Ares Management Internship (Application Guide)
To pursue an Ares internship, start with the current role posting: it sets the required class year, graduation date, location, work authorization, and deadline. Build relevant skills, tailor your résumé to the team, and prepare clear examples of your analysis and teamwork. Hiring steps vary, and no internship guarantees a full-time offer.
A finance internship search can feel like a race against deadlines and unclear rules. The useful first step is to separate confirmed requirements from online guesses. Ares Management is an employer, not a school: its internship is not a degree program, and it does not set university accreditation, financial-aid, or course-credit rules.
I recommend treating the application as a focused project. Verify one role at a time, connect your experience to that team’s work, and keep a record of each step. This approach helps you spend effort where it can improve your application, rather than on rumors about a universal GPA cutoff or hiring timeline.
Ares Internship Overview: Roles, Eligibility & Application Process
An Ares internship is a temporary role within a specific team and office. The job posting is the authority on who may apply and what the work involves. There is no safe shortcut based on a past listing: requirements, open roles, and hiring dates can change.
Which roles and teams should you consider?
Ares is an investment manager. Internship work may differ by business line, function, and office, so read the duties in each live listing rather than assuming every role is a general finance analyst position. Look for the work you would do, the skills it calls for, and the people or team you would support.
| What to check | How to verify it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Role and team | Read the Ares Careers listing | Job duties and desired skills may differ |
| Class year and graduation date | Check the stated eligibility | A role may be limited to specific students |
| Office and location | Check the job location and any location notes | The role may require work in a named office |
| Work authorization | Follow the listing and application questions | Requirements can be role-specific |
| Deadline and status | Check the live posting | An old listing may be closed or out of date |
| GPA or coursework | Follow the posting or recruiter’s direction | Do not assume a company-wide cutoff |
How do you check eligibility before applying?
Eligibility means the conditions an applicant must meet for that particular job. Compare your class year, expected graduation date, location plans, and work authorization with the posting. If a requirement is unclear, use the contact or instructions provided by Ares. Do not rely on claims from an old job board post.
There is no universal Ares internship GPA threshold to assume. Report your GPA honestly when asked, and follow the live posting or recruiter’s instructions. Coursework in finance, economics, accounting, math, statistics, or related areas may help, but required classes depend on the role.
Recruiting may begin well before a summer start, and a position may close once filled. Apply by the stated deadline; if none appears, confirm that the listing is still active on Ares Careers. Next step: save the live posting or record its link and key requirements before editing your résumé.
Academic Preparation and Skills Relevant to Ares Internships
Preparation means building skills that match the role, then showing proof that you can use them. A relevant major can help, but it is not a substitute for role-specific evidence. Review the posting first, then choose coursework, projects, and campus experiences that support the work described.
Which skills should you build?
For investment-related work, useful preparation may include Excel, accounting concepts, valuation basics, data analysis, and concise business writing. The posting should guide which skills matter most. Some roles may value other strengths, such as research, operations, communication, or technology.
Technical skills are easier to assess when you can show how you used them. For example, describe a class project in which you reviewed company information, checked assumptions, and presented a conclusion. Be precise about your part. Do not call a class exercise professional investment experience.
| Skill area | Practical way to build it | Evidence to describe |
|---|---|---|
| Excel and data handling | Use spreadsheets in coursework or a student project | What you organized, calculated, or checked |
| Accounting and valuation | Complete relevant classes or a supervised project | The method you used and its limits |
| Research and writing | Prepare a short report on a company or industry | Your sources and main finding |
| Teamwork | Join a group assignment, club, or campus job | Your role and how you helped the team |
| Communication | Present findings to a class or group | The audience and the point you explained |
How can you build a relevant profile while in school?
Choose coursework that develops skills named in the posting, when it fits your degree plan. Then seek projects, clubs, campus jobs, or internships where you can practice those skills. A finance major is not the only possible route; the role’s criteria determine whether your background fits.
Keep a brief record of projects as you complete them. Note the task, your contribution, tools used, and result. Use numbers only when you can verify them, and protect private or restricted information. This record will make it easier to write accurate résumé bullets and answer interview questions.
A small, clear example can be stronger than a broad claim. “Built a spreadsheet to compare three public companies for a class presentation” tells a reader more than “strong analytical skills,” provided it is true and relevant.
Application Strategy, Interview Preparation & Internship Experience
A strong application makes it easy to see why your experience fits a specific opening. Tailor the résumé and any requested materials, submit them through the stated process, and keep track of updates. Interview stages and assessments vary by role, so prepare broadly but follow the employer’s instructions.
How should you prepare and submit an application?
Start with the posting and highlight its duties, skills, eligibility rules, and requested materials. Then adjust your résumé so the most relevant coursework and experience are easy to find. Use plain, accurate language. Never add a skill, result, or responsibility that you cannot explain.
