Since joining the Cornell Investment Club sophomore year, I became very involved with and interested in finance.  Experiences dealing with the club and getting a hands-on experience prompted me to take a majority of my courses in the JGSM, follow the markets, and develop a passionate interest for the subject.  Participating in activities such as business plan competitions, joining finance panels, and attending occupational seminars all led me closer to a future career in the industry. 

Then came a critical juncture in my Cornell career:  to go abroad or get an internship?  The credit internship seemed like a great segue from an ILR background to gain experience working for an investment bank, regardless of the bank division.  I learned a great deal about what was expected of an analyst, what it is like to endure the culture of a bank, and insider tips to better interviewing.  These things were even more important than learning the actual work, which can be easily learned on the job.

The Barclays internship propelled me to my summer internship where I worked in mergers and acquisitions for a large public company on an exclusive deal team with the Chief Administrative Officer and Director of M&A.  All of these experiences gave me experience and the know-how to back up my claim of interest in the field.

The credit internship was an invaluable piece of the puzzle in my post-ILR career as a banker for a firm in NYC.  Even in the tough hiring market, I was able to land a coveted position while many of my fellow classmates were left seeking employment elsewhere.

- Seth Warshaw, BS '08