Seeking Advice from people at pods

Currently a junior at a non-semi target. I have been passionate about public markets and investing for years and would really love to land a seat at a pod shop. Right now, I cover 4 related names that I know very well, build (or at least try) to build out models on them, listen to the earnings call, read industry research, and develop trade theses on them. Basically, I am doing what I enjoy doing but also what i think will one day land me a seat at a pod. 

I recently landed a SA role for this upcoming summer at a decent MM bank in NYC (not top tier by any means but you'd still recognize the name. However, it looks as if it is increasingly common for people to land junior level roles at the top pods right out of college. Also, I am aware that the brand name of my bank certainly will not help me, but I have confidence in myself to do well in an interview if I get the chance and based off some of the alumni I have spoken to from my school, i believe I will get a chance. 

The advice I am looking for is what else should I be doing right now? To all the people currently working at pods, is there anything I should be focusing on or doing right now that will make me stand out? Also, a better question might be do I even have a chance? Again, I am not going to a top-tier bank or even close to one, so does that automatically cross me off their recruiting list? 

Truthfully, I love investing and would argue that I am more passionate about it than most of the people that I would be going up against. I also believe I have the intellectual capability to succeed in the interview process and in the role itself, despite what the bank I am going to next summer might imply about me. 

Anyways, I was hoping some people that work at pods right now could let me know:

  1. Do I even have a chance at these positions because of my bank?
  2. what else should I be doing right now to give myself the best chance at landing a spot?

Appreciate all insights, thanks guys. 

6 Comments
 

Try get into the grad programs if you can, you can recruit after/during your SA.

If it’s a reputable bank you can also lateral at some point 

 

Interesting, but are this seats worth taking? In other words, are they seats with a PM that has spent a year at every single different pod, or are they sometimes reputable teams with a pm that has a proven track record?

 

I think you will find that pods are pretty open on background at the junior level and will not care so much about pedigree.. At least not relative to say a top tier PE fund. 

You can try the grad programs at all the big pod shops. I would try to reach out to the business development people at these shops on LinkedIn. If you manage to speak to them that should get you in the process 

 

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