We know that as a business student, you are likely interested in completing an internship to gain relevant professional experience. Internships are great ways to build professional connections and to test your assumptions about your desired career path. Since business functions’ internship recruitment pipelines vary, it’s important to understand what the pipeline for your function of interest looks like so you can plan appropriately for when to complete a summer internship.
In most cases, internships target junior students, in the summer before their senior year. This is for two reasons: a) you have taken more courses within your major, and b) firms are able to offer you a return-offer to join them as a full-time employee upon graduation. When available, sophomore summer internships often center around career exploration to start or elevate your capability in the functional area of interest. The exception to this rule is investment banking, accounting, and management consulting internships that are actively recruiting sophomore students into these respective functions.
Wondering whether a sophomore or junior internship is right for you and your goals? Schedule an appointment with your Career Coach to discuss this further. Additionally, be sure to review the job description of any internship application to ensure it is appropriate for sophomores before applying. Looking to prepare for an internship?
Check out the resources below to learn more:
