Snapshot from one of our investment meetings with DHS Venture Partners

How to land an internship within Venture Capital

Ever wondered what it takes to land an internship in Venture Capital? Yes, it is not easy, so here a few tips that could help you land your dream career start:

Your CV

• Finance and business basics: You need to be able to show that you have what it takes to efficiently analyse a startup. That means you need to have both the financial tools and concepts to assess a market, a company valuation, a competitive landscape etc. — tip 1: Take on a consulting project at your local university consulting club or similar and train your case study skills
• Pro-activity and motivation: You need to show that you take on challenges and initiatives beyond your normal curriculum. An entrepreneurial mindset (half crazy, half successful) of taking on new ideas and projects makes you connect with other entrepreneurs and gives you credibility in a job interview but also in practice — tip 2: Get involved at your university’s association — create a new club or just start a small business right now!
• Diligence and seriousness: As an analyst you need to see the details that your bosses miss. You need to be able to show that you can be diligent when it matters and have an eye for details. — tip 3: Don’t think grades are the only way of showing your diligence and ability to deliver. Planning the perfect holiday, administrating a football club the like can require extreme dedication and diligence —make it stand out!

Your interview

• Social skills matter: Early stage investing is very much connected to people — actually connected to connecting with other people and to understand them quickly — tip 4: Social skills can be built (I’m not gonna give you a tip on that), but it takes time. However, there might be some short term fixes: Go to the gym before the interview, feel comfortable and assertive. Sit in a comfortable position at the interview, and make a few power poses before you enter the room. Eat before.
• Be prepared: Did Spotify just go public yesterday? There might be a few obvious topics in the media today or this week that will almost inevitably come up at the interview. Tip 5 — If you are not yet regularly following the Tech news, at least make sure you read the headlines of the last 7 days

These are some short-term fixes that can push you from 80 to 90%. Of course it takes time and hard work to build the real skill like anywhere else. Good luck!

If you are up for it, check out current opportunities at J12 Ventures