The Capital Group Companies

The Associates Program (TAP) is a two-year global rotational program that provides you with experience in a variety of business areas through a series of four-month assignments, including an optional nonprofit assignment. During this time, you’ll be expected to make valuable business contributions to our organization. In the process, you’ll have exposure to a range of business issues that will enhance your skills in many areas.

In addition, TAP increases your understanding of investment management through in-house courses in accounting, finance and capital markets taught by university professors. It enhances your professional skills through training in meeting facilitation, communication and technology, among other areas.

You’ll learn a great deal in a short period of time and gain a better understanding of your own strengths, weaknesses and preferences. This enhances your ability to make a good long-term career decision.

Is TAP right for you?

We seek people from a multitude of backgrounds with different talents and outlooks. A background in finance is not required. TAP associates include graduates from a variety of disciplines with outstanding records at select colleges and universities worldwide. Recent TAP associates hold degrees in areas ranging from math and engineering to psychology and medieval history.

What happens after TAP?

We work with our successful TAP graduates to select the best long-term professional opportunity for you from a range of full-time opportunities in our offices around the world. TAP graduates currently work in areas such as Business Development, Client Relationship Management, Compliance and Regulation, Human Resources and Investment Research. TAP graduates are well represented at senior levels in our organization, and many serve on several of our governance committees.

Locations

• First-year assignments are in our Southern California offices.
• Second-year assignments may be in any of our offices around the world.

How TAP works

TAP is not a dress rehearsal. You’re a full-fledged member of the team right from the start. During each four-month assignment, your job is to discover how to make a meaningful contribution to the business.

Your assignments may be in any department within the Capital Group, such as Business Development, Client Relationship Management, Investment Research and IT. TAP associates have been involved with the launch of mutual funds, conducted investment research, restructured disaster recovery plans and analyzed various technologies. Rotations are unique to each TAP associate and are based on business need. So, you shouldn’t expect to follow the same set of assignments as any other associate.

At the end of an assignment, you may have the opportunity to present the results of your work to a group of colleagues with a vested interest in the project.

Your support network

There are three key areas of support available to TAP associates:

• Dedicated program managers develop targeted rotations for each TAP associate to broaden your skills and experience throughout the two-year program. Associates from departments across the organization provide logistical support for TAP associates as you transition among departments and geographic locations.
• Your class of TAP associates will form a special bond as you go through rotations and coursework together. This network will be extremely important at the outset of the program as you each learn about the Capital Group. As you grow and develop relationships across the organization, your TAP class will always play a significant role in your experience here.
• Former TAP associates and other senior business leaders will offer support and mentoring as you progress through the program. That will continue once you graduate from TAP if you choose to accept a permanent role within the organization.

Nonprofit rotation

TAP associates often take on an additional, optional rotation, working at a nonprofit organization in their country of origin. This allows you to continue developing your business skills in a different work environment. It also enables you to use the skills you’ve developed through TAP to address critical issues for an organization that supports a cause about which you are passionate. Associates have completed nonprofit rotations at organizations ranging from a homeless youth shelter to a microfinance organization.

The Capital Group culture supports a balance of work, life and community involvement for all associates. Involvement in community and nonprofit endeavors is encouraged not only during this special assignment, but throughout your career.

Internship

We offer a 10- to 12-week summer intern program that is similar to a single TAP assignment. The intern program is designed to develop your skills and learn about opportunities in investment management. You’ll also have a chance to get to know the Capital Group and determine if TAP is the right choice for you.

• This is a full-time, paid position for students between their junior and senior year of college.
• We aim to provide the tools and resources you’ll need to be successful in this internship. This includes an orientation to our business and organization, technical instruction in our systems, and business skills training.
• An assignment manager will oversee the work you do on your project. You’ll also work with an intern coordinator and will have a mentor assigned as your guide to the Capital Group.
• You’ll receive a midpoint and a final review of your performance, along with ongoing feedback from the intern coordinator and your assignment manager.

Logistics

Internships are available in our Los Angeles office. They generally last 10 to 12 weeks. If you don’t currently reside in Southern California, we’ll arrange for your travel to and from your home location at the beginning and end of the internship, and provide financial assistance for accommodations while you’re in the program.

What happens after the internship?

Some TAP interns join the organization as full-time TAP associates after graduation. Offers for full-time placement are generally made within a month of completion of the internship and are based on assignment manager and mentor feedback, and a series of interviews completed during the course of the summer. We also expect you to evaluate us as an organization, and we encourage an ongoing two-way dialogue throughout the summer intern program.

Frequently asked questions

General

Who is an ideal candidate?

There is no “ideal” TAP candidate, although common characteristics of successful TAP participants include:

• Very strong analytical, problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated leadership potential, initiative and flexibility
• Outstanding academic record and extracurricular involvement

A quantitative or finance background is not a prerequisite for consideration. We accept candidates who hold undergraduate and graduate degrees. The program is not open to those who have an MBA.

How is TAP different from other rotational programs?

TAP differentiates itself by seeking exceptional individuals from a variety of backgrounds and provides a unique opportunity to learn about the business of investment management through customized assignments.

Another key differentiator is the mentoring and coaching provided throughout the program. In TAP, you work as a member of a team during some rotations and more independently during others. In all cases, the program manager, your rotation managers, and former and current TAP participants are available as resources.

Can I really learn and contribute in only four months?

Yes. TAP associates make meaningful contributions to the organization as a result of the work done during their assignments. Each TAP rotation is set up to address a current business need and is a priority for the organization. Responsibilities and expectations are clearly defined. The work is appropriately challenging and complex, and has goals that are achievable during the alloted timeframe. A core criteria for each rotation is its ability to provide an opportunity for leadership and skill development.

Can I choose my own assignments and locations?

Your assignments aren’t determined at the outset. As you move through the program, we have frequent discussions about your interests and strengths, and the skills you’d like to develop. This allows us to match you with customized assignments that allow you to grow while helping us address our current business needs.

How does the organization view TAP?

TAP has been in place at the Capital Group since 1981. The program's success is very important to the organization. Contributions made by TAP associates are valued because they address real-time business needs. Graduates find that their broad and deep perspective about our organization enables them to continue making significant contributions.

Recruiting process

How many TAP candidates does the Capital Group accept each year?

We typically accept six to eight TAP candidates from around the world each year.

What’s the selection process?

The entire selection process takes roughly two months, during which you may participate in three rounds of interviews at a location near you and at our Los Angeles or New York offices. Throughout the process, you meet with associates with diverse experience levels from various business areas and have the opportunity to ask questions of current and former TAP associates. We understand that this process is important for you, so we encourage you to use this time to learn more about us and have your questions answered.

How will I know if my profile has been received?

Once you’ve successfully completed your profile and uploaded your resumé, you’ll receive an email confirmation.

What happens after I submit my resumé?

Once you submit your resumé online, it’s available for a member of our Recruiting team for review.

Will you contact me after I’ve submitted my resumé?

Once you submit your profile, you’ll receive an email confirmation. If your background and skills are appropriate for TAP, a member of the Recruiting team will contact you directly, either by phone or email.

What does it mean if I don’t hear from the Capital Group?

It may mean that we don’t perceive a match at this time, but we’ll keep your resumé on file for future opportunities.

Do you sponsor work visas?

We're often able to obtain work permits to address business needs.

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