An internship is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the industry you’re going to work for after graduation.
In this guide, I am going to cover and share a complete resource to find and apply for finance internships in India. You’ll be learning the following modules:
- What is an Internship?
- Should You Pursue a Finance Internship in India?
- Paid vs. Unpaid Internship
- Finding and Applying for Finance Internships
- Common Internship Interview Questions
- Securing a Foreign Internship
Let’s begin.
What is an Internship?
An internship is a short-term position in a company, typically taken to ‘test waters’, as in a student is able to judge his/her suitability in the chosen industry.
An internship usually happens in summer vacations or while studying, and each intern is paid a stipend (optional) for their contribution.
Should You Pursue a Finance Internship?
Yes!
A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) shows that graduates with internship experience are valued highly by prospective employers, and their employment rate is higher, of course.
This is but a single survey. There’re scores of others proving the same point.
As a finance intern, your job profile will be clerical in nature.
You have to sit with investment advisors to learn client negotiation, with brokers to learn security selling and order execution, you have to maintain records, do data entry, follow portfolio and audits, handle data maintenance and more.
For instance, you’ll be asked to contact customers and update their system data, review current account and share approved information with the customer.
Sometimes interns are asked to handle short-term projects.
Completing the projects to satisfaction will reflect nicely on your resume and get you good references.
Experience as an intern is invaluable.
Paid vs. Unpaid Finance Internship in India
A stipend is not mandatory. You’re usually paid below Rs. 20000 for full-time internships jobs in India.
However, many companies don’t pay stipends. So, should you avoid these companies?
Never! Of course, unless you need financial support desperately, there is no point in leaving unpaid internships.
Finance is a competitive field and hence, unpaid internship opportunities are more. Even so, you do get experience and understand if finance is genuinely for you.
While evaluating an internship opportunity, you must think through these factors:
- nature of job description
- company profile
- application and interview process
- conduct
These four factors will help a lot.
Finding and Applying for Finance Internships India
We will see two factors here.
Finding a finance internship is easy. You can search for job resource sites like LetsIntern.com, Monster.com, Shine.com, Internshala.com and more.
List of 50+ Companies Hiring Finance Interns in India
If you’re looking for the best hands-on experience in Finance through summer finance internship and internship jobs, here’s your ready “go-to” resource.
This is a list of companies hiring finance interns. We aren’t claiming any internship opening at the time of reading this post.
You should enquire with them through their business website or job portals like LetsIntern.com and Naukri.com.
Below is the list of companies from cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Noida, and Thane.
- Evalueserve
- SLA Consultants
- V-Skills
- Kompass Career Solutions
- Muthoot Finance
- Bajaj Holdings
- L & T Finance Ltd.
- SE Investments
- Religare Enterprise
- TATA Investment Corporation
- Karvy Group
- LIC Finance Ltd.
- ICICI Group
- PNB Housing Finance Ltd.
- SBI Capital Markets Ltd.
- DSP Merrill Lynch Ltd.
- Birla Global Finance Ltd.
- Housing Development Finance Corporation
- Aditya Birla Money Ltd.
- Abirami Financial Services Ltd.
- Bajaj Finserv
- Muthoot Capital Services
- PS IT Infrastructure Services
- Trinity Trade
- Urja Global
- BCB Finance Ltd.
- Bulls & Bears Portfolios Ltd.
- Blue Chip India Ltd.
- Burlington Finance Ltd.
- CFL Capital Financial Services Ltd.
- Canara Bank Ltd.
- City Union Bank Ltd.
- DJS Stocks and Shares Ltd.
- Delta Leasing & Finance Ltd.
- Edelweiss Capital Ltd.
- Empower India Ltd.
- Future Capital Holdings Ltd.
- Global Capital Markets Ltd.
- HGI Finance and Leasing Ltd.
- HDFC Bank Ltd.
- Himalayan Finance Services Ltd.
- India Finance Ltd.
- Innovative Venture Ltd.
- Indianivesh Ltd.
- JJ Finance Corporation Ltd.
- Karur Vyasa Bank Ltd.
- NDA Securities Ltd.
- Oasis Securities Ltd.
