WSO Success Stories

Topic	Replies	Created	Last reply
Please read in the <a href="http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/wso-user-guidelines">WSO User Guidelines</a> in detail before posting to... WSO User Guidelines	0	45 weeks 2 days ago by WallStreetOasis.com	n/a
Since we've had so many of these lately, I thought we would start a forum dedicated to the success stories of WSO members to serve as a place where people can go to get inspired. What I actually did was get rid of the Entrepreneurial Forum since it had the least # of posts and technically... New Forum: WSO Success Stories	5	2 years 28 weeks ago by WallStreetOasis.com	2 years 11 weeks ago by OZNtrader
I recently received an message to a comment I made how I was able to break into IB as intern and would like to provide a nice update to where I am in my career. Original Story from April... My Story (A Thank You Card to Patrick and the Team)	12	6 hours 41 min ago by JBanksohn	8 min 19 sec ago by computerized
Afternoon monkeys, I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank everyone on this sight who has given me good, and sometimes harsh advice. I just graduated from a very small private school with a 3.5 GPA, decent internship experiences and hardly any connections. I've had quite a few... Well deserved thank you to WSO!	21	1 day 7 hours ago by streetwannabe	10 hours 20 min ago by treehugger350
<em>Mod note (Andy): this was originally posted on 8/15/12</em> Hello fellow monkeys, I wanted to take some time to write this because I definitely owe it to this community. Last week, I was given a verbal offer to work in Equity Research full-time, at a well-known bank, covering... Unbelievable! Detailed WSO Success Story: How I Broke into Equity Research	106	27 weeks 6 days ago by erwannabe	4 days 6 hours ago by Yogendra
While dabbling around the "How many people on WSO actually Make It" post: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/how-many-people-on-wso-actually-make-it I started thinking, in my mere 22 weeks of lurking and posting here I gained at least 9 solid and VALUABLE connections along with 2... How Has WSO Affected Your Life?	35	1 week 2 days ago by Lambie	6 days 8 hours ago by Bearcat
Adam Grant, who is the youngest tenured professor and single highest-rated teacher at The Wharton School, has an unconventional philosophy on what makes people successful. He says that the most successful people are givers, not "matchers" or "takers." I look at my own network... Wharton's most popular and youngest-tenured professor says the most successful people are Givers	14	1 week 3 days ago by Valuestrat920	1 week 2 days ago by ogofnyc
Here's an update to this thread: <a href="http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/when-to-give-up">"When to Give Up"</a> [quote=kraziazi] Good luck; you should give us an update in a month or two with what you decided to do.</p>[/quote] I got... Update re: When to Give Up	35	2 weeks 2 hours ago by togepi	1 week 4 days ago by Mulah
There are a couple different paths that you can take as with finance major: <ol> <li>Commercial Banking </li> <li>Corporate Finance</li> <li>Financial Planning </li> <li>Hedge Funds </li> <li>Insurance </li> ... What investment banking is in simple words and my story	77	6 weeks 2 days ago by Group Therapy	2 weeks 2 days ago by TOB2020
This is an absolute must read if you're from a non-target! I will try to detail out as much of my journey as I can. This post is kind of long overdue; however, I feel like it's better late than never. (Even if it's really poorly... Non-Target, Sub 3.5 GPA. FT BB IBD	15	1 year 21 weeks ago by GoW	2 weeks 2 days ago by Ambani
Got a SA offer. Here's the background... I go to a complete non-target Canadian university. Have a poor GPA (sub 3.0) due to personal/family things. I had some work experience with Canadian banks from summer jobs and whatnot, but nothing very relevant. I first realized that banking is... Another non-target (long) success story	18	1 year 16 weeks ago by thatsWACC	2 weeks 2 days ago by BrickSquadMonopoly
All, I've been reading WSO for quite a long time, but this is my first and perhaps my last serious post about myself. A bit about my background: I am a junior studying finance at a 200% Non-Target university (yes, there are baby sitting positions on my school's career site,... Non-Target, Cold e-mailing to Multiple BB / MM SA Offers -- Yes it can be Done!	41	1 year 14 weeks ago by Whiskey5	2 weeks 4 days ago by BigTalkinWalker
Hello all... I never made an account, but I've read a lot of these forum posts, and they too have made me a more motivated person. Hearing the success stories are great. I, too, have a success story, albeit it'll be different like all the other stories, but we all the same ending; we... I made it.. You can make it too!	10	2 weeks 5 days ago by imaboutmymoney	2 weeks 4 days ago by seabird
