Switch from Sales and Trading to I-Banking
So here's my story, I'll try and keep it short, let me know if it's worth trying I-Banking or just staying in Trading.
I went to Cornell University, graduated in 2004. GPA : 3.8 , and was a Division 1 Athlete in college (not that people actually care about this). Also, I went to prep school @ Deerfield Academy, maybe that will help too.
I have been working in base metals commodities trading for 2 yrs now @ Man Financial Inc. First as basically as a paper slave doing boring middle office work , this last year I have done a bit of trading,sales, and market research writing. I am looking to get a job as a first year analyst in I-Banking. Do I have a good chance to start from the bottom as an analyst or is it too hard since i did not take it out of college? Also, if I can do this, what are some things I should do to get started?
All input welcome, feel free to be as honest as possible here.
Thanks.





curious as to why you want
curious as to why you want to switch
Can you just go back to
Can you just go back to school for your MBA and then just start as an associate?
I could do that, I am not
I could do that, I am not sure if I am ready to go back quite yet, I would rather get some more work experience so I can have a better idea of what i want to ge out of my MBA
Go to b-school!
A much better route. You will come in as an associate. Plus you will have to do an MBA anyway even if you become a first year analyst (which is a really long shot).
BTW why i-banking and not an attempted 3rd yr analyst/associate role at a good s&t desk in a good firm? If you think you will suddenly become a star negotiating with CEO's as an analysts then wake up. You will still be a slave. So why make that move?
Some reasons: 1. My current
Some reasons:
1. My current firm is small and has limited resources for oth its client base and its employees.
2. There is no training program and I never had any formal training I had to learn on the go and I think it hurt my general view of markets etc.
3. I am the youngest person in the room by 18 yrs, enough said about that ( i am 24)
4. I think i perform better when I am working hard for a long time with a deadline ahead of me. In sales and trading you have a short day but it is often crazy and hectic, it can feel like you do not get a lot acomplished, not very rewaring at times.
5. No mentoring program whatsoever, esp at my age it is important to have someone above you who can help out a little ( i don;t mean hold you hand, just an extended work relationship etc)
If you have opinions on whether I can switch let me know.
yeah i hear you on that
yeah i hear you on that front, but i am not experienced enough to get a 3rd year job. I mean i know everything about the damn metals markets because i live and breathe them but there are like 2 metals jobs out there.