A message for all the 3.0 GPA, non-targets trying to get into IB
If you were only to read this blog, you'd think the non-targets, low GPA applicants could never break into IB, much less obtain gainful employment at all. Well I'm here to tell not every kid in high finance is a 4.0 Ivy leaguer. I graduated from a top 20 but non-target school with a 3.0 GPA. I didn't have a 3.0 cuz I was stupid, it's cuz I spent all nights at the bar. Not proud of that now, but it's the truth.
Spent 2 years at a commercial bank and now moved into an analyst role at a MM i-bank (Blair, Baird, etc.) I had no connections, but was lucky enough to have my resume picked off the pile, interviewed well, and communicated that I had the passion and aptitude for the job. Sure I'm 2 years older than the average analyst, but it won't matter in the long run.
My point is, if I had only listened to those around me and on this blog, I would have never bothered applying. But don't close the door on yourself. It CAN happen. Good luck!!





congratz
congratz
True words man true words
True words man true words
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
Agreed. It's possible, you
Agreed. It's possible, you just have to want it (and actually be just as good as those 4.0 Harvard kids).
- Capt K -
"Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
Without stealing your thunder
Without stealing your thunder I would say you did what I advise a lot of kids to do and what I think is the smartest. You took a job closely related to IBD, worked hard, excelled and made a logical transition. Too many kids get into this all or nothing mindset when they could easily network their way into a credit analyst role and use that to go into DCM or a MM IBD in a couple years. Lets face it, both jobs entail spreading companies, fleshing out ratios, monitoring credits/portfolios.
Bravo man, good for you!
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^^Not to toot my own horn but
^^Not to toot my own horn but uhh toot toot...just kidding man. Silver Banana cause its tuesday
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
I second him as well. Seen it
I second him as well. Seen it happen among my peers. The key is to not waste time (network, work hard in current job, get informed, add to your CV), and not give up. Just perform today, and doors will open for you one day or another!
Congrats!
Yeah, I stole some thunder,
Yeah, I stole some thunder, my bad.
I have just been reading a lot of threads and hearing about people networking like crazy and having offers rescinded or it just not happening. The lesson is that a lot of luck plays into things. You can't look at banking as all or nothing. You need to be trying for the low hanging fruit. Once you get real work experience just start networking again.
When I was with HSBC I really wanted to work in their Private Bank. I would meet up with Private Bankers all the time, cold call HR, whatever. Everyone was really cool and friendly. Once you are inside it is easy to network.
Anyway, great post, particularly right now with recruiting season happening and a lot of people despondent.
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UVA OR GEORGETOWN?
UVA OR GEORGETOWN?
Luck favors the efficient -
Luck favors the efficient - Yiddish Proverb
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
Anthony . wrote: Without
Without stealing your thunder I would say you did what I advise a lot of kids to do and what I think is the smartest. You took a job closely related to IBD, worked hard, excelled and made a logical transition. Too many kids get into this all or nothing mindset when they could easily network their way into a credit analyst role and use that to go into DCM or a MM IBD in a couple years. Lets face it, both jobs entail spreading companies, fleshing out ratios, monitoring credits/portfolios.
Bravo man, good for you!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think a major caveat would be that geography counts. It seems to me that networking into IB from a smaller city, from a nontarget with little/no alumni base, and after you're no longer a student, is tough. I would think taking a job in NYC or wherever would help if you're going to try and network into the biz from another job, but I've not done it so take that for what it's worth.
Well yes and no. Every city
Well yes and no.
Every city has MM firms and traditional credit analyst positions. You just need to get one and reach out to the other. If anything NYC will be much more competitive. My experience is that if you go after the firms that are not big names the chances of breaking in are pretty high. Especially if you are aggressive. Plus, having WE really makes you stand out. Obviously you cannot have 5 years an expect to come in as an analyst, but 1 or 2 years is enough to make the case. If anything you will be able to maybe skip a year in the normal 3 year path.
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we should start a group for
we should start a group for us who maybe messed up or didnt come from exeter harvard backgrounds but still end up ballin' ;]
I need a crib, a big estate, I need a boat and that need a lake, I need some salmon that need a plate, that need a chef so I feed my safe
From trading equities to slanging wine in Latin America
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship i
I just want to hand out
I just want to hand out "swagger" pins as you get your new jobs
WSO Conf - June 29, 2013
True that once you hit the
True that once you hit the workforce, your hard work at school goes out the window. Starting from scratch again.
Congrats. Good post aswell!
Congrats.
Good post aswell!
Thanks guys. While my intent
onemanwolfpack wrote: If you
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan
Someone I went to HS with
Huge congrats man, great
Good thread. 2.52 GPA from
eb3604 wrote: ...He said that
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so."
- Ronald Reagan
love going to the bar every
Yeah, you might be able to
Thanks for giving us tiny
Diamonds, that kind of
crappy school Crappy gpa
"Oh the ladies ever tell you that you look like a fucking optical illusion" - Frank Slaughtery 25th Hour.
I always find the kids who
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Diamonds wrote: Yeah, you
You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
Thanks for the hope. I've
Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis - when I was dead broke man I couldn't picture this
idragmazda wrote: Thanks for
Virginia Tech 4ever
Agreed. It is absolutely
Step 1: Dream the Dream || Step 2: Live the Dream || Step 3: Rinse, repeat.
Nothings impossible
With hard work, you can get
Congrats.