Stayin’ Alive: A Guide for the Summer Analyst or Associate
By continentalman on Jun 27, 2006 in Cube Life, Internships
Let’s say you actually care about whether you do well at your summer program. Then…
- Don’t complain about your projects. Get staffed on a shit job? Everyone has worked on a shitty project, including the people you are working for. The worst thing you can do is echo someone who is negative around you.
- Think of your internship as a 2-month long interview process. You wouldn’t tell the interviewer that you don’t like a certain part of the interview.
- Befriend the staffer.
- Show up earlier than the people you work for. If you’re a summer associate, show up earlier than the VPs or MDs.
- Face time does count. Don’t leave earlier than 8pm, and for weekends, do as others do.
- Don’t eat meat? Vegetarians don’t belong in finance. And if you want to say that you don’t drink, you might as well say that you don’t have sex.
- Socialize with your colleagues. As for going beyond formally planned activities and reaching out to other (non interns) — let them reach out to you. If someone asked me to go out for a drink — I wouldn’t think negatively of that person, I’d just think of a reason not to go.
- Expenses — just follow policy.
- People find out if you’re hooking up with another intern. It’s considered puerile, but happens all the time. It’s not like dating another ibanker is considered prestigious. If you’re hooking up with a model, on the other hand… And if you’re a girl, you’re writing yourself into the ’slut’ category.
- When it comes to dress, you definitely want to fit in, but on the upper end of fitting in. You should dress well for interviews, however.
- Lastly, you want to create bonds with people who are going to pull for you when it comes to hiring time. Think about that.
On Jun 27, 2006, ex-working girl said:
my god, can we email this to every summer intern!!! these are the things i wish i could’ve told my interns but i knew that is wasn’t kosher to be so blatant. I esp. love bullet point #6. i personally don’t trust anyone who doesn’t eat meat.
On Jun 27, 2006, ex-working girl said:
i mean who don’t eat meat. when i’m a bit tipsy i tend to have bad grammar.
On Jun 28, 2006, The Corner said:
J.Crew giving away free flip flops at the NYSE today to celebrate the IPO. Now all you need is an inside contact with a security badge to get in the gates.
On Jun 28, 2006, shoegazejames said:
Good skills! here’s a couple tips if interning in London:
We drink more and work less. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of time in the pub, including weeknights and Friday lunchtimes, particularly during August, when nobody who is anybody works.
Get an interest in at least one of football (aka soccer)/cricket/horseracing/Eastenders (TV soap). You’ll be short pub/watercooler talk otherwise.
FFS don’t wear Lacoste polo shirt and Nantucket Chinos, simply screams US intern! Get a navy linen suit from Hackett.
Nobody (other than fellow American) will have heard of your University, unless it’s Harvard or Yale.
You’ve got a reputation for being keen, live up to it!
Good luck!
On Jun 28, 2006, hopefulintern said:
Thanks for the tips.
On Jun 30, 2006, g.gekko said:
Say what you want about vegetarians, but we actually do just fine in finance.
As far as celibacy goes, I don’t know.
On Jul 2, 2006, hey said:
vegetarians don’t belong in finance? oh c’mon, don’t be ridiculous.
On Jul 6, 2006, g.gekko said:
The fact is that the majority of the vegetarians will be skinny and more fit after having completed an analyst program, while the rest of you will be…fat.
On Jul 7, 2006, RR said:
you guys must be indian
On Jul 12, 2006, BankersBall said:
Guess again.
On Jul 13, 2006, AnimalLover said:
I love animals…
… they are so friggin’ tasty!
/2/\_/
When I see you vegetarians I don’t smell money n***.
When you see me, you smell money all over me n***.
I stopped carrying twenties a long time ago m** f**
And if I do got ‘em, I’ll feel like blowin’ em and have a nice steak baby.
On Aug 11, 2006, doesnt matter said:
I have a friend who followed this advice to a T and did not get an offer to come back. Simply, people did ot like his face time, fake “always happy about everything” attitude, and overly dressed wardrobe. he simply did not fit in.
Yes, BB IBD
On Jul 6, 2007, dirtchutewarrior said:
what if you’re gay? should you avoid inviting your VP to the Rawhide in Chelsea? also, are assless chaps with a cock harness inappropriate for casual friday?
On Jul 6, 2007, BW said:
Oh Pu-leeze! The ugly truth is that at any given time half the people in any bank are trying to get in (read: summers) while the other half is dying to get out (read: burnout). Summers have a much better chance than they think they do. Just don’t screw up and you’re good.
On Jul 7, 2007, Pat Bateman said:
I’m a sophomore in college, how do I get an internship at one of these top banking firms
On Jul 14, 2007, cw phineas said:
Remember Lucy Gao at Citigroup? DON’T DO AS SHE DID!!!
rofl!
On Jul 14, 2007, thebondking said:
dirtchutewarrior said:
what if you’re gay? should you avoid inviting your VP to the Rawhide in Chelsea? also, are assless chaps with a cock harness inappropriate for casual friday?
save the assless chaps for when you need to make that ‘final impression’ to get the job at the end of the summer…
Your VP probably already hangs out at the Rawhide. Go say hi to him, he’s the schmuck with the brooks brothers tie around his forehead and his shirt off
On Jul 21, 2007, Anonymous said:
why r so many bankers gay?