Choosing a Rutgers student for an internship

[RCTrooper]

So I work for a large alternative investment firm and we're hiring summer interns. We have a ton of resumes to pick from. Kids from Columbia, UPenn, Princeton, Cornell with previous summer internship and great academic achievement. I have one Rutgers kid who just doesn't bring anywhere as much to the table and would need much more hand-holding from me during this summer; not even close. He probably doesn't deserve it but I think I'll pick him over the other much more qualified kids; primarily because RU kids rarely get this kind of a break.

Has anyone else done the same in the past?

 

[JQRU91]

If he doesn't deserve it, why give it to him? We have enough mediocrity being promoted in this country already.

 

[NorthernKnight]

So I work for a large alternative investment firm and we're hiring summer interns. We have a ton of resumes to pick from. Kids from Columbia, UPenn, Princeton, Cornell with previous summer internship and great academic achievement. I have one Rutgers kid who just doesn't bring anywhere as much to the table and would need much more hand-holding from me during this summer; not even close. He probably doesn't deserve it but I think I'll pick him over the other much more qualified kids; primarily because RU kids rarely get this kind of a break.

Has anyone else done the same in the past?

Yes I have. Happens every day with the other schools you mentioned, why not with RU? Summer Internship....your little way of making a difference and demonstrate Rutgers Pride.

 

[TonyLieske]

I mean, its an internship, not the managing director. Hard to call that "mediocrity being promoted."

To the OP, I would give it a shot. Not every intern is going to be a star anyway, and some folks just don't interview well (and some interview way better than they actually are). If things work out for the better you will have something to be proud of, if they don't work out then at least you can tell yourself you gave it the old college try. :D

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

A big thumbs up to the OP. That's how you make a real difference in someone's life. It's better than charity. If the kid can hack it, you just gave him a huge break, and if not, no big loss for you. Tons of kids at ivy schools don't deserve the opportunities they receive, and who knows how much hand-holding they might end up needing. When it comes right down to it, people with no job experience are rarely qualified for much.

As long as you have a good vibe that the kid is a hard worker, and ready to give it his all I say go for it. I personally try to get Rutgers kids whenever I can and have rarely been disappointed. I've found them to be generally hardworking.

 

[superfan01]

Anyone know if that guy Gimpy ever found a ru grad to hire? Guy was looking for people on this board and thought a student replied in his thread.

 

[FanuSanu52]

Meh. I get what people are saying, but if you think the other kids are head and shoulders above the RU kid, I'd go with one of them. From an employer standpoint, isn't an intern supposed to be a cheap way of cutting down the workload, not a project in and of himself?

 

[mal359]

So I work for a large alternative investment firm and we're hiring summer interns. We have a ton of resumes to pick from. Kids from Columbia, UPenn, Princeton, Cornell with previous summer internship and great academic achievement. I have one Rutgers kid who just doesn't bring anywhere as much to the table and would need much more hand-holding from me during this summer; not even close. He probably doesn't deserve it but I think I'll pick him over the other much more qualified kids; primarily because RU kids rarely get this kind of a break.

Has anyone else done the same in the past?

That was pretty unfair.

Don't discount your entire alma mater just because of one kid who goes to it that's lagging behind other prospects.

 

[klemman]

Why not. Hire your nephew who isn't as qualified as other candidates as well.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

That was pretty unfair.

Don't discount your entire alma mater just because of one kid who goes to it that's lagging behind other prospects.

How is he discounting the alma mater?

 

[imbazza]

My son's first job was given to him by a fellow alum. This past spring my son was made VP at his company at 39 years old. Rutgers never look pretty on paper but given a chance we SHINE! give the kid a shot. If he fails you learned something if he shines you learned even more.

 

[mal359]

How is he discounting the alma mater?

"primarily because RU kids rarely get this kind of a break."

Implies that kids from RU don't get the chances at what the OP seems to hype up as a big internship opportunity. Not true.

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

"primarily because RU kids rarely get this kind of a break."

Implies that kids from RU don't get the chances at what the OP seems to hype up as a big internship opportunity. Not true.

Isn't he saying that RU kids don't typically get the position when they are going head to head with kids from ivy leagues, and don't have equal qualifications? That's the whole context of the post.

And frankly, in my field at least, kids from RU barely get a sniff for the good summer positions.

 

[mal359]

Isn't he saying that RU kids don't typically get the position when they are going head to head with kids from ivy leagues, and don't have equal qualifications? That's the whole context of the post.

And frankly, in my field at least, kids from RU barely get a sniff for the good summer positions.

I thought that Rutgers was a "Public Ivy" according to a good deal of posters here. Why don't RU students get the same "sniffs" that Ivy students do?

