There have been a few threads, but not too much information on how exit opportunities look after consulting at firms other than MBB, e.g., OW, Booz, ATK, LEK, Deloitte, PwC, Accenture, E&Y. The only common theme is "MBA" but is there anything else? Any strong exits into finance (IB/VC), VC, F500 management, start-up, etc?

If one had to choose between one of the higher-end firms in this range and a BB (that isn't GS/MS/JPM), what would likely be the better move for one's long-term career?

There have been a few threads, but not too much information on how exit opportunities look after consulting at firms other than MBB, e.g., OW, Booz, ATK, LEK, Deloitte, PwC, Accenture, E&Y. The only common theme is "MBA" but is there anything else? Any strong exits into finance (IB/VC), VC, F500 management, start-up, etc?

If one had to choose between one of the higher-end firms in this range and a BB (that isn't GS/MS/JPM), what would likely be the better move for one's long-term career?

All you hear on this forum are two things: 1. how miserable working in banking is and 2. how it's necessary for any form of self-respect.

Coming from a target school, there is almost a pressure at times to enter the banking industry due to its pervasion amongst the student body and alumni. I am wondering, is there anybody out there who wasn't necessarily a big finance aficionado who entered investment banking due to these "peer pressures" and ended up happy they did? Did the materialistic factors--pay/exit pops/prestige--make up for the supposed hell? Or did you just learn to enjoy finance while on the job?

Thank you for any insightful answers in advance.

I've been reading the corporate profiles/bios of tops PMs/principals/founders at HFs/asset managers/even a lot of PE shops and it seems like few of them got their starts in investment banking. I feel like WSO creates this impression that IBD is the ultimate way to start your career, especially if you want to move to PE/HF. If that's the case, who has found great success in the financial industry after starting in IBD?

Hey, guys,

I am a Chinese senior student just got an offer from Corporate Sales in the Commerzbank Beijing branch. Our major products are FX spot, FX forward, structured deposit, etc. I am not quite familiar with this field, so can anyone tell me what is the future career development of a sales person? Thx!

Has anyone ever worked for a small consulting firm (Less than 20 people)? After graduation I networked with as many people as I could, but nothing panned out. Got great advice, resume help, and pointed in the right direction in terms of how to work towards breaking in.

Gotta make this quick - at work.

After reading the risible, lambaste worthy & somberful post of "biggest life regrets"

http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/the-single-b...

It's evident for MOST of the posters on this forum (whom I'm guessing are <25, 21?) loathe their college decisions, root cause being their high school decisions thus by transitive property loathe high school decisions.

Seems like many people would like a do-over in life because their models & bottles dreams never materialized (or never will). Honestly, thought the posts were hysterical. It seems like it’s too bad that many of you weren’t conceived in Amy Chua’s womb.

I am a young corporate banker from pakistan, who wants to establish himself in good UK/US/European financial institution peferably in I banking or Treasury jobs. I have done a MBA with 3.9+ CGPA, got 3.5 years in front end jobs of commercial as well as corporate banking.
This year i am quite hopeful for Chevening award and want to pursue a good masters in finance from UK. But money comes a major barrier. As i applied to Tier I institutions but their fee is very high comparing with Scholarship money i will get.
So, i have decided to lower my academic appetite to Finance masters from Bradford, Strathclyde, Stirling, etc which are offering 1 yr program with academic fee up to GBP 15 K enabling me to stay in budget.

Seeing recently stats of leading business school in US and UK (especially), i was amazed to find that msc/ms programs in finance requirements besides funding are less but they create greater monetary value for finance graduate. On other hand, phd guys invest 5 years with no experience/industry links have to end p on almost same salary.
Starting salary for MS guy in year 0 ( just after graduation) is suppose 70 K then it would be approx 92 K by end of differential 4 years ( assuming 7 % increment in annual salary)
On other hand, how many phd guys cross on such break even of 92 K at start?

?

Hi,

I recently graduated from a target school with a master's degree (not MBA).
I had 6 interviews since I graduated and I don't think anything will convert to an offer from different reasons:
- I was clearly not a good fit from the beginning and just wasted their and my time.
- They were interviewing internal candidates and I had to be better than perfect to actually get an offer.
- They gave preference to bachelor degree holders or basically wasted my time.
- I interviewed for a great position and did great with everything (e.g., interviews, modeling exam) but somebody very senior shoved his own person for the position.

I'm yet to hear back from 4 interviews, but I know already that anything of the situations above will happen.

As you can tell, I am still a Chimp and excited to be in this pleasant and peaceful area in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic place or situation also known as Oasis.

So I am reading Liar's Poker for the second time now. The first time I read it, it was a required reading for an Organizational Behavior course in my 2nd year of college. I dreaded reading books back then, but after moving out in my last year of college and lot of free time on my hands; it seems reading is fun!!

