Recent Tufts graduate Jack shared the following about being a Summer Analyst for the Corporate Group with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York …
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
In my internship with the Fed, I worked with the Corporate group to automate many aspects of their reporting. This work included making automated excel documents that made use of macros. The internship also included many learning seminars designed to give interns a greater view of the organization. Additionally, I constructed new graphs that provided additional budget information to clients. The Corporate group is an internal finance support function and much of my work was geared towards supporting the bank’s application development.
How did you find this internship?
I found the internship simply by searching their website and looking at open postings.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
The internship was very fun because my team was close-knit and cooperative. The work allowed me to learn a lot about Excel, and I was also given ample time to network with others around the bank. Additionally, at the end of the internship, there was an interview process for full-time positions.
What did you find challenging?
Prior to this internship, I had no experience with Visual Basic, and I found learning that the most challenging aspect of my internship. It was also difficult to make presentations to my team of the work that I was doing. Lastly, it was hard to be able to meaningfully contribute at meetings with clients.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
I would say the most important thing you can do in the internship is to network with others around the bank. They call these “coffee chats” and they are very important for learning more about the bank and getting your name out there. You should try to meet and speak with as many people as you can. Your manager will understand if you need to leave to get coffee with someone. Also, always think of projects as something you can do, even if they seem very difficult.
About the Organization
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks which, together with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the Federal Reserve System. The Fed, as the system is commonly called, is an independent governmental entity created by Congress in 1913 to serve as the central bank of the United States. It is responsible for: formulating and executing monetary policy, supervising and regulating depository institutions, providing an elastic currency, assisting the federal government’s financing operations, and serving as the banker for the U.S. government.