5 lessons I learned during my freshman year finance internship

Ever since I was a little boy in my little village Gnosj? in Sweden, I always wanted to be a banker. My parents were blue-collar factory workers from Cambodia and always encouraged and inspired me to attend university. It was the goal we had together and something that Forbes Magazine interviewed me on a few years ago .?I was a first generation student and that's why I'm so passionate about helping other first generation students around the world.

But, that's a story for another day.?

Today, I want to talk about the thousands of students with Absolute Internship who are starting their internships literally today. For many of them, it's their VERY first internship and I remember how it was for me when I did my first internship back in Sweden. As I always have followed the little voice in my heart who whispered "banking internship", I naturally applied for a finance internship as early as I could at the university. It was the very first interview I ever had (I was 30 min early!) and I was excited about the opportunity. My wish came true and I received a phone call a few days later from my supervisor who offered me a place. It was an eye opening experience and shaped me a lot. However, what I learned during this time was far more valuable than any paycheck or job title.?

Here are the five key lessons that I learned, which I hope you'll find useful as you embark on your internship journey:

1. Understanding My True Passion

I always envisioned myself as a successful banker, wearing a sharp suit and a luxurious watch. However, my internship revealed an important truth: I didn't want to sell products to people who didn't need them. This experience taught me that passion should align with purpose (not easy to understand and realize when you're a university student), and I began to rethink my career aspirations beyond just the appearance of success. Realizing that I valued meaningful work over superficial status was a pivotal moment for me.

2. Mastering the Art of Selling

On my first day, I was handed a script on a white A4 paper and a phone (landline, remember those?), and I had to start cold calling potential clients with the script. This scary task turned out to be a blessing. I developed sales skills, learning how to engage with people who were not interested to speak to me, persuade, and communicate effectively without using any video or body language. Only my voice. These skills have been very important throughout my career as a CEO and entrepreneur, proving that early adversities and challenges often yield significant rewards down the line. You just have to be patient. The ability to sell?is incredibly important and something that we do daily, whether we are aware of it or not. When you're pitching an idea to your classmate- or teacher - you are selling. When you're presenting a new perspective to your parents - you are selling.?I believe it's a fundamental skill all university students should develop.

3. The Power of Early Internships

Interning during my first year of university was a game-changer. It allowed me to test drive the career I thought I was going to enter upon graduation. It gave me the insight to switch my major to entrepreneurship and enter a business school instead, aligning my studies with my true interests. This early experience provided clarity and direction, emphasizing the importance of practical experience in shaping academic and career paths. Early exposure to the professional world via internships will significantly influence your academic and career decisions, highlighting the benefits of getting a head start. The more internships you do - the more experiences you will have, and the clearer it will be for you to figure out what you want to do after you graduate.

4. Recognizing True Value

During my internship, I realized that my worth to the bank was tied directly to my sales performance. It's often not very clear for university students. Especially, if you've never had an internship before. That's normal. A great week boosted my value to the team and supervisor, but a dip in numbers quickly diminished it. This taught me a valuable lesson: personal worth extends beyond numbers (at least for me). Understanding this helped me focus on continuous improvement and resilience in other areas. This lesson underscored the importance of developing other skills that were not necessarily measurable such as social skills-, daring to network and speak to people, asking questions-, doing things that other people were not ready to do. We don't necessarily speak about it often at the university.?

5. The Hidden Power of Networking

I made it a point to connect with fellow interns, learning about their backgrounds and aspirations. Where they came from, what they studied and why. These connections were invaluable, offering diverse perspectives and insights into different career trajectories but also learning about life. Networking (or the term connecting with people which I prefer much more), I discovered, is more than exchanging contacts; it's about building relationships that can guide and support you throughout your career and life. Gaining a different perspective. Learning new things from people. The more doors you open - the more exciting opportunities you'll have.

Reflecting on my own internship, I realize how pivotal these experiences were in shaping my professional journey. Each lesson, from understanding my true passion to the importance of networking, has played a crucial role in my development. To all you students that are starting your summer internships - enjoy it! Be open minded. You'll learn so much about the work and industry - but also about yourself.

Good luck!