Anyway, there are some interesting quotes from the book that I would like to share with you guys:

1. "Analysts didn't analyze anything. They were slaves." (Any thoughts...true or not?)

So I already have my bachelors in a business discipline and I work for a bank in a call center. My manager and others are pretty much clueless about most of the opps outside of the call center. I'm looking at the description for both Credit and Treasury Analysts, which require a financial background. I don't really have one, but I am pretty much over working this basic job everyday. I really do want to go back to school, but at the same time, I want to make sure I am qualified to get those positions before I do so. Any tips?

Careers in the consulting industry. Lack of valuable resources for students and professionals in job industry intend them to start a career in a consulting firm or as an independent consultant.Because of this fact, indicators are making the profession of consultancy the need of time. How many will agree it?

Cheers

I'm an undergad, and upon graduating, I'll be fortunate enough to be joining the credit investing arm of a private equity firm that is probably in the top 5 internationally.

I'm also fortunate enough to have had a lot of investing experience early so that is not my major concern (although I would appreciate any advice in terms of getting prepared technically).

Given your experience what kind of big picture advice would you have for me, and is there anythign we wish you had done before graduating or starting work.

-

To get into investment banking all you need is a bachelor's degree. After a few years all you need to get into PE, hedge funds, VC etc. is the experience in IB. So can you basically have a successful career and move up to being perhaps vice president in a PE firm with only a bachelor's degree, without MBA, CFA etc.??

I see a lot of job postings require 1 year of experience - how firm are employers regarding this?

I've heard of 1 bank that doesn't take the 1 year of exp too seriously (previous IB internships are good enough).

My background is 8-9 months of PE/IB internships in total.

nt

Hi everyone, I've been lurking these forums for a little while. I'd like to ask for some advice about my situation, as I've been thinking about taking the plunge and looking for a job.

Background:
I graduated from a top UC (UCLA/UCB) with 2 BA's in History and Anthropology, 3.99 GPA, PBK, Highest Distinction in all subjects.

I'm now in my first semester of Law school at a top 25 school -- parents offered to pay and there was intense family pressure to at least try it out for a year. I don't find the material especially challenging, as I am a heavy reader. It simply isn't for me.

A little about me:

I wanted to do a quick writeup of the Leaders in Investment Banking (http://www.leadersinib.com/) workshop that just took place at Columbia in New York. I believe they will be presenting in UCLA and UCSF next, and recently held the workshop at Harvard, Stanford, Toronto, and several locations Asia. Were any of you at those, by chance? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

It goes without saying that I'm in no way affiliated with Leaders in IB. A week ago, after signing up, I was looking for reviews, and couldn't really find anything extensive, so I wanted to briefly offer my perspectives if you're thinking about signing up. I'm not trying to divulge all the material presented, just describe what you can expect from the experience.

I have a question before sending my resume to a few prop shops. Throughout the last 3 or so years, while in school, I have been involved in the stock market - trading equities in the last 2 years and equity derivatives in the last 9 months or so.

Last year was a rough year for my portfolio - this year was also challenging, as I have been fighting the Fed for all of 2012. My understanding of derivatives is very indepth and am more than familiar with derivative trading strategies.

If you are starting your career now, I have bad news.  The effects on compensation for those who start their career during a weak market is long lasting and painful.  The reason is obvious, wages are fairly sticky.  

Issue 1:  If your pay package starts out low, it's difficult to make up the difference at your current firm

Which career path within the Finance industry do you think has the most time flexibility? I was a Finance major with a minor in Economics. I'm currently working in the middle office of a BB.

I have a really entrepreneurial mindset, and ultimately I think I would like to work for myself. In the meantime, however, I would like to continue my career in a good position that allows me to earn a decent salary and invest that salary in myself and my personal endeavors.

The problem with a lot of these positions is that you make a lot of money, but you also work incredibly long hours. You either have no free time whatsoever or you are too tired to work on your own businesses when you do have it.

From the years of 2001-2009 i was a stock trader. However, after the downturn in the market, i left the industry and moved away from New York. Wherby i took over the family restaurant where ive been ever since. I decided two years ago to go back to school and within a couplke of months i will be getting my degree in accounting. I am itching to return to the financial industry. IDeally i would like to get into a hege fund or PE firm however i know the chances are slim to none. That leaves me with IB. I eould lov to hear from some of you of any recommendations you might have as to how i can pursue my goal of getting myself a job at a IB even though i am already 33 yrs old.

From the years of 2001-2009 i was a stock trader. However, after the downturn in the market, i left the industry and moved away from New York. Wherby i took over the family restaurant where ive been ever since. I decided two years ago to go back to school and within a couplke of months i will be getting my degree in accounting. I am itching to return to the financial industry. IDeally i would like to get into a hege fund or PE firm however i know the chances are slim to none. That leaves me with IB. I eould lov to hear from some of you of any recommendations you might have as to how i can pursue my goal of getting myself a job at a IB even though i am already 33 yrs old.