a few interns and wanted to meet with them to go over their ideas for one of their intern challenges, asked the leader to set up a meeting with everyone. I'm expecting a normal meeting, in a meeting room (who would've thought eh?), this hippie goes and decides that we should have it on the small grass area in front of the HQ - Why on Earth would that be a good idea?

Had the 'xoxo' sign off from one.

And the crème de la crème, one had a small task to do and in the email wrote "I think it's a bit rubbish, but will it do?" ............ are you serious? No it wasn't an important task at all but you're an intern and that's a terrible attitude, why would you ever think submitting something you think is rubbish is a good idea?

 

Explain shit to other interns that I just explained to them when I know they haven't fully understood it or practiced enough. Hate that. I would love it if interns could help each other and teach each other because it makes my life easier and makes them learn better but they can ONLY do that when they have proven they have fully understood it. More often then not they 'teach' something 3-4 hours after having heard it for the first time and not having fully understood it.

 

1 - who try to argue the point when I tell them that something is their job, not something for them to try to delegate back to me. I learned how to pull equity research before you were born, I know how, so the whole point of the exercise is for you to learn the skill. 2 - who think that they know how to do my job because "I looked on Google and didn't find it" 3 - who think they're somehow helping me out by mentioning the sources in the report they're looking for an update on, which they've conveniently attached to the email. Yes, I know how to read the sources cited, but thanks!

 
  • Aren't performing great, but don't live in the office trying to perform better
  • Pretend they understand basic concepts only to ask stupid questions later when talking about stuff building on those concepts
  • Require substantial amounts of time investment with little to no real tangible output
  • Don't retain information (telling them the same thing over and over again)
  • Aren't aware enough to understand how to do well at the job yet still aren't smart enough to just ask
 

Don't own their actions, can't say please/thank you.

The best are the ones that react like they are peeking in from a parallel universe through a hole in space-time when mistakes get pointed out. I'm not advocating "crawl and beg for mercy" but in the same time some degree of "oh yea my bad" wouldn't kill you. Lately I have seen this go hand in hand with a level of entitlement. It's all that Instagram culture I tell ya'. pulls out a can of LaCroix

 

Don't jump the chain of command. You have an issue? Deal with the person first. Then and only then do you go above them. Going above the head of your direct superior is a great way to not get a return offer.

 

Couldn’t help but chime in on this one because interns and grad rotation people the past couple of months are hurting our desk.

Very basic- interrupting me or colleagues near to my desk with basic questions that can be answered via google or investopedia. Conveys nothing but laziness and lack of initiative. My pet hate. We have some bright quant people this summer but they are one trick ponies - have no clue how to source quality info or self learn at all. Also hipster quants eating porridge at 10am and taking 15mins to brew their fancy tea.

Patience exercise at the moment.

TG
 

Not too many details needed. Seemed like he sold drugs casually to friends to pick up extra cash. He was unpaid and working in a middle office function. He also only listed his PF GPA excluding freshman fall on his resume which is hilarious

 

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