 

[knightcap]

My new intern starts tomorrow. Rutgers Business School Senior to be. I too got my start in Corporate America 25 years ago from a Rutgers Alumni.

 

[DJ Spanky]

OP: I'm not even gonna bother replying to some of the other posts in this thread. If you think you can make this work, then do it by all means.

 

[superfan01]

The top IBs for example don't give internships to ru kids for their trading programs (which are the most sought after internships). Each of these banks have a core set of 4-5 schools where they pull 95%of their interns from for these specific programs. For example the credit trading desk at a top bank might only take interns from 4 schools each year. They don't have the time or capacity to go to every school. So they have a small core set of schools they recruit from each year and RU is not one.
The OP is offering to give the kid a chance that he ordinarily wouldn't get.

 

[TonyLieske]

Meh. I get what people are saying, but if you think the other kids are head and shoulders above the RU kid, I'd go with one of them. From an employer standpoint, isn't an intern supposed to be a cheap way of cutting down the workload, not a project in and of himself?

I can say for the company I work at, this is absolutely not the case. Internships are a way to develop new talent, not a way to reduce work. Almost all interns are "work" for the people managing them.

 

[FanuSanu52]

I can say for the company I work at, this is absolutely not the case. Internships are a way to develop new talent, not a way to reduce work. Almost all interns are "work" for the people managing them.

To some extent, maybe, but that wasn't how the OP framed it. He said straight away that the RU kid would be a lot more work.

 

[RaySt]

I have found RU kids feel less entitled. They work hard and will run through walls for their boss. They appreciate their employment. Not saying others don't but RU grads I've hired have been great. And yes, I'm biased!

 

[RaySt]

And bravo to the OP. We always talk about how in New Jersey we "eat our own". But you are lifting someone up and paying it forward for Rutgers! Exactly the type of pride and action that will advance our institution. We need more of it!

 

[LadyRU09]

You need experience to get a real job, and internships can help students gain that. Give that kid a chance!

 

[Unionst]

You need experience to get a real job, and internships can help students gain that. Give that kid a chance!

So I work for a large alternative investment firm and we're hiring summer interns. We have a ton of resumes to pick from. Kids from Columbia, UPenn, Princeton, Cornell with previous summer internship and great academic achievement. I have one Rutgers kid who just doesn't bring anywhere as much to the table and would need much more hand-holding from me during this summer; not even close. He probably doesn't deserve it but I think I'll pick him over the other much more qualified kids; primarily because RU kids rarely get this kind of a break.

Has anyone else done the same in the past?

Consider why the other kids have had previous internships. You should have little doubt that the vast majority of Ivy Leaguers have had every advantage. Nothing wrong with giving an RU student a leg up. Certainly the Ivy kids have had that. (And I say that by the way as a parent and uncle of ivy Leaguers.). The best intern I had in 25 years was from Appalachian State.

 

[RU4Real]

She's hot, isn't she? That's why you picked her.

 

[MikeRU1766]

Haha and the poster original poster gets PILED ON when he is doing something great for Rutgers just because of his wording of a sentence..... which we all knew what he meant anyway..

Of course, we all know what the poster meant when he said "Rutgers kids gets don't get this kind of break." .... Which was just that it is rare that a Rutgers kids beats out Harvard or Cornell kid for the same internship, especially in the Finance industry. Even though RU Business school is EXCELLENT (voted the 9th best return on investment in the country), you are competing against the best of the best in those Ivy League schools. That is all the guy was saying. He wasn't saying that Rutgers kids don't get internships.

 

[MikeRU1766]

She's hot, isn't she? That's why you picked her.

HAHA incredible. I was just working at a big name financial company in the area and there were SO MANY Hot chicks working there..... some qualified....and some so obviously not it was hilarious.

Please Original poster... tell us if the Rutgers kid is male or female.

 

[jtung230]

As long as the kid shows potential. Just make sure he or she doesn't make you look bad.

 

[CuredbywinningRU]

Rutgers kids often don't get the sniffs that ivy and other elite school kids get simply because, especially nowadays, it is extremely difficult to get into the top schools and typically (but certainly not always) kids at those schools with the same grades as RU applicants have far better written skills and very often present in a more polished manner. Those kids also typically have far better familial and other connections to get them top openings. Having said that, I have dealt with and recruited highly credentialed folks throughout my career and always try to hire RU kids when I can. But the competition is very tough and while of course there are exceptions, the kids at elite private colleges and the UVAs etc generally are more prepared from a presentation (as well as academic) standpoint than others.

 

[Scarlet Jerry]

If the kid is qualified, even if the others are more qualified, then do it. It happens with alums from other schools. It's only an internship. If it was a full time job, then I would say go with the best candidate.

