End Strong?

If you had been following the news, you'd be as worried as I am. The market is bad, companies are cutting down employees, your colleagues being escorted down followed by thank you emails saying that they are pursuing "other opportunities"...

It's obvious that no matter how good you are, the company is cutting down its budget and internship offers might be postponed due to this... regardless, our internship class did a good job in our last presentation.

We had a project a few weeks back to analyze crisis and present it to a partner. It was a tough project: the modelers coded to get us the numbers and the analysts prepared trends and analysis - it was a good blend of arguments and agreement which led us to this success. The partner liked it and he had no questions/doubts in our analysis. We were so proud of ourselves, our products, and our hard work for the past week.

Next week is going to be my last week here, we have several closing events, networking events, and town halls. I hope to end strong in this last week and make them want me more, despite of the market condition.

I'll miss GS and I'll miss NY. I'll miss all the food and entertainment that NY has to offer.

internship and you.

So, I have chatted with many people across divisions and within divisions to find out if my internship is really what I wanted - whether I like the people, the nature of the job, and the future of the job.

I really like the people that I work with, most of them have PhDs, but they are the humblest and funniest people I have met. They are willing to share their knowledge and experience to me, which I thought was priceless. The hierarchy is so blurred, and people do get recognized based on their meritocracy.

The department HR really tried hard to improve retention. There was a soccer event last week within department that I really enjoyed. It was good to see how people are outside their office, when they're not as serious not as tight. It was also a good way to "network" with upper management people. They are so approachable, I really like the people.

Next, is the nature of the job. The nature of the job is very quantitative and analytical. Basically, calculating risks for every position that Goldman has, then explaining why, and why not. I get a lot of exposure to the traders and their mind process behind a transaction. That's interesting, but difficult. I'm still learning that and I want to learn more about it.

Is this something that I want to do in the future?I don't know. The prospect of this job is high. Since the crisis in 2008, many people are worried about the risks that the traders are taking. And one of the reasons why Goldman was less impacted by the crisis is because we have a strong risk department. This is what people are most concerned about now, and hopefully this will continue to be the case in the future.

Time flies and here I am, 8 weeks into the internship. Do I like my internship experience so far? Will I come back? Those are the questions that I try to answer before the end of my internship and before making a decision (if i get an offer).

Internship ++

It's been a while, and it's been busier...

True, I've learnt a lot about the industry and how things are done. I'm also more comfortable with the people around me, who I work with, and also my daily tasks - therefore I finish my work faster. However, work never ends.

There are 13 interns within Market Risk Management and Analysis, some are PhD students (modelers), some are undergraduates (analyst) , and some are MBAs (corporate). The intern manager in my department gave us a new intern group project to use our skills cohesively to analyze crises. Yeah, that's vague.

My team tries to work on the different matrices and indices to look at the risk factors and correlations between crises. We're not set yet, but we have a solid game plan. I think this topic is very challenging. The fact that it's open ended made it more difficult, and with only 3 weeks to go, we're concerned that we will not have time to finish this. Most interns sacrifice their weekends to finish their current daily project already, with this additional project, we will have to prioritize on which one is the most important one.

Additionally, our buddy gave us this tip: the first half of the internship is about task quality, the second half is about networking. We're required to meet with different people from different departments to learn more about them, at the same time learn more about our department. That is time-consuming. There is so much to do in so little time.

While most people are enjoying the sun in NY City, I guess the Market Risk interns will have to enjoy the ultra-violet ray from our Bloomberg Screen.

Cheers!

3rd week (out of 10) into the internship

Hello,

I'm liking NYC more and more- the restaurants, the entertainment, street activities, parades, and also my job. Working in Market Risks Analysis, I have to generate a lot of numbers which I initially didn't understand. Now, I am able to understand it so much better, what it's used for and what people can do with the numbers. The bank's ability to analyze trends from the weekly, monthly, and also quarterly reports really shows how detail oriented they are!

Last Friday, I had my informal review with my manager talking about my strengths, my weaknesses, and also about the internship experience for me so far. So far, the reviews have been good, and I'm expecting better things to come along the way. I was able to tell him the things that I might want to explore, even outside the department, and he was able to set things up so that I can manage my career better. Internal mobility within the firm is tremendously encouraged. I really like how personalized this internship has been, both from the activities and also from the friendships I made with the interns.

