4 years after graduation: Breaking into Investment Banking

Hi I am currently doing an ER internship at a MM in my home country. Currently, I have an offer to go to study Finance and Accounting at Imperial Business College Business School for this academic year (2019). Recently, I am contemplating on whether I should start my masters this year or take a gap year and do off-cycle internships at a PE or IB (there are several opening that have come up and my seniors have recommended me to several of these roles).

I am dead certain on doing a Masters in Finance now or in the future but the main concern for me is that I have graduated in 2016 and have already deferred my entry from last year. If I decide to do another gap year and start masters in 2020, assuming that I get into one, that would leave me 4 years without any full time experience (2 years of mandatory military service + 2 gap year).

Can anyone shoot me with some opinions or insights? Much appreciated.

6,226 WSO Academy Investment Banking Session Reviews: 4.82/5

Class of '25 Nov 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking Career Roadmap (optional)

“My mentor provided valuable guidance in helping me develop a clearer career roadmap, taking the time to understand my background, interests and long-term ambitions. His advice was tailored to my goals, helping me identify potential career paths and the practical steps needed to pursue them. He helped me break down my ambitions into manageable priorities, including the skills and experience I should focus on developing. I particularly appreciated his thoughtful approach, which encouraged me to consider both my immediate next steps and how they could support my longer-term progression. His support gave me greater clarity, confidence and a stronger sense of direction. I would highly recommend his mentoring to anyone looking for personalised guidance in planning their career.”

Pepperdine Graziadio Business School

Class of '26 Nov 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking Short Resume Review / Recap

“My resume review experience with Julian Gropp was exceptional. Even before our session, he carefully reviewed both versions of my resume and provided detailed, personalized feedback. He identified two major areas for improvement: positioning my unique healthcare background as a competitive advantage and quantifying my accomplishments with measurable results. What impressed me most was his attention to detail. He asked 13 thoughtful questions to understand my education, career transition, financial projects, internships, and technical skills before rewriting my resumes. He then created two targeted versions—one for Investment Banking and another for Corporate Finance—while ensuring every accomplishment was accurate and defensible during interviews. One piece of advice that truly stayed with me was, "Lead with finance. Healthcare is your edge, but it does not define you." This completely changed how I think about presenting my professional background. He also helped me identify my strongest experiences, improve my financial project descriptions, and recognize the importance of building a healthcare-focused financial model to demonstrate technical competency. Julian went beyond simply editing my resume. He helped me understand how recruiters evaluate candidates, how to communicate a nontraditional career transition confidently, and how to develop a stronger professional narrative. His guidance was honest, practical, encouraging, and tailored to my goals. I genuinely appreciate the time and effort he invested in helping me become a more competitive finance candidate.”

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4 years after graduation: Breaking into Investment Banking

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4 years after graduation: Breaking into Investment Banking

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