The Alumni Board of Govenors Career Externship Program

Program Benefits

The Alumni Board of Governors Career Externship Program offers students the career exploration opportunity of a lifetime.

Whether you know exactly what career you’d like to pursue, or have no idea, this program can help you. If you think you know what you’d like to do professionally, this program can help you to better understand a specific area within that field of interest, and can help you to develop contacts in the area. If you have no idea what you’d like to do when you graduate (or are somewhere in between), then this program can offer you a wonderful opportunity to explore an area of interest. No experience is necessary – just genuine curiosity compellingly articulated in a cover letter and resume.

Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity! Additional benefits include….

Learn the ins and outs of a successful job/ internship search with the guidance of the CAPS office:
Learn how to write resumes, cover letters, and the time management involved in the process.

Learn how to network with those successful in their fields.
More than 85% of 2006 and 2007 externs agreed that the ABG externship boosted their networking confidence and expertise. The best way to enhance your ability to interact with others (and this is key in any field!) is to practice, and the ABG Externship Program offers you a fantastic opportunity to practice these skills – with no risk.

Get an early start on identifying and developing your passion.
A few days shadowing someone in a field that has always piqued your interest may lead to a better understanding of your own passions. An early start in this process allows you, as a student, to continue to develop experience (both through summer opportunities and co-curricular activities) in your area of interest. More than 80% of 2006 and 2007 externs indicated that they felt surer about their future career path than before the externship.

An externship experience can validate your choice of major OR may help you make the right decision to change, if necessary.
At least 70% of 2006 and 2007 externs reported that the externship helped them choose or confirm their decision of major.

Learn about the connection between graduate degrees and certain career paths.
Your extern host and his/her colleagues may be able to help you decide whether and what kind of graduate education may be right for you. More than 85% of Career Externs in 2006 and 2007 received useful advice about graduate school during their externship.

Witness something new first-hand.
This past spring, some of our externs witnessed extraordinary events during their externships. Some examples include:

IMAGE: Grace Tan
Grace Tan,
Thomas White International
Chicago, IL

In order to really experience the work, I was assigned to write a small piece on the performance of the mutual fund in that quarter, and to analyze the factors that affected it in the market. Writing that piece under the helpful guidance of the staff member really helped me to learn about what they do. On the second day, I was tasked with creating a presentation to market the firm. That assignment allowed me to understand in detail the different parts and functions of the firm.

In addition, my host also organized lunches with some of his friends from other sections in other investment management firms. Hence, I was exposed to other kinds of investment philosophy, and was not restricted by what I saw at Thomas White International. I was able to get a more holistic view of the investment management industry. For me, it was the participation in these mini-projects that really helped me to understand the company and how it works.