Each project arrives with its purpose, milestones and first tasks written out. Here is how the first three read.
Map of finance internship types by year of study
Most first-years apply for the wrong thing at the wrong time because the vocabulary is confusing: insight days, spring weeks, summer analyst programmes, off-cycle internships and placement years each target a different year group. A one-page map of what exists for your year, and what each one can lead to, stops you missing the first-year schemes that feed fast-track routes into summer roles.
First tasks
- Write your year of study and expected graduation year at the top of a blank page
- List the five main internship types with the year group each one targets
- Highlight the programme types you are eligible for this cycle
- Ask two older students in the finance society to check the map
Divisions shortlist for your first applications
Applying to every division at every firm produces generic answers that fail the motivational questions. Choosing two or three divisions, for example investment banking, sales and trading, asset management, research, risk or operations, lets you write answers that sound like you know what the job is and still keeps enough firms on the list.
First tasks
- Read the division pages on three firms' student careers sites
- Write one paragraph per division on what an intern actually does
- Pick two or three divisions and write a reason for each
- Talk to one practitioner per chosen division at a society event
Firm list of 25 internship programmes by tier
Offer rates for top programmes are low, so a student who applies to six famous names and nothing else often ends the season with nothing. A list of about 25 programmes across global banks, mid-sized and boutique firms, asset managers and local institutions spreads the risk and gives you somewhere to land.
First tasks
- Collect programme names from your careers service jobs board
- Add asset managers, insurers and local banks you had not considered
- Tag every programme as reach, realistic or safer
- Ask the agent to check the list for duplicates and missing eligibility details
