Colby resources for Finance internships & jobs
The financial industry is one of the most common landing spots for Colby students once they depart from Mayflower Hill. Every summer, many graduating students head from Colby’s campus to New York City, where they begin work at one of the many financial institutions headquartered there. This is also true of many incoming seniors, who intern at Wall Street firms the summer before their senior year, in preparation for a full-time job in the future. This path is taken consistently by Colby students with an interest in finance, yet for some first and second year students, the process of securing an internship or full-time job offer in finance can be incredibly daunting.
Luckily, for these students, there is a massive amount of resources at their disposal while studying at Colby. The first, and arguably the most impactful, is Davis Connects. This center for internship and career preparation is incredibly helpful to students, as the staff of Davis Connects provides assistance with resume and cover letter construction, networking, employment applications, and general tips for securing a job or internship offer from companies and firms across several industries.
Davis Connects’ staff member, Michael Maher, is also an invaluable resource for students who wish to work in the financial industry. Maher, who is the Davis Connects Advisor for Finance, provides specialized finance recruitment help for students, while also monitoring finance internship and full-time employment opportunities, which he regularly sends out to students who have signed up for finance updates from Davis Connects. Maher has a great amount of corporate and recruitment experience, as he worked for many corporations, as well as Yale University’s career center prior to joining Colby’s Davis Connects.
One program, sponsored by Davis Connects, that is especially helpful to students with an interest in the financial industry, is ‘Wall Street Prep.’ This two-day intensive seminar is offered annually at Colby, and focuses on financial modeling, valuation techniques, and technical skills with Microsoft Excel. This seminar is led by former finance employees, many of whom have expertise in modeling, and provides students with basic skills that are commonly used in the financial industry.
Another valuable resource for younger Colby students with an interest in finance are the investment clubs on campus. There are several of these, including Mayflower Hill Capital and the Colby Student Investment Association (CSIA). These clubs provide students with research and investment knowledge, as well as experience in presenting stock pitches and managing an equity portfolio. These clubs also connect younger students with juniors and seniors who have already held summer internships at financial firms, and who have accepted full-time offers for after graduation. These connections provide students with guidance and advice on how to successfully network, apply, and secure jobs in the financial industry.
For all students with an interest in working in the financial industry, whether at an investment bank or other type of firm, these resources must be on their radar. By utilizing Davis Connects, or by joining a student-led investment club on campus, students can begin to adequately prepare themselves for an internship or career search in the financial industry. While this process may appear daunting, it is certainly doable, and the resources at Colby assist greatly in this process.
~ Sam Leathe ‘21
