Do I need an internship to land a finance job offer? (2024)

FAQs

Do I need an internship to land a finance job offer? ›

If you are thinking about pursuing a career in finance, an internship is a good way to find out more about the day-to-day of the job. It also gives you the opportunity to network and show the firm you're interested in that you can handle the work.

While it's not always required, internships are great opportunities for growth and experience. From summer finance internships to the best finance internships, you'll be able to build both hard and soft skills. You'll even network with some of the finest industry professionals.

Internships are an amazing way to build your resume, explore potential career options, and diversify your college experience. So while you don't need an internship to land a job after college, the experience you receive from an internship may be enough to want to complete one.

Finance internship programs can provide a number of benefits to students and recent graduates. Additionally, internships can provide networking opportunities and the chance to build a professional network, which can be helpful when looking for full-time employment after graduation.

Are finance internships hard to get? Finance internships can be competitive, especially at top firms or prestigious roles. Success often depends on your academic background, relevant skills, networking efforts, and ability to demonstrate your passion for finance.

An internship is not absolutely necessary, but it is an extremely important part of the process when trying to secure a full-time position. If you are thinking about pursuing a career in finance, an internship is a good way to find out more about the day-to-day of the job.

Internships are essential for your development, not just as a student but as a young working professional. They are pivotal and set you apart. Internships are an investment and arguably one of the best investments you can make for your career.

If you do not have any internship experience, it will most likely not harm your chances of getting a job at all. When an employer or recruiter sees that you have experience, they believe that you will be able to learn faster because you have already taken your first steps into the field.

Both jobs and internships can provide valuable experiences and have their own benefits, so it ultimately depends on your goals and interests. However, internships tend to be more selective and overall will look more impressive since they're harder to get.

Expand your search

Consider that there may be plenty of other companies out there that could also offer you a valuable insight into the sector in which you're interested. Gaining sound work experience at a suitable company, be it big, small or boutique, adds value to your CV at this stage, so do not dismiss this.

Does GPA matter for finance internships? ›

These banks often filter candidates based on GPA, typically favoring those with a GPA above 3.5. The Goldman Sachs internship program is highly competitive, with interns often needing a GPA of at least 3.8.

A financial manager is not an entry-level job, so you should gain relevant work experience as soon as you can. Getting an internship in finance at a local business is a great way to do this.

The finance industry is famously hard-charging, especially at the junior levels, and you need to show you can handle it and more. Good references are valuable no matter what, but, more importantly, impressing your bosses during an internship can be a great way to open doors for a future full-time job with that company.

2. 70.4% of interns get offered a job after an internship. Of those, 79.6% accept the offer they get. While candidates don't need to have an internship to get hired, and an internship certainly doesn't guarantee you a job, internship statistics for 2022 show it does boost your job prospects.

Landing an internship at KPMG in the U.S. is no easy task. Between fall 2021 and spring 2022, KPMG received over 50,000 applications for internship positions in the U.S., leading it to hire 3,900 interns for this year. That equates to an acceptance rate of approximately 8%.

Applicants must possess at least a 3.25 GPA to enter the program and all interns are required to sign the FDIC Internship Program Participant Agreement.

If you have internship experience in the field in which you are applying, you are more likely to stand out to whoever is looking at your resume. If you do not have any internship experience, it will most likely not harm your chances of getting a job at all.