- Oriental Industrial Investment Corporation Ltd.
- Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd.
- SI Capital & Financial Services Ltd.
This is an incomplete list. You can find the complete and updated list of all companies and corporations working in the banking and the financial services industry here.
Bookmark this link, check them out and send your internship profile.
Alternatively, view this list of updated and available finance internships for 2020.
Applying for Finance Internship
This is a tricky zone. Most internship seekers fail in making the right impression with their application. The application, ideally, consists of these things:
- basic details (name, age, etc)
- cover letter (if emailing directly)
- resume
The 2nd and 3rd points are problem areas.
Writing a Cover Letter
Every job application should include a cover letter unless the advertisement clearly states not to include one.
The purpose of a cover letter is to give the employer information about your skills and experience which can’t be explained in resume.
If you don’t have that, like in this case, the cover letter acts as an introduction. Check out the cover letter below.
You will notice how the applicant shares her knowledge and expresses interest in working for the organization. Use it as an example of your cover letter.
Resume
An interviewer won’t devote more than a minute scanning a resume. You have to make the best impact. Here are two resume samples.
Resume sample – without finance internship experience
Resume sample – with some internship experience
Moving on, here are some resume writing tips to secure a finance internship.
- always mention facts
- even if you don’t have internship experience, mention other contributing factors scoring high in finance classes or being a part of finance/investment clubs in college
- don’t depend on MS Word to proofread resume; always do manual editing or get it done by an experienced person because your resume shouldn’t have any errors
- send the application ahead of the deadline
Lastly, don’t send out the same cover letter to every employer. Tweak it depending on the internship requirements.
Common Internship Interview Questions
This is the last step.
Finance internship interview questions are tough to crack because most probably, this is the first interview of your life.
Consider yourself lucky if shortlisted for interview.
Here are some questions to expect your way and some tips to answer them.
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why should I hire you?
- Why shouldn’t I hire you?
- Who is the person you admire and why?
- Here is a pen – convince me to buy it.
- What do you know of the finance industry?
- Why do you want to join the finance industry?
- Why are you a ‘fit’ for this company?
- If you were a flower, which one would you be and why?
- Will a new company go for debt or IPO?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What are your career goals?
- Talk about your resume.
Mirror practice these questions. Perhaps you’re expecting answers to these questions but no one can offer that.
You have to create your own. Whatever you say, just make sure you don’t babble and deviate from the question.
If you notice, these questions have nothing to do about finance or your finance skills because they know that you lack experience.
What the interviewer will try to assess is your personality and character, your common sense and logical skills.
Be prepared very well and dress your best!
Securing a Foreign Finance Internship
Not only in India, try to seek an internship position abroad too. Since you won’t be visiting the foreign lands, all communication will be done through emails.
You’ve already learned about writing a resume and cover letter. You can also easily search for finance internship opportunities abroad.
Apart from that, you need to follow these tips:
- resume should be in PDF format
- be resilient as first contacts may not elicit any response
- email during the weekday because weekends are off and recruiter might miss your email
- contact the ‘right’ person (very essential)
- start searching months in advance
- target the right country; a country that will benefit your long-term career
- don’t hesitate to ask about internship scholarships or funding
- don’t send bulk emails (never!)
- be regular with email follow-up and responding to emails
Start at least 6 months in advance – searching, short-listing companies and concerned person contact email – and keep track of openings.
What if You Still Can’t Get Internship?
Don’t get disheartened with not finding the ‘right’ internship opportunity or not at all.
The internship isn’t mandatory to get a finance job yet!
We hope the guide will help you in getting the right internship opening.
Hi Sir, I will be graduating with BAF degree this year. Will I get intership in finance company?
Hi Rasika,
Yes, if you take the steps mentioned in the article above.
Great information plus exceptional motivation.you are the best.Thank you so much.
Hello sir,
I have just finished my FY in BBA International Business and we have to do internships as a part of our curriculum in SY. What work can I expect from the company that will hire me as an intern?
Hi Sonia,
The company will hire you based on the kind of value addition you can do to them. So, have at least 2-3 projects in mind where you can add value and these projects you can pitch to these companies.
