Non-Target Success. Hard Work Does Pay Off
Finally the day I get to post one of these topics, just got an offer for my dream IB job. Here's my story, and some advice to those who want to pull the same move from non-target with no experience to IB FT offer:
Graduated from a non-target this past May with no ibanking internships done in the past. Still had ~3.8 GPA in Finance and Accounting but didn't think I would get an IB FT offer as I came out of the recruting cycle with nothing.
So this past spring break I spent my week emailing a great amount of mid/small IBanks in the boston area (where i'm from/where i went to school). Only received about 10 responses, the majority of which were to say "great resume, but we aren't hiring at the time". Managed to get a few informational interviews out of this process but nothing stuck. The only thing I came out of school with was an offer to work at a bank unpaid for the summer which may or may not turn to full time (was a weak unknown bank, so even if it did lead to full time it would be way less than the experience/offer i was looking for).
So i took this unpaid gig hoping to still actively recruit thorughout the program. Kicked up my networking efforts and managed to get introduced to a bank looking for an analyst. Made sure it wouldn't be my lack of effort to be the reason I wouldn't get the offer so i made sure i had the WSO guides down and read the rosenbaum and pearl ibanking book the weekend before my interview. After about a 5 week interview process i got my dream job offer to work IB with this team and couldn't be happier to start my career in IB and get out of this unpaid gig after 4 weeks
My advice to those who want to pull the same move from non-target with no experience to IB FT offer:
-be persistent, don't give up on your dream if you don't get the IB offer right away and don't get discouraged if you keep losing out to lateral hires like I did.
- be very proactive. you need to show that you really want it and will need to do something to show that because there will be competiion who have the experience. I did an investment banking bootcamp, read the guides, read rosenbaum just to show my desire and work ethic so that somebody would give me a shot.
- really network. use every resource you have and don't be afraid to ask your contacts for help like i did. this industry can be very hard to get into if you want to do it all your own and i learned that the hard way.
- just keep busting your ass and be a nice person. people will want to help others who are nice and they know will work hard for them
Good luck to those still pursuing the dream. It can be done.






great story congrats, thanks
great story congrats, thanks for sharing!
WSO's COO (Chief Operating Orangutan) | My story | Connect with me on Linkedin.
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The picture is fucking
The picture is fucking hilarious
And I agree with AndyLouis,
And I agree with AndyLouis, great job bro
Congrats on the position. I
Congrats on the position. I am currently heading into my sophomore year at a non-target school and am seriously preparing for the long road ahead. Your success is very encouraging!
Jam6: - just keep busting
- just keep busting your ass and be a nice person. people will want to help others who are nice and they know will work hard for them
+1
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Waiting to write one of these
Waiting to write one of these for FT. Soon, I think. Congrats!
"An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Awesome! Congratulations! I'm
Awesome! Congratulations! I'm a similar boat; good GPA/stats out of non-target, but no internships, and my resume is a bit all over the place. Would love to hear more about how you went about networking. Did you just email banks for the 4-week gig? You didn't mention cold-calling.
Thanks! Would love to learn as much from your experience as I can.
Congrats Bro! Your story of
Congrats Bro! Your story of perseverance is an inspiration for a lot in the hunt. I also graduated with 3.8 GPA from a school in Boston, studied FInance and Accouting. I will be starting a FDP in Strategy for a F100 in the fall but I am going to try to make a jump to IB. Same predicament as you, no relevant IB experience in resume when I was interviewing which held me back. I was also curious about how you went about networking? Cold-emailing alumni?
Congrats man!
Congrats man!
Thanks for sharing! Wonderful
Thanks for sharing! Wonderful to read! :)
Inspiring, even for a college freshman like me!
-J. Park.
Congrats. I am very happy for
Congrats. I am very happy for you.
"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."
Good story! Where did you go
Good story! Where did you go to school?
Here to learn and hopefully pass on some knowledge as well. SB if I helped.
Vontropnats: Waiting to write
Waiting to write one of these for FT. Soon, I think. Congrats!
yeah? can't wait, good luck with interviews etc
WSO's COO (Chief Operating Orangutan) | My story | Connect with me on Linkedin.
2013 WSO Conference
Congrats, I hope to write one
Congrats, I hope to write one soon too!
Moneyball
See my other WSO blog posts
YEAH BUDDY
YEAH BUDDY
Get it man! Congrats.
congrats!! keep up the good
wow congrats, success stories
Congrats, glad you made it!
Congrats!
Being from a non- target,
Congrats bro, you earned it.
Congratulations! We're all
"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." - IlliniProgrammer
Congratz, you did it.
Congratulations. Maybe
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever."
BiotechBanker: Congratulation
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever."
Congrats, good luck going
SymphonyBanker: Awesome!
Powa23: wow congrats, success
"The penalty of success is to be bored by the people who used to snub you."
-- Lady Nancy Astor
Congrats! Love these
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OP, you think you can send me
congrats and your luck came