Need Advice for internships

[walsly]

Hi everyone, been lurking around in this forum for sometime and decide to create an acct to post this.

I am currently studying in SIM-UOL in econs & finance. Just completed my first year currently in my 2nd year. My results for first year were pretty good, hopefully i can ace my 2nd yr exams as well.
Now, i am actually thinking of getting a career in commodities trading (particularly agri commodities like palm oil,sugar,etc) in the future. So now i am thinking of getting more exposure to this industry by applying to firms for internship during my 2nd yr holidays (May onwards).

1) When is a good time for me to send in my application? Is it too early if i send in say in december?

2) I looking through some of the websites of the big firms(olam,noble,wilmar,cargill, louis dreyfus, AA, etc) they did not put up any information about interning at their companies, so i was wondering how should i go about applying for the internship? Deposit my resume with them by sending to their HR?

3) How should i structure my application ? Do i make it like a resume-like format?

Sorry if its a little lengthy but this is the first time i am applying for internships. Would love to hear from the working ppl here!

Originally Posted by walsly

Hi everyone, been lurking around in this forum for sometime and decide to create an acct to post this.

I am currently studying in SIM-UOL in econs & finance. Just completed my first year currently in my 2nd year. My results for first year were pretty good, hopefully i can ace my 2nd yr exams as well.
Now, i am actually thinking of getting a career in commodities trading (particularly agri commodities like palm oil,sugar,etc) in the future. So now i am thinking of getting more exposure to this industry by applying to firms for internship during my 2nd yr holidays (May onwards).

1) When is a good time for me to send in my application? Is it too early if i send in say in december?

2) I looking through some of the websites of the big firms(olam,noble,wilmar,cargill, louis dreyfus, AA, etc) they did not put up any information about interning at their companies, so i was wondering how should i go about applying for the internship? Deposit my resume with them by sending to their HR?

3) How should i structure my application ? Do i make it like a resume-like format?

Sorry if its a little lengthy but this is the first time i am applying for internships. Would love to hear from the working ppl here!

It's good that you are thinking of this now. It's never too early cos internships are not easy to come by.

The most effective way (by far) is to route your resume via someone u know that works in the company in question.

Second, u can check w your school to see if there are any alumni working in these companies . If so, try to get a coffee session with them and see if u can angle for an internship.

Finally, if both the above methods do not work, cold call or email the head of the trading desks for these companies.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It's good that you are thinking of this now. It's never too early cos internships are not easy to come by.

The most effective way (by far) is to route your resume via someone u know that works in the company in question.

Second, u can check w your school to see if there are any alumni working in these companies . If so, try to get a coffee session with them and see if u can angle for an internship.

Finally, if both the above methods do not work, cold call or email the head of the trading desks for these companies.

Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I don't think I know anyone working in that industry that could rope me in for internship, most of them are working in banks/shipping industry.
Nevertheless, i will draft out my intern application and send it to their HR emails, hopefully i can secure a internship before next feb~march