***FIRST: This is long so I'll put the cart before the horse real quick: THANK YOU WSO. To everyone who's posted insider knowledge, "day in the life" shit, interview guides, models, any feedback in general--you have provided knowledge that tuition can't pay for. I... From "Poor Me" to BB	25	4 weeks 16 hours ago by clomeo4655	3 weeks 23 hours ago by Sephyre
I joined the Big Four out of college. I wound up in the CRE valuation/advisory group. Finding a job had been difficult for me. I knew that I wanted to be in finance, but I was a dumb college kid and had no focus. I figured this job could be a springboard.... Broke in from the Big Four	28	40 weeks 6 days ago by tyrone slothrop	3 weeks 2 days ago by jamil.ak52
Hey guys, So I'm finally twenty, and I feel like I've come a long way since slipping out of the birth canal and whatnot. Over time, I've learned several crucial things about humanity that... well, that I hope to impart to my son, someday. I think that I've managed to... Life Lessons	39	4 weeks 3 days ago by Mitt Romney	3 weeks 3 days ago by Beny23
I have learned so much from WSO, so I just wanted to pop in give my success story, to hopefully encourage some fellow students to keep on trucking and develop good habits. <em><strong>TL;DR:</strong> I fostered a networking relationship outside the bounds of "what can... It's all about the follow up!	18	13 weeks 1 day ago by ans2389	3 weeks 6 days ago by Alamanach
About to graduate from top tier school. Got a gig in credit risk at BB, plan on doing it for 2 years. After that I'm thinking about the USMC for 4 years. Then, a top 5 b-school. What do you guys think about USMC? Or, instead, should I just stick to business like consulting after BB... United States Marine Corps.	5	10 weeks 1 day ago by OutsideMan	4 weeks 1 day ago by holla_back
Hey, I go to a non target, pretty crappy state school, IMO. I have been networking like crazy for the past year and I have finally landed the job. After hundreds of phone calls and emails, it finally happened. I emailed the founder of the company. He's a pretty well known guy in the industry... My decent "ballsy" email that landed me a job	21	5 weeks 13 hours ago by ngh09c	4 weeks 1 day ago by D M
... Forego Security Deposit at Tuck for Wharton?	7	7 weeks 4 days ago by johnkassebaum	5 weeks 1 day ago by ngh09c
Hey all (apologize for long post but its been a long journey)- I've been waiting over a year and a half now to post this, and glad I can now. This thread is here to share my journey w/others, free to answer questions if you have and just showing those junior monkeys that dont get BB or MM... FINALLY! GOT IT- TOP MM FT OFFER- THANK YOU WSO	16	22 weeks 6 days ago by AnalystMonkey2769	5 weeks 3 days ago by TheTwoHacker
After a couple years reading the site, I managed to land a summer internship at a BB, and received an offer to come back full-time. Coming from a non-target, the information I got here was invaluable and helped me stay motivated despite the seemingly endless superdays and rejection phone calls.... Got an FT offer, thank you WSO	22	1 year 34 weeks ago by ihatetennis12	5 weeks 3 days ago by Xeneizes10
I will prob be banned soon bc I got my final warning it was nice knowing you all... Wallstreetoasis is about to ban me :(	20	6 weeks 3 days ago by blastoise	6 weeks 3 days ago by Amphipathic
Just wanted to say a general thank-you to everyone who contributes to this site. I've learned a lot and continue to learn more through further research. I landed an Ops internship this summer with a BB firm. I know it's not as sexy as FO positions but it's a start. Being a junior... Thanks guys	13	6 weeks 6 days ago by alargefox	6 weeks 4 days ago by alargefox
<em>Mod Note: bumping this thread from November 2006 up top to the forums for new members who haven't seen it. Great story from one of our top members. </em> So I'm new here and spent a good deal of time reading all of the posts from the past few weeks. I thought I would... How I got into Banking	98	6 years 25 weeks ago by CompBanker	7 weeks 2 days ago by CompBanker

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My original plan was to write a series about starting my eccomerce business; going through the process of finding a market, a product and funding. I still plan to do this, but I would like to talk about something that is far more pressing to me: IP...
Entrepreneurship and patent lawsuits
So I am second year student and today I had presentation of my financial analysis ( on one holding company) and I worked really, really hard on it. After I finished, the professor said it was one of the best analysis he ever seen and gave me his business card and asked me to work in one of his...
Hard work - worth it !!
Starting my MBA at Purdue in the fall (I know not an elite program but I got almost a full ride and they seem to place the best of the non-elite Midwest schools). I am looking to get into oil and gas post MBA (focusing in corp finance). I am currently 33, my original undergrad is in criminal...
looking to break into oil & gas post mba
Hi everyone, I have an upcoming first round phone interview with Susquehanna International Group for an entry level equity research position and I was hoping for some idea of what to expect. I have used the search function, and no one seemed to answer the question of the interview process...
SIG Equity research interview
Hi...
