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.