Sir, I have completed my mechanical engineering and now I m pursuing mba finance, I want to do summer intern but not getting due to Penadamic and I am not comfortable to do it online (wfh) ,can I join a charted accountant firm to complete my summer intern? Please help
Hi Rahul,
Only your institute can answer this question. What’s allowed and not allowed as a summer internship.
Sir, i want to know it will be beneficial Or not.. Then only I can ask them.
What’s the actual project work you plan to do in this firm?
Hii sir.
I am really keen in building a career in finance and I have completed my graduation last year. Can I know what skills should I brush up on in order to increase my knowledge. Also is it possible for just a graduate to get an internship in finance. And last question I am planning to pursue CFA course so what is the scope for this course in India. Thanks in advance.
Hi Pragya,
1. “Can I know what skills should I brush up on in order to increase my knowledge.” – Knowledge about which domain and what’s the intention?
2. “Also is it possible for just a graduate to get an internship in finance.” – Yes, it’s possible.
3. “I am planning to pursue CFA course so what is the scope for this course in India.” – The scope of the course is good. The better question should be whether CFA will help me perform better in my career as per my Inner GPS?
Hello Sir,
I am Aanis Faizah. I just graduated civil engineering (May,2019) from Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad. I was always interested in the finance and the economic fields. I want to do my masters in finance. As a fresher engineering graduate, can you please suggest me the right courses to take or the right internships to work for so that it’ll strengthen my application before I apply for my masters degree
Hi Aanis,
Follow the above guide and start applying. If you don’t get a response from any company, then I suggest you to invest time in reading Annual Reports of companies.
Take any 2 sectors. Take 5 companies in each sector. And read the last 3 years’ Annual Report for each company. Read from the first page till last page. In 2 months you will know these 2 sectors, top companies, their financials, risk factors, management, ratio analysis, and everything. Do this with Excel.
Hi.
I have completed my engineering recently and wants to change my career to finance and is looking for a job in finance. I have basic knowledge regarding finance and want to get an internship or job in equity research firm. Can you advice me which skills should I develop for the same? Also, how to get job in this sector as I am a non-finance guy?
Hi Rahul,
Please read this guide. Email me for a detailed career coaching session.
Hello Sir,
I am Pursing my MBA First year now, i am willing to do summer intern now. I have basic knowledge in Finance. Could you please suggest me how to approach for summer internship.
Dear M. Hemanth,
Please read this guide word-by-word.
Hello sir..
I’m pursuing MBA (FM) and i want to do summer internship so where should i see for intern
Hi Harshita,
Email me for a detailed career coaching session.
Hi sir,
i am currently on my MBA internship at a financial services company. My internship profile is an equity researcher. Could you please suggest what all skills to learn at the internship so that it helps in placements?
Hi Garima,
Book a career coaching session to know your rewarding career path.
Join this course to gain practical financial modeling/investment banking skills.
Hi sir
I’m prince dhall.
I’m persuing MBA in finance from GGSIPU
I want to do internship in MNC pls help me to guide or provide me internship. I’m from delhi.
Hi Prince,
Book a career coaching session to know your rewarding career path.
You can join this course to gain practical financial modeling/investment banking skills.
Hello Sir,
I will be completing my MBA (PGDM finance). Unfortunately due to my college location, I’m unable to get a job other than the South zone. Also this year, the finance openings have been very slim. Most companies and banks have come for marketing and sales roles.
I am a fresher and have done my summers from L&T Infra Finance, Mumbai. I’m keen to get into the corporate credit sector in the long term. However, I have observed that most credit rating agencies and banks require minimum 1 year relevant experience from candidates. And NBFCs don’t usually hire from campuses. Now, how do I get this relevant experience is a big question; as I am a fresher.
Please help!
Dear Ria,
Sometimes if you have relevant practical skills, these companies may take you even if you’re a fresher.
Hi
Sir ,
My name is vinayak and i have completed M.COM in 2015 and i have to interest in banking sector and finance sir where i have apply which internship will be apply pls tell me sir
Dear Vinayak,
You can apply to the companies mentioned in the post above.
