How to land an internship as a college freshman with no experience?
As mentioned above, I am a college freshmen at a nontarget school whose only experience is working at Raising Canes, a catering service, and Cutco (lol spare me the pyramid scheme jokes). What is the best way for me to land a summer internship? Cold emails? Cold calls? Go to business fairs? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
What city are you in? If it's Dallas, then maybe I can help.
Here's what you should do, just being honest. Spend your freshman summer or freshman during the year working in either insurance or financial analyst.
You'll learn more about sales in that small time, that it'll impact the way you live your fucking life. It's greatness when you learn the skills early on. I would suggest financial advisor because you'll find people who can work with your schedule, and it's going to be finance related. Maybe if that even means going insurance but then studying for your licenses.
That first summer internship is meaningless, but it means a TON. When you do that internship or part time job during the year, make sure the network with people on Linkedin. It can mean you have a connection to a connection who has a connection type game. If you play that, you'll not only get into good jobs you have a great professional career. Alumni, people who could mentor and just start a little bit of a business relationship. Even if it's also based on your skills a the job your'e at.
Now how to get those jobs? Easy. Buy a good fitting suit, watch about 12 hours of public speaking and sales techniques on YouTube and then go financial advisor office to office, or insurance agency to agency. Ask them to take you on, because you're willing to do what it takes to win, and learn. Highlight your sales interactions (clubs, talking to irrate customers at Raising Canes, etc.) and just win the interview.
When you apply to banks or boutiques or any type of sophomore year internships, you already have some work experience ON TOP OF killing it on campus. If you can do both, you'll be in a great place. I know people who did this model, and it helped tremendously with interviewing, having confidence and knowing more about business.
Also apply to other jobs, and if you really want to.. go into the offices of places and drop resumes. It might seem outdated, but as a freshman you're going to have to be different and just find the person willing to take a chance on you honestly.
Thanks for all of the help. I definitely want to get some sort of work in so that I'm more prepared for an IB internship. FYI, I live in New Orleans.
What internships should I look for Freshman year? (Originally Posted: 07/30/2017)
I've decided that maybe working as a telemarketer isn't for me. I know I'm going to get a 4.0 my first year at college. It's a sure thing just don't question it. How early should I be networking and whom should I reach out to? I have PWM firms in my area and I feel like I have a great chance since I'm amazing at interviewing, I don't sweat or get nervous. I dont want to come off as a try hard with no life, rather, someone who the people at the firm would love to have around as the intern and is enjoyable. I fit that mold perfectly and I come off as smart according to most people I've met.
I have so much drive now since I'm embarrassed of working a typical Summer job (dishwasher). I saw a very rich dude come in and we started talking. I told him I wanted to do investment banking and went over pretty much everything I've learned from here. Before he left he patted me on the shoulder saying "You're too damn smart to be working here." He smirked and left. I have so much drive I will do whatever it takes. If I need to wait outside BofA or Wells Fargo (retail banks) I will if that's what it takes to achieve my internship.
Thanks.
BUMP
Good luck kiddo
Thanks for the detailed and comprehensive answer!
PWM, IBD internship, Burger flipper
I don't want to be a burber flipper so any tips for getting into PWM?
BUMP
You're a rising freshman?
Is it too late to go to the T50 school?
Yes I am. I'm going to a local CC first for financial reasons. I got accepted to a t50 schools but parents said no since I had to pull out private loans.
.
I think you should ask your father for his contacts I assume?
Troll internship. Oh wait, you are the MD of troll.
Have some respect. This is at least the Genghis Khan of troll.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE?
I've just been looking through threads... the one thing I'm going to say is, there's being confident, and then there is being cocky. Everything you think you know, you don't. My honest, personal advice is stop saying that you are amazing at everything. It looks bad and you won't get anything with that attitude because no one wants to be around a cocky person.
Getting an Internship/Volunteer/Shadow Position the summer before Freshman Year (Originally Posted: 05/04/2016)
Is it worth doing it to explore areas of finance or am I better off just waiting until freshman year?
