How to get finance internships? Step by step guide!

Finance-focused Summary (Internship/Job Hunting)

Main objective / problem framing

• The speaker targets viewers who have finance certifications such as CFA Level 1, NISM, and FRM Part One, but still can’t secure internships/jobs.
• Core message: the competitive landscape has changed. Getting internships/jobs now requires a deliberate, step-by-step job-search strategy and clear evidence of skills—not only credentials.

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Step-by-step framework

Step 1: Choose the exact role (not just a “cool” industry)

Clarify:

• What the industry does (e.g., investment banking, private equity, asset management, risk)
• What your day-to-day role actually is

Recommendations:

• “Sell yourself” only after you understand the role.
• Use learning sources:
  • YouTube role-specific videos
  • Google + ChatGPT to combine structured learning with personal research

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Step 2: Identify required technical skills and prove them

1. Determine role-specific skills. Examples mentioned:

   • Mutual fund research analyst: valuation, forecasting, Excel
   • Investment banker: “sales skills” (as stated in subtitles)
   • Completing a NISM research analyst course (mentioned as an example path)

2. Use AI to build a skills map:

   • Example prompt: ask ChatGPT for the top skills and free learning places for a target role (e.g., “private equity as a research analyst” with “no experience”).

3. Build “proof of work”:

   • Present college projects in a way that shows:
     • assumptions/variables
     • accuracy/results
   • If college projects are weak, create additional work privately (e.g., financial models, research reports).
   • Post evidence on LinkedIn (e.g., stock analysis, Excel tutorials).

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Step 3: Use LinkedIn strategically (don’t rely on it alone)

Cautions and rationale:

• Many people list generic skills (e.g., “Financial Analysis”) but don’t provide proof.
• Posting is positioned as a way for recruiters to see evidence of ability.
• Expect low selectivity from platforms—use them, but don’t treat them as the only channel.

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Step 4: Treat job boards as “odds against you”; use cold outreach

Platforms mentioned:

• LinkedIn
• Naukri
• Internshala

Why job boards can be difficult:

• Once a posting opens, thousands of applications can arrive within ~2 hours.
• ATS (application tracking systems) automate screening and are “not perfect.”

Recommended strategy:

• Cold email / cold text recruiters and employees.
• Use recipient-centric messaging (how you help / reduce their workload), not “hire me” sender-centric requests.

Timing/volume note:

• Recruiters receive many emails in their 24-hour window; many are irrelevant requests.

CV requirement:

• Make your CV ATS-friendly to avoid automatic rejection.

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Step 5: Optimize CV + tailor cover letters

Tools/sites mentioned:

• resume.io
• “Kick off your resume” (as referenced)

Recommendation:

• Write a custom cover letter for each application, explaining fit for the specific role + company.

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Step 6: Use networking/job fairs; don’t depend only on placements

If your college lacks placements:

• The speaker suggests switching to another campus rather than waiting.
• Also notes that most college networking events/job fairs allow entry for many students, often free or with nominal fees.

Networking mechanics:

• Companies may offer referral incentives—clarity about your value can help you get noticed.

Communication skills:

• Confident English and interview performance are described as the “bare minimum in 2025.”
• Effective communication can outperform others even without technical skills (the speaker implies that some unethical examples exist, but recommends staying ethical).

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Explicit recommendations / cautions

• Don’t rely only on certifications (CFA L1, FRM Part One, NISM) as a substitute for:
  • role clarity
  • technical skill depth
  • documented proof of work
• Avoid generic applications and spam.
• Personalization (cover letter + recruiter-focused outreach) is framed as crucial.
• Don’t expect job boards/platforms to work well due to:
  • high applicant volume
  • ATS filtering
• Hiring difficulty is also attributed to macro conditions:
  • hiring freezes
  • layoffs
  • uncertainty
• If rejected:
  • keep applying
  • keep learning
  • keep experimenting

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Key numbers / timelines mentioned

• 2 hours: thousands of applications may arrive shortly after a posting opens.
• 24 hours: recruiter’s daily “window” to receive many emails.
• 900+ emails: approximate claim that most emails in that window are “personal benefits / ask for guidance / give me a job.”

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Ticketers / markets / instruments

• No specific tickers, ETFs, bonds, commodities, or portfolio metrics were mentioned.
• Macro context (not pricing/market instruments):
  • hiring freezes
  • layoffs
  • uncertainty

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Disclosures / disclaimers

• No explicit “not financial advice” disclaimer appears in the subtitles (content is career advice, not investing advice).

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Presenters / sources mentioned

Speaker

• Referred to as “I” throughout; no name provided in the subtitles.

Tools / platforms / sources

• ChatGPT
• Google
• YouTube (channel content)
• LinkedIn
• Naukri
• Internshala
• resume.io
• “Kick off your resume” (tool/site name as stated)
• Instagram (mentioned indirectly via the speaker’s own reel)