The most common thing students say when they're trying to get a finance internship is: "I don't have any experience." The second most common thing is: "I don't know anyone."
Both of those feel like insurmountable obstacles. Neither of them actually is.
Here's how to get a finance internship in Australia when you're starting from zero.
Understand What Finance Firms Are Actually Looking For
Most students assume internship selection is about grades and connections. Grades matter, and connections help — but they're not the whole story.
What finance firms are actually assessing in internship candidates:
Commercial awareness — do you understand what the firm does and why it matters?
Genuine interest — can you articulate why you want to work in finance specifically, not just "I like business"
Communication — can you express yourself clearly, both in writing and in person?
Work ethic and attitude — references, cover letters, and interviews all give signals here
Basic technical competence — for some roles, financial literacy or Excel skills matter; for others, less so at internship level
You can build all of these without prior finance experience.
Apply Earlier Than You Think You Need To
The single biggest mistake students make is applying too late. In Australia, the major finance internship programs, particularly summer internships at banks and large financial institutions, open applications in March and April for the following summer (November–February).
If you're waiting until September to start looking, you've already missed the most competitive programs.
Key timelines for Australian students:
March–May: Major bank and investment firm applications open for summer internships
June–August: Assessment centres and interviews for summer programs
November–February: Summer internship programs run
May–July: Winter internship applications (shorter programs, fewer spots)
Set calendar reminders. Missing the application window is entirely preventable.
Build Your Story Before You Apply
If you don't have finance experience, you need a compelling answer to "why finance?" and it needs to be specific. Generic answers ("I've always been interested in business") don't distinguish you from the hundreds of other applicants saying the same thing.
Think about:
A specific moment or piece of content that sparked your interest in finance
A subject you studied that connects to finance
A personal experience with money, investing, or business that made finance feel real
What you've done on your own to learn more mention books, podcasts, news, online courses
Your story doesn't need to be dramatic. It needs to be genuine and specific.
Get Work Experience Before the Internship
This sounds circular, but it's not. School-level work experience, volunteer roles, university club involvement (especially finance and investment clubs), and short programs like those run by F3 all count as relevant exposure — and they all give you something concrete to talk about in applications.
Even one week of work experience at a financial planning firm puts you ahead of candidates who have none.
Make Your Application Stand Out
Cover letter: Don't summarise your resume. Use it to answer two questions — why this firm, and why finance? Be specific about the firm. Generic cover letters are spotted immediately and go straight to the bottom.
Resume: Keep it to one page. Lead with education and any relevant experience. Include a skills section if you have Excel, financial modelling, or data skills. Use action verbs and quantify where you can.
LinkedIn: Have a complete profile before you apply. Many recruiters check LinkedIn as a first step. Include a professional photo, a clear headline, and a summary that reflects your career interests.
Use Programs Designed to Help You
F3 exists specifically to help women break into finance in Australia — including students who don't have a contact list full of finance professionals. Programs like F3's work experience placement connect students with firms directly, removing the cold-outreach barrier that stops a lot of students from getting started.
If you're eligible, use these programs. They exist for exactly this situation.
What to Do If You Don't Get the Internship
Most students don't get their first choice internship. That's normal — the major programs are competitive and the number of spots is limited.
If you miss out:
Apply for smaller firms and boutiques — they often have more flexibility and less competition
Look for virtual internship programs, which have expanded significantly since 2020
Ask for feedback if the firm offers it, and use it
Apply again next cycle — many firms value persistence and improvement
Getting a finance internship in Australia without experience is harder than it was a decade ago. But it's not as hard as it feels from the outside. The students who get there are rarely the ones with the most connections — they're the ones who started early, applied specifically, and kept going after the first rejection.