Are you ready to kickstart your career with a prestigious internship at one of the world’s leading financial services corporations? Do you want to know how to secure an internship at American Express and what to expect once you’re in? Look no further! This comprehensive guide will answer all your questions and provide you with everything you need to know about getting an internship at American Express in 2024.
About American Express
The American Express Company, also known as Amex, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered at 200 Vesey Street in Lower Manhattan. Founded in 1850, Amex started as a freight forwarding company and has since grown into the fourth-largest card network globally based on purchase volume, behind China UnionPay, Visa, and Mastercard. With 141.2 million Amex cards in force worldwide and an average annual spend per card member of $24,059, Amex handled over $1.7 trillion in purchase volume on its network in 2023. Amex is one of the largest US banks, ranked 77th on the Fortune 500 and 28th on Forbes’ list of the most valuable brands.
Types of Internships at American Express
American Express offers a variety of internships for students pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degrees in engineering or business administration. Here are some areas where you can apply for an internship at American Express:
- Risk Analysis
- Machine Learning
- Statistical Modeling
- Software Engineering
- Marketing
- Sales
- Human Resources
Eligibility Criteria
Students from various educational backgrounds can apply for internships at American Express. There is no strict CGPA threshold, and the cutoff depends on the number of applications received. In addition to academic qualifications, Amex seeks interns with strong analytical and critical thinking skills, which are crucial for analyzing large amounts of data.
How to Apply for an Internship at American Express
Online Application
You can apply for the WINGS internship program at American Express by visiting the American Express Careers page. Upload your resume and submit an online application. If you can’t find a relevant internship, you can join the online talent community to get updates on opportunities and events.
Campus Recruitment
American Express visits select management and engineering colleges, such as IITs, IIMs, and BITS, to drive recruitment on campus. Keep an eye out for Amex’s recruitment drives at your institution.
Coding Competitions
For technical roles, Amex hosts hackathons on platforms like HackerEarth and HackerRank. Shortlisted applicants from these competitions will be interviewed for internship positions.
What Happens After You Apply?
If your online application is selected, you will be contacted to complete an online test or participate in a group discussion. The exam will have three multiple-choice questions (MCQs) or coding questions. The selection process usually involves the following steps:
- Resume Screening
- Online Qualification Test
- Two Technical Interviews
- Human Resources Interview
- Aptitude Test
- The aptitude test consists of MCQs aimed at assessing mathematical aptitude, data interpretation, and logical reasoning. Practicing CAT tests can help prepare for this round.
Interviews
The interview questions will relate to your skills and the profile you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a data analyst profile, you might be asked about SQL, Python, Java, and C++. Here are some example questions:
- What are inheritance and encapsulation in real life?
- Using a diagram, explain natural joins, cross joins, right outer joins, and left outer joins.
- What is function overloading and operator overloading?
- Explain the k-nearest neighbor algorithm.
- Write a program to find the longest sequence in an array.
- How do credit cards work?
- What to Expect During Your Internship
Internships at American Express are project-based, offering interns exposure to real-life professional challenges. You’ll work on various projects, collaborating with different teams. The open office environment allows for free discussion of ideas and problems with other employees and senior leaders.
Work-Life Balance
American Express is known for its excellent work-life balance and flexibility regarding working hours and locations. You can work from home and participate in social events like office parties, team outings, and games.
Onboarding and Mentorship
Your internship will begin with an orientation, including breakfast and an introduction to various teams and their work. You’ll be assigned a mentor who will guide you throughout your internship, especially on your project.
Final Review and Full-Time Opportunities
At the end of your internship, you’ll submit your project for a final review. Exceptional performance during the internship can lead to a full-time job offer from American Express.
Tips from Former Interns
Participate in Pre-Hiring Discussions: Join pre-hiring discussions if you apply through campus hiring campaigns. These sessions provide valuable insights into Amex’s work culture and can be helpful in your interview.
Research Amex and Its Technologies: Be familiar with American Express and the technologies they use. Amex looks for creative students who can drive change with their ideas.
Practice Coding Challenges: Prepare for coding questions and competitions by practicing sample challenges on platforms like Hacker Earth and Hacker Rank.
FAQs
What is the compensation for American Express internships?
Compensation ranges from INR 35,000 to INR 60,000 per month, depending on the role and location.
What skills are required for an internship at American Express?
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills are essential, along with proficiency in relevant technical skills such as programming languages and data analysis tools.
How long does the internship process take?
The internship process duration can vary, but it typically involves several weeks from application submission to final interviews.
Can international students apply for internships at American Express?
Yes, international students can apply, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and have the necessary work authorization.
What is the work environment like at American Express?
The work environment at Amex is collaborative, with a focus on professional development and work-life balance. Interns have the flexibility to work from home and participate in various social events.
Closing Note
We hope this guide has answered all your questions about securing an internship at American Express in 2024. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to kickstart your career with one of the world’s leading financial services corporations. For more updates and information on internships, jobs, and courses, join Course Bhai through social media, push notifications, and our newsletter. Stay informed and stay ahead with CourseBhai.
