Hello,

At this time, I am going for entry valuation position at BDO. Does anyone know how technical interview for Valuation Associate can get? Would they rather look for fit? Also, what are exit ops from Valuation type of positions and how can you transition into banking? Thanks in advance!

Monkeys,

I'm looking for some advice. Top tier university graduate in the middle of my second year at DB in their transaction services division but I find the work to mundane in terms of what you do. I do not feel I am either acquiring additional financial knowledge nor really using the basics I came in with so I am looking to lateral to IB. Before you jump on me to flame me and tell me it's impossible here are some details:

1) Took Transaction Services due to being the best I could getand being foreign (Basically didn't want to leave the US)
2) Top university, competitive GPA
3) Internship in BB Corporate Banking, BB FICC Treasury, small investment club 1-5MM

I'm very aware that ops is frowned upon especially on this forum and also that it is far away from being regarded as a "finance" position in the industry.

that being said.. without further due.. ops --> IBD = impossible?

what are your thoughts? possible? does anybody know anyone who has made this transition before?

Hi all,

I graduated with a Finance degree a few years ago and went through the recruiting process. We don't have many MC firms that hired from our school so I went for anything related (or so I thought) to consulting and stumbled into Technology Consulting. For the past few years, they have been pushing me down what I feel is a bit of a pigeon hole... packaged software technologies (SAP, Oracle). I'd like to see what your opinions are in making a career change to MC. I've heard it's a tough transition even through networking and that I might have to consider an advanced degree through the current firm and then dipping out after it's paid out... but I don't think I can stand doing the work anymore. I'm not genuinely interested in anything they have me doing.

Any thoughts?

Hey guys I could use your help about locating a job.

The huge demand of college graduates makes it very competitive to break into my first finance industry job. It also doesn't help the the economy hasn't improved too much in the last 6 months or so, which keeps the job market in finite supply. I was wondering if anyone knew which finance companies are hiring? I'd consider many industries including PE/VC, I-banking, and asset management (hedgies, mutual funds)

I am not sure if this is the appropriate forum, but it's close enough to my subject. I am a 28 yr old paralegal at a biglaw firm doing structured finance/ corporate work and would like to transition into an entry level finance position.

I don't have a quantitative background, and I was wondering what would be the best and cheapest way of getting that type of education in NYC.

I am leaning towards taking a few finance courses at Baruch, but they are about $350/credit, which adds up.

So any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks...

So, within the next year I will be separating from the Navy after 10 years as a linguist and intel analyst. A few years back I met some bankers in Dubai and after a few drinks and apparently helping them on a deal they convinced me I would do well in banking. I did the first step and finished my undergrad in finance and i'm applying to a few MBA programs this year. I have done a lot of research, but am still curious about a few things.

- Has anyone worked with prior military?
- Do most firms offer good healthcare plans?
- Average expected starting salary for an associate outside of NYC?
- Any general advice is also greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Hi-- I'm an analyst soon to graduate from a BO/ MO/quasi FO rotational program from a top BB that emphasizes experience cross-LOB (IB, AM, etc). I've worked hard, impressed my teams, and chosen my rotations strategically in such a way that when I realized I wanted to move to FO 6 months ago, I did it pretty easily having been given an offer to join this BB's IBD program, which I'm extremely excited about. It seems I've been selected because of my experience in the IB prior on desks with product knowledge closely related to what I'd need to have for this role, as well as having more experience with deck compilations and working with clients than the other candidates.

Hi guys,

Long time reader, first time poster. I am looking for some advice as a pursue a career change. I know a lot of you have probably never heard of an engineer trying to make the switch to finance, but I am trying to (if there was a sarcasm font, I would've used it here...ha).

So, I am currently in a part-time MBA program at a non-target school. I did very well as an undergraduate (3.9 GPA in engineering) and am doing well as an MBA student (3.9 GPA).

I am not an individual that wants an IB position and nothing else...I just want a good career within finance because I enjoy it. I have grown particularly interested in investment type roles (and secondarily real estate).

Have always wanted to do S&T. After graduating, no luck and managed to get a full time cconsulting position where I worked for 6 months before landing at a smaller s&t firm. While i'm glad I was able to make the jump sooner than later into the right industry, my real goal is to soon use this experience and get into a mm or bb S&T. Now my question is this. I know shifting around 2-3 times in 2.5 years isnt so highly regarded so am i able to leave this consulting experience off my resume.

Hey guys,

I am in the middle of my first year as an analyst in a top-tier IBD boutique doing M&A and special situations. The problem is that I realized that I do not want to do this for a very long period of time as I dislike the nature of the work and over all the IBD culture.