Oh my god calm down and breathe. You have so much time.
Is this a troll post and I didn't get the joke?
It is not a troll post. And I understand the part about enjoying the summer, I already have some fun stuff planned. I do believe, however, that in an industry as competitive as consulting- every bit helps. I also know that I would very much enjoy the experience. I have read up on what I should do in college, and I do plan to study abroad. But, I really want some experience this summer. I feel like it would be really valuable and a fascinating experience. Undoubtedly, in the future, I'll be competing with people who have absolutely amazing resumes. So, I want to get every opportunity/leg-up possible.
idk if its a trollpost, but its definitely in the same vein as those "I am 12 years old, is it too late for me to learn programming" posts that have appeared on Quora recently.
To the OP - highschool and freshman year experience/externships dont really add too much value from an HR/recruiting perspective. The main reason to do it is whatever you can personally learn from it. Having a solid summer internship junior year is all the experience you need for FT recruitment.
During first couple of years of college, you should Join a social club or a fraternity/sorority and network, socialize, and develop all the social veins you would need as a consultant.
Just my two cents.
Getting an Internship - Freshman at Cornell's AEM program (Originally Posted: 06/21/2009)
Hey guys,
so I will be an entering freshmen into Cornell's AEM program next year and I had a question relating to investment banking internships. First of all, is it common to get first year internships at all (unpaid even) or are these spots usually reserved for sophomores and juniors?
If so, what classes can i take/activities can i do/jobs can i hold that will boost my chances for one of these spots?
What is the best way to go about finding these unpaid internship opportunities and any other internship opportunities?
I know it is early but thus far, it seems like early success will lead to even more success when looking for actual jobs, etc. so I wanted to get a head start.
Thanks for the help!
It shouldn't be too hard to find an unpaid at a small boutique if you're applying from Cornell. Cold calling is your friend in this.
Getting an unpaid internship in finance is very realistic for a freshman. I would rely on the alumni who graduated from your program, attending info sessions and passing your resume to the recruiters.
Also UBS has a Discovery Days program for freshman (not an internship), which is like a "sell day" that teaches freshmen about the different divisions of a bank. There is a selection process, and the application is due around January of each year.
Chase Us, Break In http://chasingconsultantsbreakingbankers.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the replies guys, thats really helpful. I'm perfectly fine with cold calling these firms but is there any resource for finding these boutique investment banks? Are there any ones in particular that you have had a good experience with or know for sure recruits interns every summer?
Thanks!
Google = great.
Oftentimes, bulge bracket firms will have local branches that run private wealth and brokerage services. An internship with your local BB branch freshman year doesn't give you many substantial opportunities to contribute but the name on the resume helps and hopefully you'll make some contacts who can will refer you to other contacts within the organization, who will then refer you again... and so on.
Click on popular in the right hand menu on WSO and click regional boutiques and look for the list relating to your city :)
Is AEM the program where they hand out summa cum laude for good grades only?
pussinboots, what else would qualify you for summa cum laude? I thought latin honors were based solely on grades.
probably not going to be easy to get banking as a freshman, unless you are seriously good at sucking dick. even then, you'll also need to have a good gpa (which usually comes easier if you suck dick well). and if you're one of those guys who thinks you actually have to work hard to get things and can't skate by by placating anyone important with a nice hummer, then you're probably not cut out for banking. at least, not anywhere good. i'm sure ubs healthcare would be happy to have you for "discovery" day... maybe they can discover some profits
PWM Internship - Currently freshman from a non-target (Originally Posted: 10/10/2013)
I'm currently a freshman from a non-target and was interested in getting a pwm interning gig. How should I go about obtaining an internship?
Try to find friends who did a pwm internship in the past and see if they can get you in. Normally it is not very difficult.
I'm not aware of any friends of mine that have done a pwm internship, but I'll definitely ask around to see if I can meet upperclassmen who might have. If that option doesn't work, do I end up cold calling a bunch of branch managers? Also, when is a good time to start cold calling people for internships?
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