Also, the bank has a women's champion network to ensure that women can get leadership positions within the firm. They teach us to ask the right question, to "manipulate" our presence, and making sure that we are able to sell ourselves appropriately. I thought it was a very interesting presentation because women tends to be shy when asking questions. They encourage people to escalate problems as soon as possible and not pretend to be smart...

I've also started get to know my colleagues better, hanging out with them, and in fact, I'm going to have dim-sum with them in 1 hour time! I would definitely love to learn about them a little bit more, especially their humility despite of their great achievements!

Stacy Lim

Goldman Haven

Hi everyone,

My first week of internship had been super great. I'm bombarded with training for the first week, shadowing after, and I should be able to make my first contribution to the firm by next week. The building faces the Hudson river and the statue of Liberty, which made my workplace a relaxing place to be at. I'm still learning to navigate around excel to be as proficient as I could be, it's a steep learning curve to memorize all the short-cuts and jargon that my team (MRMA) uses everyday.

New York has definitely treated me well. I initially had some problem with housing, I was scammed. But now I'm staying at the FIT dorm, which is 1 metro stop away from times square, and 20 minutes away from the office. New York has ALL the kinds of food that you ever crave for: ZAGAT rated restaurants, Michelin star-rated restaurants, Italian, Japanese, and also Halal food on the streets.

Everything else is awesome, including the metro! I got the monthly pass, and I'm enjoying the ride! I hope everything is as well as this week from today onward until the end of the internship!

Stacy Lim

the heart of NYC!

School just ended, seniors just graduated, and it felt so good to have a break after all the hard work last semester. Being a BBA junior also means that I will have to be interning this summer.I'm so excited about my internship opportunity in Goldman Sachs, Market Risks Management.

I'm not sure the exact divisions yet, maybe fixed income, maybe equity, maybe corporate, but I'm excited for all of them. I'll probably be looking at Bloomberg, excel sheets, and GS's own softwares to track stocks and equities and make analysis out of it. This is my first time working in New York, so I'm very nervous about it. I hope that I can be a contribution to the company, and I really wish to be able to learn and adapt really fast. Working from the 20th floor of the heart of New York city is going to awesome!

~Stacy Lim

(Indonesian)

Bottom of the 9th: Game Almost Over

(BBA, Washington Nationals Baseball Club)

Hey Everyone,

I am sad to say that this is my last post of the summer. I obviously do not want my internship to end, but I am also excited because that means I am headed back to Ann Arbor that much sooner.

I have learned so much this summer working for the Washington Nationals. I have made some great friends, with the other co-interns, full time employees, and most importantly with my supervisor. I have learned so much from Heather this summer. She truly is the most hardworking and driven individual I have ever met. She is non-stop working, and always giving it her all. I think the relationships I have made will be one of the best things I take away from my entire internship. I have learned something different everyday and from every person within my department, and within the organization.

I learned so much this summer, more than I ever expected. Of course I learned a lot about the Nationals and the Sports Industry. Most importantly, I learned that jobs are not Monday-Friday and 9-5. During my internship, I put in a lot of hours, and a lot of those hours were on weekends. It taught me a valuable lesson: that jobs are way different from school and do not follow a Monday-Friday (or Thursday) schedule, and that’s the real world.

One thing I really am taking away from this internship is the real-life, unique experience I was given. I was able to work with an organization during one of their most exciting times. This season, while I was here, the Nationals brought in a new Pitcher: Steven Strasburg. This was such an exciting time to be working for the Nationals, because everyone was so excited about Strasburg, and everyone was genuinely happy to be at work.

Throughout my internship, I think I have shown my boss my incredible work ethic. I think I have grown as a person during my internship. I came in about 9 weeks ago, scared, nervous, and anxious. Now, I am confident in myself and my work.

Overall, I have enjoyed my 9 weeks here with the Nationals. It has been a lot of work but also a lot of fun. I hope everyone enjoys their last few weeks of summer!

