Got Investor Relations Job Now What

Peeps,

I just got an offer from a F500 firm to work in their IR group. I will be reporting to the VP of IR who reports to the CEO. The group is comprised of him and now me. My question is what are my exit ops after working in the IRO? Is working in IR only good for other IR exit ops or can I spin the finance angle? I have 2yr post - MBA exp and I currently work in the corporate strategy group of a firm that is really not doing corp strat (we outsourced all of our "real" strat work to consulting firms) so I really just have the title on my resume.

-Raj

 

The guy who asks the most dickish questions - that's me. Be nice to that guy and help him out, and maybe he recommends you to his sell-side ER buddies for the next recruiting season. When I cold-spam 99% of the F500 IR divisions for phone calls, I'll be lookin' out for big Raj.

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 
bearing:
When you make the PP presentations include lots of numbers. None of this bar graph crap without the numbers on the graph. I have literally measured the bar graphs with a ruler because IR wouldn't give us the exact number for some reason.

YES. Fuck that. Give me exact numbers.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
bearing:
When you make the PP presentations include lots of numbers. None of this bar graph crap without the numbers on the graph. I have literally measured the bar graphs with a ruler because IR wouldn't give us the exact number for some reason.

IVE FUCKIN DONE THIS

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 

In your guys' opinion, how likely is that IR -> ER transition if someone is striving for it? What would be the skills someone in industry would need to show to be a really attractive candidate?

 
Best Response

Do keep in mind that most quant roles are filled with people who have their PhDs, so I would rule those types of roles out unless you have some previous accolades which are significant (e.g. Mathematical Olympiad medalist, Putnam Fellow, etc.) For example, I do know someone with only his BS degree who works as a quant at a quantitative hedge fund, but his background was very strong including winning in a Siemen's Competition in high school, earning a Putnam honorable mention during undergrad, etc.

Financial analyst roles, on the other hand, I think are a definite possibility. Since you said have a good GPA, I think with a lot of networking and hustling you could find yourself an analyst job some place (BBs will be tougher due to the rigid on-campus recruiting structure, but smaller firms are a definite possibility). Another option, which I am sure you are aware of, is to study and take the CFA exams. Since you are working in a PR role, I'm sure your hours won't be too bad (9 to 5?) so you should have enough time every day to put in the hours to adequately prepare for it.

 

I don't have the math background like that unfortunately, but I am quantitatively oriented and have extensive programming skills, which I was hoping would give me an edge. However, I have mostly been focused on looking for financial analyst roles. I've been trying hard but having no luck. Do you have any good suggestions for resources to use to prepare for the CFA exam? are they worth something individually or only if you pass all 3?

 

If I were in your position, I would definitely check out risk mgmt or credit risk. While it is criticized on this sight as a middle office role, it is more quantitatively geared and I would think that it can be more rewarding for you than investor relations.

Also, if there is any non FO role in which you may be able to lateral into S&T, it would likely be something in risk.

Good luck

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 
bd60:

So, I'm a recent graduate from a top 5 business school with a high GPA and a major in economics (focused on econometrics and stats). I've been trying like hell to find a job as a quant or a financial analyst but the market is tough at the entry level since I don't have great internships since I had to take a lot of summer classes.

I got a pretty good offer to be an investor relations analyst at a mid-size publicly traded insurance company. I was wondering how much potential I would have to move out of investor relations and into actual finance with this kind of experience under my belt? Will I be pigeon-holed as a PR guy forever or will I be able to move out?

BSchool teaches few hard skills, so is not a good route to a quant job. Nobody cares about your BSchool GPA.

Why would you take summer classes instead of getting a summer internship? Internships lead to FT offers.

Definitely search around this site, it seems like you are a little clueless about the finance industry. IR -> finance definitely happens though, keep your chin up. You have an extensive alumni network to utilize...

 

My B-school major was actually a bachelors of science so it really did focus on the hard skills, like math and stats. It was really focused on econometrics. I've been looking into things like underwriting, but I just haven't been able to find anything. I'm just looking for jobs where I can earn a good paycheck and use my quantitative background.

I took summer classes out of necessity. My school was really expensive and I messed up early on in my college career and had to cut a year off my time there somehow. I got some internship time in but nothing relevant to the field unfortunately. I'm trying to make up for my prior mistakes now and looking for the best way possible.

 
bd60:

My B-school major was actually a bachelors of science so it really did focus on the hard skills, like math and stats. It was really focused on econometrics. I've been looking into things like underwriting, but I just haven't been able to find anything. I'm just looking for jobs where I can earn a good paycheck and use my quantitative background.

I took summer classes out of necessity. My school was really expensive and I messed up early on in my college career and had to cut a year off my time there somehow. I got some internship time in but nothing relevant to the field unfortunately. I'm trying to make up for my prior mistakes now and looking for the best way possible.

"B-school" means an MBA. Do you have an MBA, or not? If you say B-school in the real world, and mean you have an undergraduate degree from NYU or something like that, you are overselling yourself and that will be an automatic ding from a lot of people in the hiring/networking process.

Thanks for the monkey shit though.

 

I would not recommend ! Once you get to IR, it would be quite impossible to pivote to Finance again...I’ve personally tried for a year to move to Finance but 0 ! Don’t just take an offer out of option, because this will always hamper your next move ! I wish people told me that your first job will somehow define your career !

 

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