What makes an internship application stand out? 

We’re drawn to candidates who demonstrate genuine curiosity and a commitment to self-learning – through coding competitions, Kaggle challenges, hackathons or active involvement in relevant campus clubs. Showing initiative matters, too: prior internships, founding a club or launching a personal project demonstrates that you turn ideas into action. Finally, a global perspective, proven leadership and strong quantitative skills.

Many applicants worry about limited experience – what strategies do you recommend for showcasing transferable skills? 

Treat every class, side job or volunteer role as a deliverable-driven project. Instead of simply listing “Data Structures” or “Intro to Finance,” describe the specific assignment you tackled, the tools you used and – crucially – the outcome you achieved. Frame part-time work or community service in the same way: What problem did you solve? What skills did you sharpen? Then back it up with proof – link to GitHub, Kaggle notebook, slide deck or published paper. This plus a clear narrative of impact suggests that you’re ready to turn theory into results.

Could you walk us through the ideal preparation timeline? 

The recruiting process starts earlier than you realize. Start following Schonfeld on LinkedIn so you have a strong understanding of the firm and our initiatives and stay updated on world news and financial markets.  Build out your profile and resume now so that you’re prepared to apply as soon as applications open.

Beyond technical knowledge, what soft skills or professional behaviors do you look for during interviews? 

We look for three qualities that complement technical skill: agility in structured problem-solving, intellectual humility and inclusive collaboration. Demonstrate agility by arriving with succinct examples – be ready to walk through your reasoning. Show intellectual humility – be honest when you don’t know an answer but share your thinking to demonstrate how you would approach the problem. Illustrate inclusive collaboration by describing moments when you actively sought out diverse viewpoints in a class or on a team.

What books would you recommend to better understand our industry?

Two titles I consistently recommend are A Random Walk Down Wall Street, by Burton Malkiel and Tap Dancing to Work, a curated collection of Warren Buffett’s writings, edited by Carol Loomis. In general, any of Buffett’s annual letters or biographies will also help students grasp the fundamentals of our industry.

What common mistakes do you see on internship applications or during interviews?

Small oversights often do the most damage – typos on a resume, cover letter or LinkedIn profile can indicate a lack of attention to detail. Meanwhile, over-rehearsed answers make a candidate sound scripted and prevent an authentic conversation. We also notice when an applicant hasn’t done their research; generic talking points stand out immediately.

The solution is straightforward: proofread every document carefully, invest time in learning about the firm’s strategy and culture and practice articulating your experiences until you are comfortable but not memorized. And most importantly, be yourself.