Building relationships is key to gaining employment in financial services. An internship in corporate finance can lead to opportunities in investment banking or analyst firms. Interns can participate in real transactions and gain exposure to different divisions. Opportunities can be found at financial institutions, consulting firms, or investment banks. The relationships developed during internships can lead to future career opportunities.
One of the most successful ways to gain employment in financial services is through building relationships. Getting an internship in corporate finance is one step towards starting a career in finance. Opportunities can be discovered in investment banking, where much of the corporate finance activity begins, or in analyst firms. It is quite possible that internship programs could provide paid opportunities – or at least include some financial stipend – for students pursuing a career in this field.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of a corporate finance internship is being able to participate in real transactions. There are also different divisions and parties involved in corporate finance, so internship options can be diverse. Ideally, the student should obtain an assignment that provides exposure to the preferred practice area. In case students are interested in gaining a broad overview of corporate finance, any specialization will be less important at this stage.
A corporate finance internship can be obtained from a financial institution’s analyst group. Here, a student can have the chance to observe and evaluate financial transactions being prepared for the financial markets. There will likely be interaction with other finance professionals, including traders and analysts. A student qualified for this type of assignment should have experience in finance in addition to analytical and communication skills.
Before starting any corporate finance business in the capital markets, a company can engage a third-party consulting firm for advice. It may be possible to obtain corporate finance internships at a financial consulting firm. In this type of assignment, the student must learn about the various types of businesses that can occur under the umbrella of corporate finance. For example, when a company is undergoing a formal restructuring, a consultant might be hired to help derive a turnaround strategy for that client. An intern can benefit from learning what type of transaction is appropriate for various customer needs.
Obtaining a corporate finance internship at an investment bank in the division where business is conducted can be the most rewarding for the student who wants to be an investment banker. An intern can expect to be included in meetings with senior bankers and corporate executives for discussions leading to major transactions in the financial markets. Students are exposed to the process used to determine when it is appropriate to increase equity or debt in financial markets based on economic conditions and other factors. The relationships that can be developed during this stage of a corporate finance internship can lead to career opportunities down the road.
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