Interning in Wall Street: Excel Files with 10,000 Rows do Exist!

Intern: Bruno Cevallos

Company: J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

Position: Finance Intern – Securitized Products Group (One Chase Manhattan Plaza NY, NY)

Interning in Wall Street is an experience like no other. In very few occasions will you ever find yourself surrounded by so many individuals committed to your same goal: Getting a job offer! Thus, after two weeks of excel and financial modeling training, multiple attempts at not getting lost in the subway and one or two extra NY hot dogs, I’m ready to share with you some important tips you should keep in mind while completing your respective internships:

·         Not everyone can help you, but everyone can hurt you – This means, please be courteous to everyone! Not only senior managers deserve your respect, but also the cleaning lady, the copy room lady and anyone else in the office. They WILL all have an opinion when it comes time to decide to extend you a job offer or not.

·         Distinguish yourself at the office – Always do something that everyone notices. This means, either be the intern that passes by every single cubicle saying “Good Morning” or the intern that always have candy at his/her desk. Always try to stand out amongst your peers in a positive manner and give people a reason to remember you.

·         Get to your office before your manager and leave after your manager does – It is extremely important for you to do this. During an internship you are not only being judged upon your abilities but also on your commitment and devotion.

·         Understand you are just temporary, everyone else around you is permanent – It is essential for an intern at a firm to understand there are multiple people at the firm that can perform the same duties you are currently performing. Thus, it is critical for you to concentrate on developing relationships with individuals (managers, analysts, HR representatives) that will advocate for you when it comes time for your firm to decide to bring you back for a full-time job.

·         You always want more work! – Never stay in your desk doing nothing if you have completed your work. Immediately after you are done, go to your manager’s office and ask him or her to revise your work. If this work is approved, immediately follow up their remarks with: “Are there any other projects or tasks I can help you with right now?” Even if the answer is no, you will go around your office and talk to your peers and inquire if they need any help themselves.