Analyst at 27 - Possible???

Look at smaller boutiques. A lot of them take non traditional candidates

Not a big deal at all. You also don't need to look solely at small boutiques either. As has been mentioned, if you are leaving college people will assume you're a certain age +/- a few years. A friend started as an analyst at 28 and no one thought twice.

broke into a BB in london at age 28. i had significant work experience in banking through internships + apprenticeship (> 3 years). all the other guys in the ac had at least 1 summer internship (sometimes different division) at a BB.

ultimately it depends on your profile - i would guess that for the big names you could face difficulties due to the lack of any experience.

just my opinion!

There are a couple guys at my MM that started late at like 26/27 too. Definitely possible but pretty sure all had some relevant work experience before.

Why do you want to get into banking at that age? Most people get out and do something else at that point.

thank you all very much for your replies! It seems like the news is good.

I graduated in 2015 and will be applying for a MSc in finance in the UK (probably London) in a few months.I will attend (if I get accepted) next September and when i graduate (september 2017) I will be 27.I was late finishing my undergrad because I had some health problems and had to be hospitalized twice plus I have to do mandatory military service.This is why I don't have work experience.

Aren't there chances to land internships during the summer of a MSc program (assuming good scool,companies recruiting there etc)?

Btw i wouldn't mind a boutique at all...

I suppose that my main question which regarded age itself has been answered though so thank you very much!!

Going from MSc/MSF/MFE -> analyst is the expected path.

I did it at 28. It is possible, but the hours are much harder than they would have been if I was younger.

No need to limit yourself to MM or boutique. All you need is to have some kind of quasi-relevant experience and a good story to back up why IB and why at this point in your life/career. Also, consider the fact that if you do break in, you will be sitting with the early 20-something analysts. I had a friend spend 6 yrs in the marines before breaking into IB. The only complaint he had was the immature attitudes and complete ignorance of the other analysts. Depending on how the bull pen is set up, you will be sitting with these guys for the majority of your time.

Your age is not an issue at all, however no work experience is a big problem (and it also would be if you were 5 years younger). Try as hard as you can to get an internship in the summer. Many of the tier-1 and tier-2 consultancies don't even invite you to the interviews if you don't have at least 1 or 2 relevant internships.

I'm with you man. I graduate with a Masters of Accountancy this December. I'll be 27 about a week after I graduate. No internship or banking experience.. I can't quit my job and do a summer stint because then there's the possibility of not having a job and only intern experience. I'm trying pretty hard to get an investment banking analyst position but I haven't even been given an interview yet. I'm going to keep trying and hopefully get something.

I'm 30 trying to break in.

That part about associates has me concerned. My plan was to hopefully be an analyst for 2 years or so, get my MBA, and then transition to an associate in my late 30's. Is age going to be an issue even then?

If so, well how can this career path even work? There's no way you're SOL if you don't have an MBA by 30!

Yes it's possible out of an MSc. I was in that age range and had offers for tier 1 consultancies and IBD, in London. A lot of friends from Germany, Italy, France where about that range actually. No problem at all.

/thread, really

Possible yes, the question you need to ask yourself is can you physically handle it. There is a reason that banks hire young analysts. It's not just because they are just out of school.

In London at least age isnt really that big of a deal, tons of french kids that do a lot of schooling come in their mid 20's.

However, how did you get to 27 without work experience? Thats a big red flag

Being an associate at 30-35 is pretty common- given you have an MBA

Age of analysts is largely self selection. You can do analyst hours at 27 but why would you want to.

Definitely know of analysts who started at 26 in Europe, but zero work experience? Like not even internships?

Lots of people start off in the military before working in finance

Thank you all again for your inputs.What is definite is that once (and if) I get accepted to a good Msc I will need to work towards getting a summer internship.

Does anyone know when this process starts for a one year MSc Finance?

I searched a bit online and found this http://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/150626/bank-by-bank-graduate-an… .So,if a deadline is e.g. in November and I apply then,does this mean I will be working (if i get the internship of course) the next summer(after 7-8 months)?

chicandtoughness---- well,I do want a full time job but i keep hearing that a previous internship is very helpfull.So i am aiming at an internship while i will be doing the MSc and after I have completed the MSc I will be aiming at a full time job.

ifinno---- I will clarify/summarise some things.Yes,I just completed my bachelors.I have the degree in my hands.Within the next 2-3 months I will apply for a MSc in Finance.Until next year,when the program starts,I will complete my military service.

So,I will be in the UK studying from september 2016 until september 2017.And the question is when should i start trying to get an internship while in the UK? (assuming of course that a summer internship has to be during the months June 2017-August 2017)

From what you already said,I am guessing that if I want an internship during the aforementioned summer months I should be trying to get one as soon as I get to London/UK.....