How to apply in the mentioned companies
Through their official websites.
Hello sir,
I found this article very helpful as I was browsing opportunities in Finance.I need your help.
I am an engineer with 1.5 yrs of exp in IT. Then I took a gap of a year to study for MBA entrance exams.But couldn’t do well.I have interest in finance.Also trying to get more about it.
I want to pursue my career in finance.From where should i start?
Should i go for an internship or an entry-level job?And what are my chances to get a job in finance?Also what profile should i apply for?
Hi Pratik,
Your question requires a detailed discussion.
Book a Career Coaching session with us.
Thank you sir for the insights into the role of a finance internship.
I have a question, I’m a fresher pursuing my MBA and I’v taken my majors as finance. With this choice of mine, I’v been placed under a Financial consultancy firm which is a start up . What possibly can I do in a start up ? where I can initiate an activity.
Dear Neha,
Awesome and endless opportunities to grow in a startup. Take this job and stay there for 2-3 years at least. You will learn a lot that you can’t learn in a big company in 5-6 years.
hi,I am from Mumbai i will completing my mechanical degree by may 2016.I want to do masters in financial engineering and am applying for jan 2017. As such i don’t have any knowledge about finance. Can u please suggest internship and how i should use my 6 months gap productively so that it i get acquainted with financial engineering stuff. Please reply asap
Dear Akshay,
Read this article.
thank you sir, for which profile should i apply for internship as i will be learning about finance from scratch ?
Trainee.
ok thank you … will clearing CFA level 1 increase my chances of getting admitted into better colleges for masters course in financial engineering in US ?
Yes. If possible have 1-2 years experience too.
Hello,
This year I am completing my BBA-Management. I have interest in finance field. I want
to get a entry level job in finance industry in Pune so that I can gain practical insight of finance subject. I am good at academics. How and in which company should I apply. And also tell me about how to prepare for selection process. Please guide me.
Thank you
Hi Arun Kumar,
Please read this and this article to clear your queries.
Will passing CFA level I with only graduation get a good internship?
Possible with some firms.
Sir is it also possible to start preparing for frm or caia after CFA level 1? Would it be advantageous in a search for an internship?
No.
Sir , are there internship opportunities available after passing CFA level I?
You need to search that.
Hello sir!
I am in the final year of my b.tech (mechanical) . I got selected with XL Dynamics, Navi Mumbai as a Financial Analyst under the ‘under graduate program (with 2 years MBA integrated (only weekends))’ . So my question is that:
‘Is it a good idea to to work under XL Dynamics? I have heard their attrition rate is high. Not that I bother much because I am ready to work .
Is it a good platform for growth? I want to see myself earning near to 1 lakh per month by end of 8 years . Considering my aptitude is good and I am a Quick learner.
Thank you so much for your time!
Hi Sehaj,
Is it learn while you earn program? What’s the job profile and salary during these 2 years?
Yes it is a learn and earn program.
I want to know what my exit opportunities will be after being 2 years in this company i.e completing my weekend MBA, as it is a mortgage company. Will I have plenty of opportunities?
Hi Sehaj,
If your work is primarily into Mortgage, and you want to move to other financial KPOs in equity research and investment banking, you may need to acquire skills required to perform such jobs.
hii sir, I’ve read your post and it is very good but very few of these companies seem to offer internship opportunities in delhi. Also i haven’t found any company offering internship to students that don’t belong to ivy league colleges. i am in third year of b.com and last year also i searched for companies but never found anyone. if you guide me through this it would be very helpful.
Hi Jatin,
Did you check company’s eligibility criteria for internships?
Hi,
I am currently working in a broking firm, basically am a intern now. Here I am learning arbitrage trading. I am preparing for CFA and will take up financial modeling course also. I want to know what are the prospectives in India of getting into financial research analysis specially equity research with cfa and after knowing financial modeling???
Hi Maumita,
After CFA and Financial Modeling course, you’ll have excellent prospects in India in Equity Research and Portfolio Management roles.
Please read this article for the use of financial modeling and this for CFA.
Moreover, you can make a career in equity research without going for CFA. Check our 6-week program for this.