The Wrap Up Report

It's been a good ride this summer and with just over a week left my internship is coming to a close. I've learned so much this summer about what I want to do with my career, office culture, and the sports and entertainment industry in particular. Since I feel I have learned so much, I feel it is my duty to impart my new found wisdom upon you with my 3 simple easy tips to making the most out of your summer internship.


1. NETWORK- This may seem extremely obvious but it is often done wrong or not enough. I think I have done a pretty good job, but may have not done enough. Some ways to network wrong are:
- Start asking about jobs or connections your superiors have too early in the internship.
- Ask people for a recommendation when you do not have a lot of experience working with this person.
- Suck up. This is my biggest pet peeve. I hate when interns make it a competition with other interns to get on the good side of the boss. And to be honest your boss will recognize this as well.

One way to make sure you do enough networking throughout the summer is to get your immediate supervisor on your side early in the summer. Get them to help you set up with meetings in the company. Also when you see someone you have never met in the company don't be afraid to introduce yourself. Lastly always have your elevator pitch ready. This will allow you to be always ready even when caught off guard.

2. Have fun. Make friends, laugh, and always have a smile on. If you have a positive outlook on your job or at least portray that to your co-workers and superiors, the people in the office will enjoy working with you. This can lead to my first tip which is networking. Because if you are happy people will open up to you and want to help you. No one wants to help the debbie downer of the office.

3. Dress for the job you want. This is a motto that I have stressed time and time again. Appearance and hygiene are two of the most overlook aspects in the office. Wearing a tie or something equivalent for girls if it is not required goes a long way. People recognize it and will remember you. It is subtle touch that separates you from the rest of the pack. Remember, and summer internship is just a 10 week interview. Doing the little things and showing committment will get you the recommendation or job offer you covet.

Best of luck in the future.

DMB Hits Nationals Park!

(BBA, Washington Nationals Baseball Club)

Hello everyone! So the last time I posted, I explained a typical day at Nationals Park. However, from my last post until now, it has been anything but typical here at the stadium. Last Friday evening, we had the Dave Matthews Band concert here at the Park. Sounds cool, right? Yeah, it was...but it was also a lot of work for my department. This concert was my department’s biggest event this summer. Luckily for us, the Nationals were on the road for 10 days and we had the All-Star Break, so we didn’t have to worry about games and could just focus on the concert.

We put in long hours and worked extremely hard. There were some minor “catastrophes,” but at the end of the day, the concert was amazing and was a huge success. We even got to watch Dave Matthews Band perform in a suite, which was a lot of fun. It was also nice just to sit and watch after a long day of work. But after the concert ended, we were back to work making sure cleanup was on schedule. Besides the 108 degree weather, one of our biggest problems with the concert was protecting the field. Once the concert ended, we had to get the cleanup started right away so we could remove the covering on the field to allow the grass to finally get some air! Sounds funny, but working with a baseball team, the grass is almost like one of the players.

Looking back on the concert, I would do it again in a second. I loved seeing my hard work and long hours help create an amazing show that was enjoyed by 40,000 fans. Now that the concert is over, our department is exhausted, and it is kind of nice to have the team back home for a 7 game homestand. Home games are like a break for my department, because they follow a very similar structure and routine. After a hectic week with the concert, it is nice to have a “Typical Day @ Nationals Park.”

I cannot believe I am starting my 7^th week here with the Nationals. After this homestand, I only have about a week and half left of my internship. I guess time really does fly by when you’re having fun. I look forward to updating everyone on my final weeks here at Nationals Park.

PS: check out DMB’s concert schedule…maybe he is coming to your town!

Company Culture at Thomson Reuters

I'd have to say one of the biggest contributors to my rewarding experience this summer has been the culture at Thomson Reuters. In a way the culture is very paradoxical: competitive but friendly, independent but unified, fun but serious, laid back but intense. This may be difficult to grasp--I'll drill down further.

