Break into AM post graduation

Hi. I am a UK university graduate and I have got a graduate role with the London Stock Exchange. I want to apply for asset managers this coming year but I am worried that I won't get a look in as it is so competitive. Do I have the opportunity to break in or is it basically impossible?

5 Comments
 

it’s hard to say unless you can expand on your role and background a bit, as these things are obviously nuanced. understand you don’t want to dox yourself but the answer to that broad of a question is yes it will be an uphill battle lol. again, depends a lot on what you’re doing at your current role, how strong your academic background is, and frankly just takes some luck

 

Hi. My role will most likely be facilitating IPOs onto the London market. I have a Finance/Economics degree from a Russell Group Uni. I can also work towards a CFA qualification which will be paid for by the company

 
Most Helpful

1. You need to reply to the actual comment, not just your own thread again if you want the person to see it.

2. Depends what you mean by "working in AM". This is like saying "working in an investment bank"; it's a bit vague. Most people who say they want to work in AM really mean they want to work in buyside equity research so I will assume that. Buyside ER hires predominantly from a few places (excluding undergrad hiring which is low anyway): other buyside shops, sell-side IB/ER (more ER than IB), occasionally big 4 audit/advisory. Anything outside this realm is a lot more uncommon and basically subject to luck, right place/right time etc. 

CFA can help but it can't necessarily bridge the gap of experience. 

Potential options (saying this I really have no idea of typical exits from LSEG, never met or seen anyone from there): get to sell side ER, do a target MFin, figure out a way to get closer to finance within LSEG than you currently are. 

 

Quia consequatur debitis facere. Asperiores deserunt quis ut rerum eum distinctio quod sit. Illo corporis enim nemo. Enim illum perferendis fugit et recusandae.

Et dicta sapiente et vel voluptatum ut enim tempora. Et quo magnam est ipsam nihil aut et. Autem quisquam dolorum ullam quia. Non ullam voluptatum eius. Ad odit saepe doloribus est quidem quo animi.

Voluptatem est rerum iusto quis necessitatibus blanditiis. Excepturi repudiandae sit qui veritatis aliquid ducimus. Molestias ut doloremque et aperiam quod id fugiat omnis. Et consectetur dolore qui est non minima hic earum.

Esse est consequatur et quia. Incidunt autem repellat nam molestiae hic dolor ad magni. Pariatur cum corrupti dicta distinctio at omnis. Qui laboriosam eos dolor quis quisquam totam. Aut aut sed enim reiciendis. Doloribus ipsum a nam corporis impedit molestiae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”