Investment banking in London / Europe is a complete waste of time
1) <strong>Bloomberg Best (and Worst)</strong> (<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/visual-data/best-and-worst/s">Bloomberg</a>) - Awesome new research tool from Bloomberg. This is seriously cool and very comprehensive. Going to help a lot of us find a jumping off...
Bonus Bananas May 24, 2013
looking on linkedin it appears that many HInes analysts end up going to b-school and then back to hines. I was curious to know if they pay for it? ...
does Hines pay/sponsor your MBA??
I was curious to know about Lazard's private funds group....is this the equivalent to a sponsors group at a BB? Are the hours & intensity equivalent as well? or do the projects have a more long term focus since they are raising funds which can take considerable amounts of...
lazard private funds group? - good training? exit opps?
Hi WSO, long time lurker here, lots of useful advice on the boards and I finally made an account. I am attempting to make the transition to Asset management and have a first round interview with JPM to join as an analyst. I am coming from an unusual background (non-target, big 4 tax experience)...
JPM AM experienced hire process? - London
I work as a currency volatility trader and manage one of the bigger G10 blocs in London. I've been lucky enough to get responsibility early in my career. I started off managing a single currency book a few months into the job, and have steadily been granted more responsibility to where I am...
Ask Me Anything: I'm a Currency Volatility Trader
I have searched but could not find the exact difference between a prop Trader and a Portfolio manager.Could somebody please tell me?...
Portfolio manager and prop trader
I recently received an message to a comment I made how I was able to break into IB as intern and would like to provide a nice update to where I am in my career. Original Story from April...
My Story (A Thank You Card to Patrick and the Team)
Hey folks, just wondering what the general notion is about doing a summer internship in Africa. Have some family connections and was offered a SA position at a large African Bank while I visit family this summer. I feel like working here will put a different perspective of experience in my resume...
Summer Internship at top African Bank? Worth It?
My younger brother got into both of these as an international student. Just wondering what the views were on here on these two schools specifically on recruiting. He wants to be open to both IBD and S&T (Sales). The coursework for IE Spain seems more quantitative than Rochester, with the...
IE Spain vs Univ of Rochester Masters Finance

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I was writing an email to a fellow monkey who is about to start as a banking analyst in the summer. It's been a little over 5 yrs now since I was a wee young first-year analyst in restructuring for one of the Moelis/Houlihan/Evercore type firms (I call them the firms where most people will... 15 things I wish I knew as a first year banking analyst
This is the reaction any analyst who has ever worked in banking has when you say you want to leave banking for business school then come back as a post b school associate... <img src="http://epicpinterestfail.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/how-i-met-your-mother-barney-why.gif"... Why You DON'T Leave Banking for B School Just to Come Right Back...
I get a ton of emails and answer a ton of posts asking similar questions so I thought I would answer the most common ones I get here and allow others to post their questions so everyone can see them and the subsequent answers. Hope this helps. <strong>Summer Analyst... MSF Question and Answer
I work as a currency volatility trader and manage one of the bigger G10 blocs in London. I've been lucky enough to get responsibility early in my career. I started off managing a single currency book a few months into the job, and have steadily been granted more responsibility to where I am... Ask Me Anything: I'm a Currency Volatility Trader
Inspired by comments from this: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/basic-guide-ramping-up-on-a-company-with-public-information-part-1-of-3 Lets just jump in. <strong>Technology:</strong> In this space there are really two metrics that matter the most, sales growth and EPS... Beginners Guide to Valuation and Metrics By Sector
I'm currently a Private Equity Analyst in Shanghai, China. Academically, I graduated from a target school majoring in Economics and Chinese. I also spent my time at college as the president of an on-campus student organization related to Finance and Economics and a volunteer for a local... Ask me anything… I'm a Private Equity Analyst in Shanghai
For better or for worse, there’s a very unique feeling when everything goes completely according to plan yet nobody seems to care or notice. Such is the case with our favorite company of the moment, Tesla Motors. For those unaware, TSLA has rocketed upwards since its Q1 earnings release,... A Perfect Storm
I work as a long/short equity analyst at a large hedge fund. I've been lucky enough to be more than just a model monkey early on in my career, but have also been exposed to the stress of being measured on returns. I primarily cover consumer and TMT names. I went the typical path (target... I'm a Hedge Fund Analyst - Ask Me Anything
Fellow Primates, We are looking for 1-2 students on each campus to help WSO in its sales efforts to student clubs/career centers, and overall promotion at your school both online and on the ground. Below is a description of the position and benefits...thanks in advance for your help! <a... WSO is Looking for Campus Reps For Summer/Fall 2013 (and beyond)
<em>Mod note: Best of Bankerella - this was originally posted 10/1/12</em> I occasionally get PMed by people at colleges I’ve never heard of before, asking if they have a shot at IBD. Folks, why IBD? The finance world is broad and varied, and there are a million ways to... My Biggest Career Mistake to Date: Prestige

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