Summer Work experience/internship

DecadentSnob

Registered User
Messages
10
Hey all,

Does anyone know of any financial services companies based in Dublin, that offer summer work experience? I've tried alot of places but they don't seem to want anyone. Do you think it's a case of "who you know" to get into these places? Btw I'm a college student in a finance course and would preferably like to work in this area.

Thanks for your help.
 
Have you tried contacting some or all of the many financial services companies in the IFSC? I'm sure that at least one of them would find some work for an enthusiastic intern especially if they don't have to pay them much if at all? What specific financial area do you have in mind?
 
Hi,

I know that EBS have taken on summer staff in the past. You may like to try there head office 665 9000. I used to work there and we had a lot of students in during the summer in Head Office working.

Hope this is some help.

Carmody.
 
When you say 'Finance company' what do you mean? A bank, an insurer, a corporate finance house?

I do know that the Big 4 audit firms take on summer staff in audit and tax for financial services departments.
 
Re Big 4, this is correct but as far as I know usually arranged through various colleges rather than accepting students who apply directly. Have you spoken to the careers office in your college?
 
There's usually a position out there if you’re just lucky enough to talk to the right person at the right time. Being flexible (re: pay) means they love getting people keen to gain experience.

Have you tried going through your college career service?
Or the other college career services?
May be worth talking with some of your lecturers to see if they could advise, many would still have links to those in industry and would (possibly) be contacts for those looking to recruit.

Apart from that, a trawl through Google should provide a number of e-mail addresses and contact numbers to get you started in your search.
 
Janet said:
Re Big 4, this is correct but as far as I know usually arranged through various colleges rather than accepting students who apply directly.

Not true, you can apply via their websites.
 
Well I've applied to around 30 different firms and I haven't sent them the same cv and cl either. Each has been researched for the particular company in question. Sofar I've received about 7 replies, all negitive(at least I'm getting closer to the positive!). My career guidence dept at college aren't much help as I'm not in my penultimate year (I'm in the 2nd of a 4 year course). I'd really like to work in areas like corporate finance, stockbroking and fund management. On the other hand I don't want to work in accountancy firms.

As regards EBS, I sent them my details last week, hopefully they'll get back.
 
Hey,

If you write to Damien Carley in Head Office or even phone him, he will let you know what would happen. He is head of HR.

Carmody
 
CCOVICH said:
I do know that the Big 4 audit firms take on summer staff in audit and tax for financial services departments.

I applied to the big 4 via their websites. As far as I know all closing dates have passed. Had my first interview today... fingers crossed. Sounds really interesting...hope I get it...
 
it's definitely not a case of who you know. I have no financial connections and was not doing finance in college. I applied directly to KPMG and PWC and was offered a placement with both of them last summer.
Ernst & Young also take on summer interns.
 
Would casting your net wider might also be an option - e.g. Belfast, London, Cork, EU mainland etc.?
 
Well I had all intentions of going to London or Hong Kong. However, most of the large firms offering internships there have stopped receiving applications e.g. Citibank. I dont particularly want to work for a small foreign company, tbh I mightn't know what their like and end up coming home unsatisfied.
 
Its not much use for your current aim.... but…. it is worth trying to keep an eye (and maybe make a small little folder) on a lot of the relevant information out there for next year. You'll have spotted that the majority of the intern schemes are offered to penultimate year students (from Finance based to Engineering degrees). Not a bad idea to have a clear picture of the firms available and rough deadlines for each.

This year you want to get a foot in the door and pick up some basic experience, what you do next year may have far larger implications for your future career. Many of the firms offer bursaries to students who show potential… thus potentially having a (large) impact on the rest of your career.

If you’ve already sent in 30 or so CVs (glad to hear you individually tailored them, one of the biggest mistakes people make is having a bog standard CV) you may already have covered most of the firms you’d hope to work for. It may not be any harm to try a few of the smaller firms until you have something concrete… You don’t have to commit to a job with any of them until you’ve done a little more research.
 
CCOVICH said:
Don't bet on it . But best of luck.

I meant the social side of things!!

Ana said:
it's definitely not a case of who you know. I have no financial connections and was not doing finance in college. I applied directly to KPMG and PWC and was offered a placement with both of them last summer.

Did you take the offer? How did you get on? Would you recommend it?
 
Out of the two of them i'd have gone with KPMG. In the end i didn't take either as by the time april rolled round i decided it was law i wanted not finance and their legal dept was too small for students so ended up sacrificing my summer for the fe1s.

I have friends working in ernst, pwc and kpmg and they all love it...long hours hard work but great social side of things
 
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I got a couple of positive replies this morning i.e. they want to interview me. Hopefully, all will go well.
Does anyone have any experience with interviews for interns?
 
DecadentSnob said:
Does anyone have any experience with interviews for interns?

My sister had one yesterday and it was a 'waste of time', i.e. no-one from the actual department where she applied was interviewing her and there was only one interview.