The people at Thomson Reuters have been nothing but welcoming, helpful, and warm from the outset. Whether approaching managers with questions, scheduling meetings with executives, or working in teams, everyone has been nothing but kind and approachable without exception. It seems like everyone is genuinely happy to be there, and treats eachother as such. I scheduled informational interviews with 2 senior level executives this month, both of whom made time in their schedule for me, gave well over a half hour to converse, and offered to help find an opportunity for me when I graduate. That's hospitality.

Thomson Reuters competes in a very crowded and cut-throat business where many players share an enormous market. Needless to say there is a very competitive mindset at the company, especially towards the big competitors (Bloomberg, etc.). However, Thomson Reuters also does business and partners with many of these very same competitors, creating an ironic, mutual love-hate relationship for employees.

Everyone on the strategy team is a lot of fun. Whether at after-work events, meetings, birthdays, or conference calls, everyone seems to joke around and have fun a good amount. But just as fast as the funny switch is turned on, it can be turned off. When an important project or assignment arises, the intensity immediately picks up and everyone works hard to make sure everything is perfect to the last detail. It's the perfect blend of intensity and laid-back attitude.

Overall, everyone really seems to buy into the company's goals, missions, and claims. No matter who you speak to within Thomson Reuters, they will tell you it is an incredibly exciting time to be an employee, filled with new product launches, industry chaning dynamics, and unprecedented growth. That kind of rhetoric is absolutely contagious, and everyone feeds off of senior management's optimism on a daily basis. That's a culture that I feel comfortable in. One where I can be myself and contribute in a unique way, but also share a common goal to be the best in the business.

Alex Weiss (BBA 2011)

Keep Busy...Look Good

One of the hardest things to do in internship is to keep busy with good work. All of us interns now that there is always the administrative type work that can be done but none of us want to do that. In an early post I had talked about learning how to say no when you have too much work, this post is the antithesis to that one. How to get more work when you don't have enough.

One of the worst things an intern can do is sit at their desk with no work, go on facebook, gchat, or just surf the web. Granted a little of that stuff never heard, and I am one of the greatest offenders to that. But it is about creating a good balance, and of course not letting the boss see. If you find yourself going to your list of websites that you go to when you are bored go ask your supervisor if they have any projects for you. If they don't have anything ask their supervisor. This type of attitude will make you look like a diligent worker, and as we all know an internship is just an extended interview. Showing your commitment and hard work will leave a good impression of you with your bosses. However don't say "Do you have any work I can do?" This will lead to those killer tasks like making copies, filing, and other monotonous tasks. Instead say to your boss "Do you have any projects I can help out with?" or "Is there any project that I can work on?" Phrasing it like this shows the boss that you want a real project not a time filler. If you end up doing files so be it, it is the little things that get you to the top. In the sports and entertainment industry (more specifically agencies), in which I work, entry level is often in the mail room. Those who work the hardest at the job they hate the most will ultimately be the one who networks the best and climbs the corporate ladder.

My internship to this part has been a lot of ups and downs as far as work load. There have been times when I am the last intern in the office, and other times when I am the first out the door. Recently I asked my supervisor, "It is now the second half of the internship, is there anything I should improve or focus on in my second half." His response was, "Make sure you are always asking for work if you don't have anything on your plate." He said that since I already do this there wasn't much to improve but that the higher-ups like interns that are always working and asking for more work. I am lucky that my supervisor was recently an intern and knows the ins and outs, but if your supervisor isn't willing to offer that advice, take it from me your boss will like to see you in their office if you are always looking to do work.

Enjoy the rest of the summer it's almost over.

A Typical Day @ Nationals Park

(BBA, The Washington Nationals Baseball Club)

I cannot believe I have already been here for over a month! I have fully adjusted and now have a daily routine. I thought I’d share a typical day of my in

ternship. As I mentioned in my last post, non-game days and game days are extremely different work environments. Game days are much more exciting, in my opinion. On a typical game day I work from 2pm-8pm.

2pm-3:30pm: I come in to the office, get settled, and start working on my current project. Last week I finished a Punch List of all the suites. I had to go around to all 79 suites in the stadium and take photos of places that needed touch-up work and fixing. This week, my project is to contact other baseball teams’ Enterprise and Events departments to receive information and brochures on their event plannin

g and price rates. Additionally, this week I have to edit and make the layout diagrams for the party clubs and rooms. This definitely is going to test my powerpoint ability!