A cover letter is useful when requested or when the application allows one and you have a specific reason to write it. Address the team’s work and your relevant preparation. Avoid generic claims about wanting to work in finance; show that you read the role description.
Application checklist
- Confirm the live listing, office, eligibility rules, and deadline.
- Match your résumé to the role’s stated duties.
- Check dates, contact details, spelling, and file readability.
- Submit every item the application requests.
- Save a copy of the posting and note the submission date.
- Follow up only as directed, or through an appropriate recruiter contact.
Applying early is sensible when a suitable role is open, but do not trade accuracy for speed. A rushed application with errors or unsupported claims can work against you. Keep a simple tracker with the role, location, deadline, date applied, and any response or next step.
What should you expect in interviews?
Interview steps may include conversations, role-related questions, or assessments, but the process is not the same for every opening. Use recruiter instructions as the source of truth. Prepare to discuss your résumé, explain your interest in the specific team, and work through questions in a clear, structured way.
For a technical question, explain your assumptions and approach rather than jumping to an answer. For a behavioral question, describe the situation, your action, and the outcome. Choose examples from classes, clubs, jobs, or internships. Do not imply you made an investment decision if you only studied it in a course.
Application case walkthroughs: how to connect evidence to a role
These are illustrative examples, not reports of actual Ares candidates or hiring outcomes. They show how to use your own experience honestly and adapt it to the posting in front of you.
- A student with a research project: The student checks that the role values research or analysis, then describes the project’s question, sources, and personal contribution. They do not present classroom work as work for an investment firm.
- A student with limited finance coursework: The student reviews the required criteria first. If eligible, they point to relevant quantitative classes, spreadsheet practice, or a team project and state what they still need to learn.
- A candidate uncertain about timing: The candidate checks whether the role remains active on Ares Careers and follows the listed deadline. They do not rely on an old deadline copied by another website.
After applying, keep your notes factual. Record interviews, instructions, and questions you want to revisit. If you receive a rejection, use it as a prompt to review role fit and improve your examples; it does not prove that your degree or career plan is wrong.
Career Pathways and Employment Outcomes After the Internship
An internship can provide experience and help you learn about a team’s work, but it does not promise a full-time job. Outcomes depend on the role, employer needs, performance, and future openings. Treat the experience as one step in a broader plan, not as a guaranteed conversion route.
During an internship, ask your manager what strong work looks like and request feedback at suitable points. Keep a record of projects and outcomes that you are allowed to share. At the end, note which skills you used, what you learned, and what you want to develop next.
That reflection can guide later choices: relevant classes, another internship, or applications to different teams or employers. If the role does not lead to a full-time offer, the work may still help you explain your experience in future applications. Do not assume an offer is automatic, and do not make major education or borrowing decisions on the promise of one.
As a practical measure, track milestones you control: relevant coursework completed, projects finished, applications submitted to eligible roles, and interview practice completed. These measures do not predict hiring results, but they help you spot gaps and take the next useful step.
Bottom line: confirm the current requirements, build evidence for the role, and keep your options open. A clear record of what you learn can help you make a better next move, whether that is another internship, a full-time application, or more skill-building.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover common questions about eligibility, preparation, and hiring. The current Ares Careers posting remains the final source for role-specific requirements. When a detail is missing or unclear, verify it with the employer rather than treating online advice as policy.
Is there a universal GPA cutoff for Ares internships?
Do not assume one. Follow the live job posting or recruiter’s instructions, and report your GPA accurately when requested.
When should I apply?
Apply while the role is open and by its stated deadline. Check Ares Careers because hiring dates and listing status can change.
Are Ares internships only for finance majors?
The posting controls eligibility. Finance-related study can be useful, but coursework and degree requirements vary by role.
Do I need previous investment experience?
Not unless the posting says so. Use truthful examples from coursework, jobs, clubs, or other internships to show relevant skills.
Does every internship require Excel or valuation skills?
No universal skill list applies to all roles. Review the duties and qualifications in the specific posting.
Are interviews and assessments the same for every role?
No. Interview stages and assessments can vary. Follow the instructions provided for your application.
Does an internship guarantee a full-time offer?
No. An internship does not guarantee conversion. Future offers depend on the role and employer needs, among other factors.
Does Ares provide university credit or financial aid for the internship?
Ares is an employer, not a degree-granting school. Ask your university about course credit and financial aid rules.
What if I find an old internship listing?
Check the current Ares Careers page to confirm whether the role is still open and whether its requirements have changed.
What should I do if I am not eligible for a role?
Do not misstate your qualifications. Look for another opening whose posted criteria fit, and build skills that may support future applications.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, James Holloway. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
