This summer I had the pleasure of interning with Goldman Sachs. I interned with asset management in third party distribution. My particular group worked very closely with both the sales force and senior management to effectively analyze and create the best methods of distribution for the sale of Goldman’s mutual fund products to institutional and independent financial advisors.

Throughout the summer, I received a great introduction to asset management as well as other divisions in the firm. In addition, I was also able to receive a true sense of the firm’s culture and business practices. It was a great feeling to be able to meaningfully contribute to my team and form relationships with employees at all levels within the firm.

I came about my internship by participating in the spring program that Goldman Sachs hosts in each division, where a select number of students spend a week at the company actively learning about the division and its available opportunities.

The great thing about the program is that we really received more than a few lectures – we were actually participating in hands-on activities that gave us a true understanding of the company and that particular division.

From the program, I rekindled my high school career goal of becoming a financial planner, but also realized that I wanted to get product and asset management experience before moving into a client-facing position. At the end of the program I was invited to return for a summer internship.

From my experiences with Goldman and other companies I’ve interned with, I would advise students to attend as many company events as possible and participate in any externships or exploration programs that are in line with your interests and career goals. They serve as great alternatives to get a deeper knowledge of any firm or industry and its entry-level positions. From these experiences, not only are students able to tell if the firm or position is a great fit for them, but it gives recruiters and other professionals an opportunity to get to know possible candidates outside of the traditional interview which can sometimes be limiting.

The entire college experience is about discovering who we are and what we want to do. I have found success by seeking opportunities to learn as much as possible and making decisions based on my experiences.