Preparing for Your Summer Internship
Episode 20 | June 9, 2025
For many students, the summer internship is the most important step toward a full-time career in investment banking. In Episode 20 of the Coffee Chat Podcast, host Ben sits down with Will, a UCLA junior heading into his Citi San Francisco Tech M&A internship, to discuss how students can prepare to succeed—and ultimately secure a return offer.
Sharpening Technical Skills
Will highlights the importance of staying sharp even after receiving an offer: “It’s been now over a year since I got my offer… I’ve been modeling a little bit ever since, but now I have to lock in and practice every day.”
Ben emphasizes that students who complete the Financial Modeling Certification® (FMC® Program) before training week are better positioned to learn advanced material:
“Adventis is a prerequisite… It drills the muscle memory of formatting, building sheets, and using shortcuts without a mouse. If you try to learn that and accretion/dilution modeling at the same time, it’s impossible.”
The message is clear: refresh technical skills early so you can focus on higher-level learning once on the desk.
Case Competitions and Real-World Practice
Beyond classroom training, Will shared that competing in six to seven case competitions prepared him to work under pressure:
“Anytime you’re doing technical work, combining it with presenting and building a deck—that’s fantastic preparation for the internship and for full-time work.”
Ben adds that pushing beyond comfort zones is essential: watching videos isn’t enough, students need to present, make mistakes, and learn through discomfort.
Mastering Professional Habits
Internships are not only about technical skills. How you carry yourself matters. Ben breaks it down into two types of meetings:
Big meetings: Keep your camera on, stay muted, and take detailed notes. “Regardless of whether anyone asks you to or not,” he says, “take as many notes as possible.”
Small meetings: This is where interns stand out, by asking thoughtful questions and volunteering to help. Even if your draft is only 60% right, taking initiative shows you’re engaged.
Will echoes this from his past experiences in private equity: being proactive, asking every morning what tasks he could take on, led to more responsibility and trust.
Soft Skills and Attention to Detail
While technical accuracy is critical, Ben reminds listeners that behavioral skills can tip the balance between securing a full-time offer or being passed over. Listening carefully, asking clarifying questions, and triple-checking your work are simple but powerful differentiators.
“Everyone is smart and hardworking. The difference often comes down to who asked the right questions and who didn’t.”
Final Takeaway
Whether you are weeks away from a summer internship or just starting your freshman year, Ben and Will agree: preparation pays off. From building technical muscle memory with the FMC® Program to practicing case competitions and refining professional habits, success comes from consistent effort and proactive learning.
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