The Internship!

This was the oft asked topic by prospective students... How is the internship scenario? Heck, the financial crisis has affected everyone and Singapore being open economy relying on trade and financial services is even more linked to health of global economy... So do you think we are different?

Any case, the post is about my internship hunt and how I managed one! Well, on the outset let me tell you this is my own personal story and it has differed for each person here.

To start with, I started applying for summers through structured programs way back in September. Some responses were quick and rejected me in psychometric tests whereas some took about 60-90 days to send either of mails...

"We are happy to have your application. We are really impressed by your past credentials Unfortunately, the competition was really high this time and we are sorry to take further your application this time. All the best for future"

Meaning: Dude, we have better CVs lying around!

"We are happy to receive your application. We are really impressed by your accomplishments. However, at this stage, your background does not seem to fit our requirements. Its best not take things further. We shall keep your CV in our database and let you know if we have an opportunity in future"

Meaning: Get lost, you good for nothing!

So these are your so called recruitment-freezed-investment-banks and consulting companies! However, I managed to get calls for interview from two top notch i-banks for their i-banking division which atleast gave me some hope about my resume! Unfortunately, I could not convert either.

Then in between, my desperation grew and I started applying left right and center! Just go to any of the PE/I-bank website and apply through e-mail address listed on "Careers" section. However, I figured out that this was not effective at all since I never heard from them. So an alternative was to call up the number listed on website and get contact details of HR from their. This worked. Atleast I got "sorry mails" soon!

People downplay "networking" but once in Singapore, you soon realise that networks are best ways to get jobs. So I suddenly find my old friends, acquaintances, relatives, relatives of friends, friends of friends etc etc everywhere on LinkedIn and Facebook and just say casual "Hi"! Sometimes it works! But they cant help if there is a recruiting freeze in their company and sometimes their own job at peril! But a few of my batchmates could get thru their way atleast for interview and then sometimes internship as well!

Oh, I forgot Career Services Office. Well, the job postings on CSO are the most probable ones to get converted to final internship! And for that matter, some people in CSO are really proactive to help students who have not internship. I really would like to name Wei Ling here. She has really worked hard to get the internships for the batch! Atleast 50% of desi junta have got their internship thanks to CSO posting!

So I had used all these and managed to get call from some but no really convert any :-( Something to think about my interview skills or resume? May be, yes!

Having applied to more than 100 places (I ain't joking), I had almost lost hope! But somewhere, KC propounded grain-chaff theory! He said the chaff has been removed and now what left were solid grains! That kept both of us going!

The story - well, fact is stranger than fiction - and it seems like I managed to get an internship in most unlikely way! So, I apply to this posting for a permanent position in Mumbai through LinkedIn for a corporate finance role! And I get a call from partner of Mumbai office. I explain my position. I am looking for summers but I can join in Dec. I can work from Singapore office as well. He says Singapore office would contact me.

Singapore office calls me for interview. They explain me their philosophy - boutique cross border M&A advisory! I get really interested. He says, Mumbai office does not need anyone for 2 months. There goes down all my hopes. We could send you to Mumbai but after 2 months. But I have to complete my MBA. Again a negative :-( However, we could offer you Singapore internship.

So I leave there without much hope. Next day again an interview at different place. So again the most disliked chore of the day - ironing :(

In between waiting for 2nd round of interview (at a different place, but same building!) the next day, I get call from them! They would like me to work on a project for 1 week of probation. They would like to see the project and accordingly offer me internship!

Things work out well and I get offer 2 days earlier on Thursday! What a sigh of relief!

Well, the coincidence has its heights! The man behind grain-chaff theory, KC, also gets offer for one of the best profiles posted on CSO Job Board on the same day!

To think of it, sometimes just give time some time and everything falls in place!