From Corporate Finance to IB
Hi Guys,
So I'm new to WSO, and am still getting familiar with all of the features and content that this site has.
I'm an experienced Corporate Finance professional, with about 5 years of experience (mostly for a large international life insurer, with time there split between a reinsurance role, and a capital management role). I also spent about a year total in contract roles at two large Wall Street institutions, albeit in Ops.
Education-wise, I was a finance major at a large university, and have completed the CFA examination program (currently applying for the Charter).
Corporate finance was never really something I wanted to be in, but refusing job offers when no alternatives are available is....well.....moronic....
As things wound up, I am currently job-hunting full time, and really want to FINALLY break into the IB world.
Any tips or suggestions?
I know WSO has a list of recruiters who specialize in the field, and I will definitely take advantage of it. But, I want to also focus heavily on networking
I think of myself as a fairly experienced networker, and have attended a lot of events organized by the CFA Society of Philadelphia (where I live). I also volunteer for the Society at their seminars (doing a write-up for a newsletter is small price to pay for attending a $30-40 seminar with an awesome speaker).
However, since New York is...well...New York, I would like to know what sort of networking events are there and how do I find out about them....especially of the less formal Happy Hour type.
The website of NYSSA (the New York CFA society) has been.....less than helpful.... :(
Any comments or suggestions will be highly appreciated!
Thanks!






Doing the exact same thing
Doing the exact same thing right now. Although not coming from insurance. The way I see it is you have nothing to loose because you already have a job. Just remember to keep applying. Good luck!
Doing the exact same thing
Doing the exact same thing right now. Although not coming from insurance. The way I see it is you have nothing to loose because you already have a job. Just remember to keep applying. Good luck!
Paul, The problem is that I
Paul,
The problem is that I currently DON'T have a job (henced the full-time hunt). For the immediate short-term, I am open to anything to again start having a paycheck, but I do intend to continue searching for an IB role.
It's a tough time for people
It's a tough time for people in investment banking to get investment banking jobs, so it is particularly challenging for career changers.
Thus, you are right that formal hiring and recruitment channels probably aren't the right way in and that you will have to depend on networking. I suggest reaching out to alumni in the industry and be relatively aggressive about it. Use your alumni directory and LinkedIn to identify contacts and e-mail them for phone chats and informational meetings.
I have no idea whether this sort of move is possible, but if it is, be prepared for a very, very long and trying wait. A year and up. You'll just need to continue networking until you land an interview.