How to Get an Investment Internship

An investment banking internship opens doors to many career paths for students who are pursuing degrees in business. In some cases, these internships are available to students enrolled in liberal arts degree programs, as well. The investment banking industry needs employees with a variety of skill sets. Use this internship to develop your financial expertise and get valuable career skills as an investment banking intern.

Things You'll Need

• Transcripts
• Resume
• Letters of recommendation

Instructions

1. Seek information about investment and finance careers from the US Department of Labor. Review the variety of career paths in this industry that are open to business majors and liberal arts majors.

2. Go to the Princeton Review website and search for investment industry internships. Investigate the companies and organizations that offer internship placements before applying.

3. Find internships available to undergraduate and graduate students. The federal government's website--Overseas Private Investment Corporation--has this information. OPIC's portfolio is mainly international. Placements include investment policy and economic development and business risk insurance, among others. All OPIC internships placements are in Washington, DC.

4. Talk to your advisor about opportunities with investment companies that recruit directly through university career placement officers. The advisor may also have additional information about the companies you are considering.

5. See if you can get academic credit for your internship. Your academic advisor should be able to answer this for you. It should qualify as the equivalent of at least one course in your major, possibly more, depending on the length of the internship.

6. Check to see if you will be paid for your internship. It is often possible to earn a small amount of money while you are completing your internship. This is especially true if the internship takes place during the academic school year when you would have to forgo work-study or other job opportunities.

7. Request or download applications. Apply for internships that fit your academic qualifications and job experience. Collect required documents, references, recommendations and transcripts, and submit your application package to the sponsoring company or organization.

Resources

• Find internship links and information at Princeton Review.
• Get information about careers in the investment industry at the Department of Labor.
• Apply for international investment internships at OPIC.