Written by Jennifer Kaplan, Schonfeld’s Head of Campus Recruiting | Schonfelds, February 20, 2026
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.
Read the full article on the Schonfeld website.