3:30pm: I go grab the wristbands for the Diamond and Presidents Clubs that will be used during the game. Only those people with Diamond and President Club tickets are allowed to enter the clubs; therefore, wristbands are the most effective and efficient way to ensure only ticketed guests are in the clubs. Liam, a staff member in my department, and I walk to the Presidents Club, the Diamond Club, Section 126, and Section 119 and distribute the wristbands to the ushers. Those are the on

ly 4 locations that people can redeem their wristbands to enter the clubs. We also make sure there are podiums at these locations, and that everything in the clubs is ready for when the gates open. At every game, there are concierges in the clubs to greet and direct the guest. My department is in charge of ensuring that the concierges are there, on time, and ready. After we distribute the wristbands to the four locations, Liam and I post the concierge work schedule in the concierge check-in location. This whole loop usually takes us about an hour.

4:30-5:30pm: I head back to the office and work on my assigned projects.

5:30pm: Liam and I take another loop to make sure that the concierges and ushers are in places at the designated locations. After doing this final loop with Liam, he heads into the Diamond Club and I go work on my pre-game project.

6-7pm: My co-intern, Jim, and I work on throughput times before every game. Our department is trying to figure a more efficient way for people to get drinks and food, by minimizing their wait and process time. We are trying to prove that the method we currently use is not efficient. Jim and I time, count, and calculate the number of people that are served at s

pecific concession stands.

7pm: I meet up with the rest of my department’s team in the Diamond Club, where we can work while watching the game. (It’s a great view of the whole field)

8pm: Workday is over. I can either head home or stay and watch the game.

That is what a typical day at Nationals Park is like on a Game Day. Everyone in my department is extremely friendly and helpful. We spend a lot of time together as a team. On Non-Game Days we all spend a lot of time in the office together. Even though we are all doing different things and working on separate projects, there is still a social atmosphere around the office, and always someone to help, answer questions, etc. The people working in my department are young and fun, which definitely enhances my social life as an intern. I’m really enjoying my internship and can’t wait to update everyone again!

Just Say No!

One of the hardest things for me this summer has been managing my workload. We all know that an internship is nothing more than a summer long interview, so we all want to impress our bosses and do the best job possible. However, doing a good job and managing your workload do not have to conflict. It is always important to know exactly what you have on your plate at one time so you know what new projects you can take on.

Although it may be hard to tell a superior you can not work on something, sometimes it is necessary in order to do the best job possible. No boss will look at this as you being a slacker, but rather they will appreciate your honesty and they will expect you do your best work on whatever it is you are working on. Although it has been uncomfortable for me to do this, I have done it on multiple occassions this summer. I report to more than one person, and each of my bosses doesn't know my workload. Everytime I told one of them that I could not work on something they were completely fine with it and actually respected me for respectfully declining the work they had for me.

Despite what I just said you can easily mess this up. Once you are done with the large project you are working on make sure to approach the person again, tell them you are done with the other project, and then ask if they would still want you to work on their project or if they have anything else for you. This is not brown-nosing but rather showing that you are a diligent and respectful employee. Being able to manage up is a very hard skill to learn, but an internship with a heavy workload can help you learn to do it effectively.

So if you can't take on a new project because you are swamped remember, JUST SAY NO! (politely of course)

Strasburg + Obama = Craziness.

Hey everyone!

So the last time I posted, it was my first day—I was nervous, excited, and clueless. Over the past two weeks I have worked possibly one of the most challenging homestands ever and I have been assigned numerous projects. At the first game I was assigned to work, not only was Strasburg pitching, but we also had a surprise guest appearance by President Obama.

Not only did we have to work around secret service, but the stadium was completely sold out—a packed house. During the game, I was assigned to work in the PNC Diamond Club. I had to check people in, make sure everyone had wristbands, and oversee the club to ensure everything was running smoothly. Overall, my first game experience was successful. Since I have started my internship, I have worked at 6 games. This upcoming week we have a 10 game homestand, and I am extremely excited to work at the games.

