Navigating Finance Internships at UCF: A Comprehensive Guide

For University of Central Florida (UCF) students pursuing a finance major, internships are a crucial step toward a successful career. Securing a finance internship provides invaluable hands-on experience, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios, develop essential skills, and build a professional network. This guide outlines the requirements, resources, and strategies to help UCF finance students successfully navigate the internship landscape.

The Value of Internships for Finance Majors

An internship is an on-site work experience that is either directly related to a student’s major field of study or their career interest. It can be paid or unpaid and held during the summer or throughout the academic year. Student work and internship experience is valuable for exploring fields of work which you may wish to enter after graduation. Experience develops new skills and strengthens existing skills. Work experience helps you establish professional contacts in a potential field of interest.

Academic Requirements for Finance Majors

Admission to UCF does not equate to admission to the College of Business Administration (CBA). After receiving admission to UCF, students must qualify to be admitted to CBA and therefore all students enter the University as a ‘pre’ business major. This applies regardless of the specific business major a student intends to pursue. Admission to the Finance major requires a minimum Primary Core GPA of “3.0” and a “B” or better in FIN 3403 Business Finance, ACG 3173 Accounting for Decision Makers or ACG 3131 Intermediate Accounting I. Complete GEB 3006 Career Development & Financial Planning.

Finding Internship Opportunities

Begin your internship search at least the semester prior to your desired placement. When doing so, you’ll have time to respond to listed positions and initiate contacts on your own. The Employer Relations Team receives internship listings continually on Knightline, UCF College of Business’s exclusive job board. In addition to looking at the job listings on Knightline, network with people who may have contact suggestions for you; approach employers of interest to you;put your best effort into writing your resume and be prepared to handle interview questions well.

Knightline: Your Go-To Resource

The Employer Relations Team receives internship listings continually on Knightline, UCF College of Business’s exclusive job board. In addition to qualifying applicants that apply to your job postings, Knightline also has the opportunity for employers to source college of business student resumes based on graduation date, major, or class standing. Students that have opted in to the resume book will be viewable to employers. We encourage you to approach these students directly if their resume is of interest to you.

Networking Opportunities

Career Fairs: Hosted by the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting, career fairs are open to all UCF students and alumni. These events provide opportunities to network with industry professionals and discover internships, apprenticeships, and professional roles.
Industry Events: Attendees will have opportunities to network one-on-one with employees of major aerospace and tech companies. They will be able to discover internships, apprenticeships, and professional roles, and gain insights from professionals working at the forefront of science, manufacturing, and innovation.
Rosen College Events: This event is for Rosen College of Hospitality Management students only. in the Rosen Courtyard. Registration via handshake is required to attend this event. Employer representatives will be available to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions.

Employer Expectations and Timing

It is important to have very clear responsibilities and qualifications listed on your job description. Of course, you will have students that apply that may not be a perfect fit, but for the most part, students do pay attention to how they match with your “must haves.” In general, employers who offer higher wages and more advanced work should expect a more advanced student with prior internship and relevant job experience under their belt. However, an internship is for learning, so most students that are seeking internships are hoping to acquire skills while they are working for you. Also, keep in mind that some students have not had professional work experience before. The vast majority of students have only worked in retail or the restaurant industry. Although this provides valuable skills, what may seem common sense to a seasoned professional may not be common knowledge to a student.

Two or three months of lead time is best-before any academic semester begins. This allows your organization time to receive relevant applicants for the position, vet, inter-view, hire, and onboard during the first week of classes. Then, depending on the number of offers, organizational processing time, and possible student discretion, the organization may need to have a second round of interviews. Some industries seeking accounting or finance students are historically more competitive. Firms within these industries post internships one year in advance. We recommend mirroring your competitors hiring cycles so that you don’t miss out on proactive top talent.