-Scarlet Jerry

 

[knightfan2000]

I'd like to direct your attention to a recent Wall Street Journal article about this very topic. You will see a photo of Rutgers students who participate in a club, LIBOR, that has been instrumental in preparing students for the workforce. The person who runs this program and mentors the students is a Rutgers alum and very successful investment banker himself - he deserves a lot of credit for what he does. Students who participated in LIBOR have landed great jobs on Wall Street. The link may not open the full story for you, but if you just google wall street journal, libor and Rutgers you might get it.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-300-emails-led-to-a-summer-job-on-wall-street-1427932335

 

[MikeRU1766]

I'd like to direct your attention to a recent Wall Street Journal article about this very topic. You will see a photo of Rutgers students who participate in a club, LIBOR, that has been instrumental in preparing students for the workforce. The person who runs this program and mentors the students is a Rutgers alum and very successful investment banker himself - he deserves a lot of credit for what he does. Students who participated in LIBOR have landed great jobs on Wall Street. The link may not open the full story for you, but if you just google wall street journal, libor and Rutgers you might get it.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-300-emails-led-to-a-summer-job-on-wall-street-1427932335

Great post. I had read this article as well, but could not remember where I read it or what the name of the club was. Points for knightfan2000 for the link.

 

[RCTrooper]

HAHA incredible. I was just working at a big name financial company in the area and there were SO MANY Hot chicks working there..... some qualified....and some so obviously not it was hilarious.

Please Original poster... tell us if the Rutgers kid is male or female.

No, it is a guy. And he is less qualified than all the other candidates so I'd have to put effort into him so that he wouldn't make me look bad.

 

[CuredbywinningRU]

I'd like to direct your attention to a recent Wall Street Journal article about this very topic. You will see a photo of Rutgers students who participate in a club, LIBOR, that has been instrumental in preparing students for the workforce. The person who runs this program and mentors the students is a Rutgers alum and very successful investment banker himself - he deserves a lot of credit for what he does. Students who participated in LIBOR have landed great jobs on Wall Street. The link may not open the full story for you, but if you just google wall street journal, libor and Rutgers you might get it.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-300-emails-led-to-a-summer-job-on-wall-street-1427932335

Great story Knightfan!

 

[knightfan2000]

Thank you. And I can add a little more interesting context to the story. The LIBOR group "manages" a trust fund that provides athletic scholarships to non-revenue sports at Rutgers, the Bender Trust. The Trust has existed since 1980 and was created by David Bender, a former lacrosse player and Rutgers football coach. The Trust provides partial scholarships each year for men's lacrosse, soccer, wrestling, golf, and track & field and women's gymnastics, field hockey, and tennis while still growing the endowment. The students learn how to manage the fund for maximum return. It's a win/win for Rutgers and for the students.

 

[CuredbywinningRU]

That is very cool!!

 

[Ole Cabbagehead]

I thought that Rutgers was a "Public Ivy" according to a good deal of posters here. Why don't RU students get the same "sniffs" that Ivy students do?

Huh? What does what "a good deal of posters" say about the value of RU have to do with anything? We are talking about your criticism of the OP, which was misplaced.

You stated that he was discounting his alma mater because you thought he was implying his internship was too good for RU students. I simply pointed out my belief that that wasn't what he was saying at all. He was just saying RU students won't often get hired over ivy league kids with better credentials. Pretty hard to argue with that. I'm not gonna continue to argue someone else's point, so I will let him argue with you if that's what you want.

Why don't Rutgers students get the same opportunities ivy students do? lol. Pretty much because...well....everything.

 

[RUinPinehurst]

A tie would go to the RU kid. But if other candidates are better, well, you'd be remiss in your duty to your organization if you were to bring in the least attractive candidate. It's a tough situation.

 

[eddynyse]

I also think you should give this kid the opportunity but I'm wondering if you are going to tell him that you selected him over more "qualified" interns? How are you going to motivate/communicate to him that he needs to out work everyone to be able to take advantage of this opportunity that you are giving him? I would really like to know. Keep us posted on your decision.

 

[i'vegotwinners]

it would be interesting to see how the applicants would be rated, if what college they attended or were attending, were omitted from the resume', and simply the fact that they were a college grad or attendee in it's place.

if there's an Ivy League moniker attached, does that not influence how everything else is perceived?

 

[WhoRU?]

If faculty references are provided you might consider giving a faculty member a call. You may feel more comfortable (or less) after speaking with a faculty member. It's also worth opening up a line of communication with the faculty if you are in a position to hire interns. Next year, when the hiring process starts the faculty may be willing to steer quality applicants your way if they know you are interested in supporting their students.