I am more interested in markets and I think that the latter field would be a better fit for me. I am looking more specifically at fixed income. However, I do not know how I should approach transitioning from my current position to a 1st year S&T gig, especially in terms of timing: I feel it would be a little weird to try to get into a graduate recruitment scheme considering I'm already under contract and I would like to wait after bonus season (summer) to move.

Hey guys,

I'll try to keep this as brief and anonymous as possible. Here's my background

Stanford
4.0 Philosophy major
small D1 sport (think volleyball, swimming, etc) captain

significant coursework: Calc 1-3, linear alg., ODE's, game theory, business class, intermediate micro

I'm interning at a BB doing banking this summer but don't like it and want to do trading FT.

I've been bored with banking and it shows. My mid-summer reviews were fine, but far from glowing. I'm trying to get a FT banking offer so I can interview with the trading guys but want to plan as if I'm not getting an offer and don't have this opportunity.

Here are my questions:

Ok, for starters, I know nothing about finance besides talking a couple of economics courses and statistical courses in undergrad, and corporations law in law school. Since then I went to graduate from law school in the US, work as a lawyer in a civil litigation firm for 2 years, and then last year I moved to Europe to get my LL.M. in International Law.

This has probably been discussed a lot, however I'm new to finance and would appreciate some advice. I have an engineering background and obtained a summer internship at a 'bulge bracket' for a technology position. It's relating to fund derivatives.
Would this back office experience count against me if I applied for a S&T position after I graduate?

I have been seriously considering an offer from an asset manager with over 90 million euro AUM. The offer is to join there graduate trainee program which is rotational (equities, FI, sector funds). The program lasts a year and then you are placed on one of the desks FT. I have no capital markets experience and I feel this would be a perfect opportunity to learn markets as a whole.

I would like to eventually get on a cash equity sales desk so I have been predominantly in touch with sell side banks about research and IB opportunities.

Would taking this role make it tough to get on a sales desk at a BB within a year or 2? Even in a jr role?

I foresee this role as one that would give me a better overall macro understanding of the markets. I also get to get some buy-side equity research experience as well which will help in developing my ability to tell compelling stories about companies.

The transition from BS to SS is obviously much more natural but is this a realistic path? What do you guys think?

Thanks

It seems like much of the posts on this forum have been geared towards the post-IB gigs. However I was curious to know if someone had insight/experience into when guys make the transition from doing modeling/number crunching....into making operational decisions, working closely with management at portfolio companys, and making acquisitions/dispositions of companys. Does this happen post-mba or is this strictly for partners/mds?? How many years before someone gets to this level, with or without an MBA?

I'm trying to gauge if I'm doing something stupid by planning an IBD > MBA > Consulting move. Honestly I know jack about what I want right now except to be successful and make it rain money all day so I'm trying out banking for a bit. I want to know if this type of move is common at top b-schools or if there is no added value from going from banking to consulting. I'm drawn to consulting b/c in 2006 McK was the most desired employer of MBAs... I just don't have firm knowledge why...

So moving from banking to PE/HF has been well documented. I know the PE networking process, while tough, is made easier for bankers due to the presence of headhunters, and many consulting firms have internal job boards for corporate development positions....

Can anyone talk a little about moving into a development/strategy role for a corporation after the 2 year analyst program?

- Specifically how to land interviews and network for these jobs despite working 100hr weeks?
- Are you pretty much stuck to trying to get in with clients that you covered in your industry group or are there smart ways to approach companies outside of that bubble?

Any advice or stories touching on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I've been working for a year now at a large, well known broker dealer as a municipal bond trader. I'd like to move to New York soon, and given the economy and my experience, what would be a realistic job I could transition into? I know it will be tough, but if it helps I went to a top school and graduated with a 3.6 and an economics degree.

If possible I'd like to get out of trading and into a more analytical role.

Thanks in advance!

Currently, I work at a respected MM in the PWM division (think Sanford C. Bernstein, Neuberger Berman, etc.). Given the current market conditions, finance industry woes, and the dismal economic outlook, I am not expecting to transition for a few years out (3-4 years). Preferably, I would like to work on M&A or LBO at a strong IBD. Considering, that I only work 50-60 hrs a week and time is plentiful, I would like to dedicate considerable time into improving my prospects. In order to further educate myself and display a keen interest in finance, I have begun studying for a CFA. Since, I plan on transitioning three to fours years out, I will then most likely hold the charter. Besides obtaining the charter and excelling in my current position.