This STA article is dedicated to the many financial services interns in the United States and Canada. Please forward to those interns working among us this summer.
Welcome to the Intern Class of 2022!
It’s June, and that means that many college and graduate school students have started a summer internship program.
For those interns in the financial services industry, we welcome you! We hope that your experience this summer inspires you to choose a career among the thousands who have gone before you and stand ready to help in whatever way we can. The excitement, and the challenges, of the U.S. and Canadian financial markets attract highly talented and bright individuals across a wide range of fields and skillsets, not limited to only those with Finance degrees.
For those unfamiliar with STA, we are a trade organization for individual professionals in the financial services industry. Composed of 24 affiliate organizations across the United States and Canada, STA advocates on behalf of and fosters collaboration among its members, while also representing their interests with legislators, regulators and other industry organizations.
Founded in 1934, STA has witnessed dramatic advancements in technology that enable capital to move across asset classes and borders with little friction at speeds and efficiency never envisioned.
Relationships Matter & Career Development
However, while our markets look very different today than decades ago, there is a principle which has withstood the test of time and that is, relationships matter. This principle is most often referred to when talking about the relationship between service providers and clients. But there are another scenarios where it carries significant importance and that is in career development.
The financial services industry remains very much an apprentice industry. Which basically means, you acquire many of the skills required in your job from those more senior, or experienced. Therefore, observing, listening and asking questions at the appropriate time will broaden your knowledge and deepen your experience as an intern.
Relationships with your peers is equally important in your career development. As a member of your firm’s 2022 Class, you share a unique bond that fosters a sense of community. Tapping into that camaraderie will help you overcome challenges that you will undoubtedly face in the weeks to come. So, we encourage you that as you think about where to allocate your time and effort, be sure to invest in the relationships around you.
We also ask that you consider becoming an STA Student in Finance Member. Students who are enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or postgraduate are eligible for STA’s Student in Finance (STA SIF) Membership. STA SIF membership is free and ideal for students who want to stay informed on the financial services industry upon returning to school and to connect with securities industry professionals.
Finally, we also reposted a handful of archived STA articles that we think you will find helpful in your internship, as well as provide an overview of STA.
Enjoy the reads, and best of luck to you this summer!
STA Student in Finance Membership
STA Student in Finance (STA SIF) Membership is FREE and is ideal for students who want to be informed on topics and issues within the financial services industry, and to connect with securities industry professionals.
STA SIF members receive STA newsletters, complimentary virtual registration to STA conferences, event notices and other communications on industry issues while helping to connect them to STA’s network of industry professionals across the U.S. and Canada.
If you know a student who wants to take their first step towards the financial services industry, have them apply to be an STA Student in Finance Member today!
Learn more and apply here.
Archived Articles of Interest
To All College Seniors of 2020; Please Reach Out“…college seniors, who normally would be donning their caps and gowns, and gearing up for all the pomp and circumstance of graduation, have basically seen their college experience flatline. The impact to college students from the decisions made in response to COVID-19 have been nothing short of traumatic.”
Read more here
To the Summer Interns of 2019“Through the efforts of the securities professionals sitting next to you, our markets are more efficient and more resilient than ever before. Now begins your journey and with it you carry the responsibility of safeguarding not through maintaining the status quo but by questioning it and always seeking a better solution.”
Read more here
Dear 2018 Summer Interns: Stay in Touch“We hope the opportunity afforded you the ability to gain knowledge through real-world experiences, and form relationships with fellow interns and colleagues. As you leave the work environment and return to a collegiate one, your next challenge will be to stay connected to these people, and to our industry.”
Read more here
To the Class of 2017: Loyalty, be open to feeling it.“Commencement speeches framed by personal experiences and the actions taken, both right and wrong fill my Top 10 list. That’s because life stories told with honesty and in detail provide the robust data young 20 something year-olds need when formulating decisions in their life and career. Hearing about actual mistakes, failures and home-runs resonate more deeply than messages filled with metaphors on rainbows, climbing mountains or caterpillars turning into butterflies”
Read more here
Advice to the Summer Interns of 2016: Own the Lunch Print“…Regardless of whether you decide to own the lunch print or not, showing enthusiasm and hustle in all you do will close any gap between you and those brighter…”
Read more here