Hey WSO, I’m in my early 20s one year out of undergrad and working in tech sales as a BDR. I currently make 80k all in comp if I hit my quota.
I’m decent at the job but it’s really a grind. I just cold call and cold email people all day to book them for a meeting.
I had a research internship at an asset management firm in undergrad but didn’t get a return offer + couldn’t get a finance job when I graduated so I ended up in tech sales.
Should I go get an MBA? Masters in finance? Or should I stick to tech sales?
My goal is to be an analyst at a hedge fund, always has been my dream but couldn’t break into IB.
I do have some stock pitches on VIC. I have sent pitches to HF managers before and got great feedback, never led me to a job though.
Bump
Why didn't you get a return offer? Why couldn't you break into IB? Why did your pitches that you sent to HF managers not lead to a job? You need to reflect here.
Going directly from tech sales to HF is going to be extremely difficult. But if you're on VIC and you can analyze/write up stock pitches, you need to be proactive. Cold email everyone you find on Linkedin (attach resume, attach pitch, and give a quick intro + would love to find a time to chat, etc). You need to get your story straight on why you are in tech sales and why you want to be a HF analyst as they are two entirely different things and people are going to be skeptical of your analytical ability.
My personal opinion is a MBA is only worth it if it's a top 3 program.
It was mostly a timing thing. I was sending these pitches while still in school and networking. I was pretty direct with them explaining that I’m looking to be an analyst but every response was that they’re not looking to expand the team. These were pretty lean funds for context. They did say my pitches were good though. I had a pretty lengthy interview process with a brand name fund and thought I was going to get the offer but they ended up saying they need an analyst with more experience (not a new grad)
I feel like attaching my resume to these networking emails will hurt me not help me since I’m not currently in a finance role. What about just attaching the pitches?
I would attach your resume. You won't get to or past a 1st round interview without sharing your resume. Go look at an equity research role at a mid-tier SS bank first before you attempt to work at a HF given your background
Not sure if it's possible to go from Tech sales to HF. I would focus on finding a role in IB / ER first.
Extremely tough getting into these seats too though since the hiring is so structured. At least a HF I can stand out with my pitches.
not gonna sugar coat it...no you cant
How can I get an IB/ER role post graduation in the job I’m in? I’ve thought about networking with some tech IB firms but I don’t think many of them do off cycle hiring.
You got good feedback on your pitches because you're being graded on a curve. Out of the dozens of random pitches they get from undergrads and other people on the periphery trying to break in, yours may have been the best. That doesn't mean they are going to hire you over generic IB analyst or PE associate who they (a) know can do the work and (b) have been pre-trained by their institutions.
And if you asked one of those to create a pitch they would almost certainly make a better one than you. They just don't need to because the typical recruiting pathways are open for them (through recruiters and word of mouth) which doesn't require a pitch to get their attention.
Not true most IB and PE ppl going to buy side have dogshit pitches and are horrible risk takers. Ik ppl who’ve landed at small SMs out of hs there’s always a path for true talent
Thank you I was waiting for someone to say it
With all due respect, this dude is almost certainly not one of those cracked people (and not anything specific or against OP, there are just a vanishingly few number of those people in the world). If he was one of them, he will break in via his pitches eventually. If not, he's almost certainly not putting together anything better than a generic IB/PE dude.
Going straight to HF isn't likely. I worked with someone who went from tech sales -> tech-related ER -> buy-side. I'd focus on that path.
I only really see two paths for you that don’t require an insane amount of luck:
1. Tech sales to tech IB/ER to HF
2. Tech sales to MBA to IB to HF
Either way, you have a couple steps to go and it is not guarantee you make it there even after IB/ER. Honestly, anything else you do is likely a waste of time. Sure networking might help you understand the industry, start to build skillset, and establish connections once you are ready for the jump but nobody is seriously going to consider you for a job with your current background.
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