Flexibility and Broadening Horizons

Consider being more flexible if you are having difficulty. For a summer position, could you consider other geographical areas? Would you be able to work part-time year-round since these positions are easier to find than summer only positions? Be sure to look at our Job Search information. Talk to one of our Employer Relations Team members if you need additional help with your job search.

Resources for Internship Preparation

Career Services

Critiques and Career Express - In Person at the Kenneth G. Just drop-in to Career Services - no appointment required. Join Career Services virtually without appointment for career questions and support. Simply go to go.ucf.edu/CSpopin for the zoom registration. One of the most effective ways to get answers and plan for your internship search is to meet with an Employer Relations Team member in person. We offer 30-minute appointments.

VMock SMART Career Platform

UCF partners with VMock SMART Career Platform, a 24/7 virtual career assistant, to help students create a powerful resume and practice their interview skills. VMock leverages technologies like data science, machine learning and natural language processing to provide instant personalized feedback on resumes, cover letters, elevator pitches and interview responses based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices.

Read also: Global Career in Finance

Resume and Interview Preparation

Resume Reviews: Employer representatives will be on site to assist with one-on-one resume reviews and interview preparation sessions. Please bring an updated copy of your resume for recruiters to review. The session will be conducted on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis.
Elevator Pitch: Take this time to learn about what to expect and ease your nerves by preparing your Elevator Pitch, Get ready to talk with Employers, and learn some tips to make your time at the event a success.

Career Apparel

An exclusive in store shopping event for career apparel with exclusive discounts not available to the public. Students and alumni can enjoy a 30% discount on business and business casual attire during the shopping event.

Professional Skills Development

Explore strategies for communicating your goals, setting boundaries and handling pressure or disagreements in healthy ways.

Internship for Academic Credit

Students have the option to supplement a business elective with an internship for Fall, Spring, or Summer semester. The student will pay for this class just like any other, and register for the “internship course” so that it counts towards their degree. After registering and starting the internship, the student is bound to your internship for the duration of the semester. Employers need to sign off on the student(s) that will be interning with your organization. We require that you also sign a written contract commiting to the hour requirement and employer expectations. At the end of the internship you are provided a survey, giving feedback on the students behavior and overall internship experience. All of this is contingent on your job description being approved by the College of Business team to offer credit. Again, not all internships need to be for credit!

Finance Curriculum and Skills Development

The finance major offered through the Department of Finance is designed to provide the student with a broad knowledge in business finance, investments, financial institutions, international finance, risk management and insurance, and real estate. Upper level finance classes integrate Bloomberg terminals into their curriculum. Bloomberg terminals are used extensively by the financial services industry to analyze companies and various securities (e.g. equity, fixed income, options). Financial Technology is an emerging field where the world of technology and finance are come together (e.g. online banking). UCF has one of the first programs in the country to prepare students for high demand jobs in financial technology. Students can earn a certificate or minor in FinTech.

Essential Skills

Employers value skills developed through academic work, volunteer experiences, extracurricular experiences or other experiences that demonstrate skills useful in work. Not all of these skills are job type specific; some of these skills are general, such as communication skills and analytical skills, and can transfer to different settings. Quantitative skills are extremely important. Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Read also: Your Guide to Finance Internships

Professional Designations

The finance curriculum will prepare majors for post-graduate professional designations, including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). CFAs manage large investment portfolios for pensions and mutual funds, while CFPs provide wealth management services to individuals. Several professional designations and licenses, e.g. Chartered Financial Analyst or Certified Financial Planner, are available to finance professionals working in a particular area.

BNY Mellon Early Insight Program

I enjoyed the focus on supporting customers, employees and strong desire to create lasting, impactful change throughout communities. From constantly having senior leaders participate in the internship program to the mentor/mentee initiatives, I truly felt how invested BNY was with their interns. Our Future Leaders Network spans across North America, Europe, India and Asia, offering you the chance to connect with peers, gain insights into our businesses, and craft your own unique experiences. Our local Future Leaders Networks offer practical learning opportunities, fostering connections and collaboration throughout BNY at every stage of your journey.

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