Finance/Business intern - where to get experience BEFORE official internship?

[Anonymous]

If college student has never had any experience in finance or in an office setting and do not want to learn on the official internship (meaning want to make their mistakes prior to internship) where should they look or what shall they do? We have many offerings for internships but student has zero experience so far. Please only non snarky replies.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If college student has never had any experience in finance or in an office setting and do not want to learn on the official internship (meaning want to make their mistakes prior to internship) where should they look or what shall they do? We have many offerings for internships but student has zero experience so far. Please only non snarky replies.

Thank you.

To clarify they ARE a finance/econ major but no experience outside yet of classroom....

[Anonymous]

Not snarky, but this striving for perfection and never failing is way out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not snarky, but this striving for perfection and never failing is way out of control.

It is snarky. Move on please. You don't know my kid. They are very very green and this is not either of our fields.

[Anonymous]

Learn to brew coffee and to put in and pick up coffee orders. That's the most useful task a finance intern will preform. The rest is busy work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Learn to brew coffee and to put in and pick up coffee orders. That's the most useful task a finance intern will preform. The rest is busy work

Okay thanks. What types of things would they need to know around the office? As said this is not our field at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Learn to brew coffee and to put in and pick up coffee orders. That's the most useful task a finance intern will preform. The rest is busy work

I have had a few offers from family and connections in NY for interns for him - should I ask if he could shadow someone first?

[Anonymous]

OP, the internship is there for learning.
There is no experience he can gain ahead of time (ie doing some accounts payable in a small office) that would be material to a Corporate Finance internship or especially, IB internship.

If you want him to shine in the internship and not fail (which is what I think you're really aiming for here) these are the skills he really needs...

Know when and how to ask questions - be assertive, not a wallflower, but also don't be a know it all, and don't be annoying.
Know how to be personable, and friendly to his supervisors - understand that they are doing this -supervising an intern - because they believe in it, want to do it, or are being told to do it. If your DC can figure out the MO of each supervisor and adjust his interactions appropriately, the better.
He is there to get the work done efficiently and effectively and if possible, through his work, provide a lift to the department in some way.
Know how to interact and build relationships with the other interns in the company. Get people to like him.
Have a 'can do' approach and a problem-solving mentality, versus a whiny, absent-minded, clueless, need to be hand held mentality.
Be on time, every time, to every intern meeting, engagement dinner, event, outing.. appropriately dressed and ready to play in the sandbox with everyone who is there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the internship is there for learning.
There is no experience he can gain ahead of time (ie doing some accounts payable in a small office) that would be material to a Corporate Finance internship or especially, IB internship.

If you want him to shine in the internship and not fail (which is what I think you're really aiming for here) these are the skills he really needs...

Know when and how to ask questions - be assertive, not a wallflower, but also don't be a know it all, and don't be annoying.
Know how to be personable, and friendly to his supervisors - understand that they are doing this -supervising an intern - because they believe in it, want to do it, or are being told to do it. If your DC can figure out the MO of each supervisor and adjust his interactions appropriately, the better.
He is there to get the work done efficiently and effectively and if possible, through his work, provide a lift to the department in some way.
Know how to interact and build relationships with the other interns in the company. Get people to like him.
Have a 'can do' approach and a problem-solving mentality, versus a whiny, absent-minded, clueless, need to be hand held mentality.
Be on time, every time, to every intern meeting, engagement dinner, event, outing.. appropriately dressed and ready to play in the sandbox with everyone who is there.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I am not sure I understand the question. I have a finance and Accounting degree. When I was in high school and college- I worked as a cashier in a store. I balanced the register at the end of my shift and did a daily deposit. I would think that is practical experience and you learn customer service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure I understand the question. I have a finance and Accounting degree. When I was in high school and college- I worked as a cashier in a store. I balanced the register at the end of my shift and did a daily deposit. I would think that is practical experience and you learn customer service.

Do you actually work in finance today? Because none of that will help with the Financial Modeling of a target acquisition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure I understand the question. I have a finance and Accounting degree. When I was in high school and college- I worked as a cashier in a store. I balanced the register at the end of my shift and did a daily deposit. I would think that is practical experience and you learn customer service.

Do you actually work in finance today? Because none of that will help with the Financial Modeling of a target acquisition.

NP. Of course it would help. Any evidence that you can go out into the workforce, not be a complete jackhole, and work with others is valuable experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure I understand the question. I have a finance and Accounting degree. When I was in high school and college- I worked as a cashier in a store. I balanced the register at the end of my shift and did a daily deposit. I would think that is practical experience and you learn customer service.

Do you actually work in finance today? Because none of that will help with the Financial Modeling of a target acquisition.

NP. Of course it would help. Any evidence that you can go out into the workforce, not be a complete jackhole, and work with others is valuable experience.

Ok BOOOMr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure I understand the question. I have a finance and Accounting degree. When I was in high school and college- I worked as a cashier in a store. I balanced the register at the end of my shift and did a daily deposit. I would think that is practical experience and you learn customer service.

Do you actually work in finance today? Because none of that will help with the Financial Modeling of a target acquisition.

PP- Actually, I am pretty senior and well credentialed and have managed people in this field for over 20 years. I have also coordinated intern programs in our office. I also have college aged kids and understand their experience. Experience in customer service and retail helps when creating a first resume and applying for internships. OP your kid should work with their recruiter for any logistic questions to prepare for their internship. It is important that they should up on time, listen, learn and take feedback. In my experience the people that do not receive return offers, it is of their own making. Good luck to your child.

[Anonymous]

They have already been investing for themselves, right?
They have the app of the day and are following the stocks/crypto. They have lost and gained and learned form their mistakes.