The first half of 2013 saw many achievements for Sam Gray of Boulder, Colorado. Not only did he complete his undergraduate education at the University of Colorado, Boulder, he also finished up his third internship with an investment management firm. While Sam Gray of Boulder, Colorado’s previous internships took him to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and San Mateo California offices of the firm, this third assignment involved working with a long tenured and well respected Value Equity team in Ft. Lee, New Jersey.

It takes a great deal of dedication and a strong work ethic to succeed in the financial fields, and Sam Gray of Boulder, Colorado’s demonstrated history of experience with a multitude of investment firms speaks not only to his personal character, but to the stringent expectations laid on today’s recent graduates.

“I knew that if I didn’t already have a good deal of work experience coming out of college, finding a job would be twice as difficult,” Sam Gray of Boulder, Colorado is quoted as saying. He went on to comment, “I’m very thankful to have had so many good opportunities already – I feel like it’s put me miles ahead of my competition.”

Indeed, statistics show that those college graduates who have already invested time in gaining work experience and building a professional network are much better prepared to enter the workforce than those who choose to focus purely on their academic studies. Sam Gray of Boulder, Colorado commented that his experience interning for a Value Equity team gave him some much valued insight into what investment companies and other financial firms are looking for in their new hires.

“Not only do I now have a really good idea of what skills and characteristics I need to highlight in my interviews,” Sam Gray of Boulder, Colorado says, “But I also have first hand experience of what kind of working environment I can expect to enter.”

While Sam Gray of Boulder, Colorado is choosing to pursue volunteer work with the Peace Corps before heading back into the professional finance world, he is still proud of having finished his third internship. With this experience at his back, he feels competitive enough to successfully embark on his career path.