Finance Internships

Real Life Experiences With Real Businesses

An internship or apprenticeship in finance is an excellent way for a student to gain practical experience in a professional, finance-related work setting. By completing an internship as part of your academic program, you are able to apply the skills learned in class to a real-life situation.

people talking at a job fair

Benefits

The benefits of an internship or apprenticeship are many. An internship or apprenticeship is a valuable way to gain professional experience while still benefiting from the mentoring and educational relationships available in college. They are an excellent way to introduce yourself to employers, make connections in the field, and gain valuable experience to list on your resume.

Overview

The specific requirements for your internship are outlined in the course syllabus, which serves as your course contract. In general, to be considered for credit, the internship much involve a significant learning experience in the practical application of the academic finance coursework. This learning experience should consist of no more than 10% clerical or selling/sales work and you must complete all of the requirements noted in the syllabus.

Full details of the apprenticeship or internship components can be found in the Policy and Guidelines (and Contract Form). Please review these carefully when considering or planning for an apprenticeship or internship. 

Your internship will consist of several steps including:

  1. Read and complete Policy and Guidelines and Contract Form
  2. Internship Readings
  3. Daily or Weekly Journal
  4. Weekly or Biweekly Reports to Faculty Member
  5. Final Internship Report to Supervisor and Faculty Member
  6. Supervisor Evaluation
  7. Faculty Evaluation

Full details of the apprenticeship or internship components can be found in the Policy and Guidelines (and Contract Form). Please review these carefully when considering or planning for an apprenticeship or internship.

Student Eligibility Criteria:

a. Accepted CBE major with a Finance concentration or Financial Economics major.

b. Have a 2.75 or better GPA in their major and achieved at least a junior standing.

c. Completed at minimum* the prerequisite courses: FIN 341 and FIN 440.

*Some apprenticeships/internships may require additional coursework; for example, an apprenticeship or internship in a bank or credit union would require the completion of either FIN 444 or ECON 311.

As with all business, your connections are critical and the best way to find internships is through networking. The Financial Management Association (FMA) at Western is an excellent way to connect with fellow students as well as employers in the area. Membership in the FMA provides several benefits including:

  • Career and internship information
  • Networking with employers
  • Guest speakers

Other resources include:

Students may wish to contact or reach out to specific financial firms, such as financial advisors, banks, or brokerage firms to ask if anyone in the firm might have an internship position available. it is often better to talk with someone who is an advisor or manager (by requesting an "informational interview") rather than going directly to the recruiting department or human resources.

Employers and Recruiting

Would you like to hire a Western Finance student for an internship or apprenticeship? Our excellent students are ready to work with you. There are several ways to get in touch with our students. 

Recent Internships

Our Finance Students have recently held apprenticeship and internship positions at:

Merrill Lynch
Saturna Capital
Wealthmark, LLC
Banner Bank
Wells Fargo Advisors
Microsoft