While the team is away on the road, the office has a very different atmosphere. On game days, people are coming and going; on office days, it is much more relaxed. On non-game days I usually work on projects and attend department meetings. While the team is away, there are a ton of events at the stadium that my department puts together. For example, this week the Lexus Dealers from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area came out to the field for an organized softball game. Last night, we hosted the 49^th Annual Congressional Baseball Game. It is a 7-inning baseball game, Republicans versus Democrats, with approximately 7,000 people attending, and for charity. Prior to the game, I was responsible for letting in media and sponsors. During the event, I was assigned to manage the Pressbox. It was very calm and low-key in the Pressbox, so I was able to watch most of the game. This was such a cool event to work at.

I have a lot of new projects to work on in the next few weeks. My biggest one coming up is the Dave Matthews Band Concert that is being held at the stadium at the end of July. I look forward to updating everyone on this project! Stay Tuned Everyone, Stay Tuned

Thomson Reuters Phase 2

In my 2nd two-week stint as a Strategy intern at Thomson Reuters, I continued to work on competitive intelligence, evaluate growth areas, and explore big picture opportunities for the company. I’ve learned more in the past two weeks about financial services, software, data management, and information systems than I ever wanted to or thought I would learn. But in our weekly intern lecture series, where every Friday an intern presents on a topic of their choice (relevant to Thomson Reuters strategy of course) I decided to follow my interest and talk about media strategy. I’ll be presenting on the topic tomorrow morning, but some of my focal points will be:

- Decline of traditional media and what it means for Thomson Reuters
- Monetization of digital content
- New media devices such as Smartphones and iPads
- New user friendly experience that’s interactive, transparent, customizable
- Thomson Reuters new media initiatives and growth opportunities

This will be my first presentation of the internship, so it will be a golden opportunity to show off those Ross-groomed presenting skills, share my research findings, and make a solid impression on the rest of the strategy team. Like any summer internship, this is a 10-week job interview so it will be important to go above and beyond to showcase my skills.

I’m also continuing my networking by making appointments to meat with executives every week. Not surprisingly, it’s more difficult than it seems. Everyone who I’ve tried to meet with has been booked solid for the last two weeks, but promised to set aside some time next week to meet for a half hour. Knowing how difficult it is to get a hold of these people makes it all the more important that I make the most of my time with them, learn and listen as much as possible while still making an impression. I’ll be meeting with both the Chief Marketing Officer and President of Reuters Media next week, so I’ll be sure to prepare some good questions. I always believe that you never know what connection will help you when you need it most, so I strongly value these meetings as a networking tool and sort of “audition”.

Go USA!

Alex Weiss

New City, New Life

Michael Wieder, BBA 2011, Octagon

Last week was a very busy week for me, I took the LSAT Monday, moved to Washington D.C. on Tuesday, and started work at Octagon on Wednesday. My hectic life just made it harder to get adjusted to living in a new city. Unlike a lot of people, I have an advantage adjusting to city life because I grew up and live in New York. However, it always takes time to get acquainted with a new place. The people, culture, food, and layout are all different and take time to adjust too.

I have found that there are ways to alleviate the stress and potential frustration cause by relocation. The first tip is, do RESEARCH. Going on the internet and searching everything from food to maps, and entertainment to transportation can make all the difference on how easy it is to adjust to a new city. At first I found it very difficult to get adjusted to how DC was layed out. I found it hard to navigate the city, and although cleaner than NYC subways, the DC Metro is just inferior to other mass transit systems in cities like NY, London, and Paris. After I looked at a couple maps I was perfectly acclimated to my new city.

My second tip to adjusting to a new city is to EXPLORE. Get out and see what the town, city, or state has to offer. If you hide you will never know how great (or not so great) the new city is. By exploring you open yourself up to new things, and really get a chance to adjust yourself to your new surroundings.

Lastly, make sure that you have FUN. Don't hold back at all. See what the nightlife has to offer, meet new people, go to cultural places. Without having fun, your transition to a new place won't be the same. I have found that if I let myself have fun in a new city I automatically adjust to my surroundings better, because although I may be a foreigner, I feel like a native.

Hope this helps with everyone adjusting to new cities because it has definitely helped me in the past.