Internship Spotlight: Cecelia Coburn, Barclays

Cecelia Coburn '24 BSBA (Finance) worked in Sales & Trading at Barclays in New York City, NY.

What was the process for getting this internship, job, or summer experience?

I got this internship through the Wall Street Scholars Program. This program was crucial to the process by setting me up with our incredible alumni network. My first initial contacts connected me with more and more people throughout the firm and eventually led to me the final interview. The program also prepared me through vigorous interview/markets training, which not only set me up for success in my securing the internship, but also my summer performance as a whole. 

What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of the experience was the environment and people I was surrounded by over the summer. Living in New York City has always been a dream of mine, and it felt very surreal walking to work every morning knowing I was living that dream for 10 weeks. Other than the incredible city, the diverse group of people I met and developed relationships with during my internship was truly unforgettable. I was able to sit alongside anyone from first-year analysts to global department heads, and each person had a unique story to tell and advice to share. To be able to learn so much from some of the most intelligent thought leaders in the world was such a privilege, and the culture of Barclays made it an enjoyable experience to motivate me throughout an intense internship. 

What advice do you have for other students looking for a similar experience, or advice for future students to be successful?

The biggest advice I would give to other students looking for a similar experience is to always be the most thoughtful person in the room. You will never be the smartest person in the room (nor should you want to be), but being thoughtful in your attitude, body language, expression, and speech will carry you a long way. Wall Street internships are no joke, so it's important to put in the work to secure the internship, however, once you do, focus on building your professional persona and how you want to brand yourself to others. I've learned that EQ is just as or even more valued in potential full-time candidates than IQ, so be thoughtful in everything that you do, because you would be surprised by the amount of people who do not.