Am I Screwed?
I am at an non-target (top 3 SEC school) and have struck out on all my 2024 IB summer analyst opportunities (25 applications, 4 first rounds, and 1 superday that didnt result in an offer). I know I should have thrown more darts at the board and networked harder, but what's done is done. Am I screwed for trying to land a fulltime offer post-grad or are there some banks that will recruit more offcycle for 2024 SA positions. I've tried to look and find out but I cant find anything. Thanks for the help.
bump
Sounds like you networked hard to get 8 first rounds from 25 that was not the problem. You probably are shit at technicals or have a shit personality. Like getting get 8 first rounds from 25 apps is really good but getting only 1 superday from that, 10 times worse.
Yeah pretty shit at technicals. Really started preparing less than a month ago.
You wasted your 8 interviews, and worst learned nothing from them. I was shit at technicals too but after I failed my first interview I started prepping technicals, then in the second one I messed up the stock pitch then the company deal. Then I got an offer. Like buddy learn from your mistakes don't just casually write yea pretty shit at technicals. Study them then, it's right there what you need to fix.
Edit: Keep the money shit coming, PS: not one person who has an offer will throw MS at this comment.
Yeah I got 4 first rounds that led to 4 Superdays and I agree interview prep is where your improvements lie. Technicals are pretty standard across all interviews (boutiques are tougher) but where you can really differentiate yourself is your story and crafting a narrative for why each bank. For example, I would have a narrative for why MM bank in tier 2 city that differs from PE firm in tier 2 city that differs from boutique in NYC. For your next interview, spend a few hours the night before on the firm’s website and thinking through your networking conversations to write down everything you can possible think of that is firm-specific and how your background fits in the mold.
You seem diligent and well-versed in networking, so push hard for southern middle market banks that are still recruiting and once you get the interview, make some short-term sacrifices and throw the kitchen sink into crafting your story for why this firm is a fit for you.
Definitely been trying to craft that "why ___ bank?" narrative but could spend more time/effort on that. Thanks for the advice
Don't beat yourself up too much if you don't get it. It might seem like the world that you didn't get an offer, but life goes on and you end up where you're supposed to. I didn't get an Ibanking offer and had to go commercial banking first. Excelled in it and lateral/transitioned my way to an associate in IB at a bulge bracket.
get into big 4 and then transfer into IB in a couple of years. you'll be good. can't really expect to make it into IB from a non-target anyway.
That’s so incredibly wrong.
OP, you can definitely make it on a full time track. Just a lot of networking is required
This is so wrong, you can definitely be non-target and make it in, you just have to work that much harder. Which is what the target school kids did when they were in school. I'm non-target but still made it in.
It's not so incredibly wrong... being someone who has done it, and having seen some of the most absurd resumes for new grads screening at a top fund, 'work harder' for a limited amount of spots isn't reasonable in their case.
Widen the search, get your first gig, and there is when to work hard to perfect and learn from mistakes. Getting a first job is the most important, pivoting afterword is much easier. Bank or bust is not a good strategy in the near term in this environment.
Tl;Dr beggars can't be choosers
Are you in any on campus investment or finance clubs? They can help you with networking because that’s the only thing that could help at this point besides interview prep. Ask alum or older students in your organizations. I am also from a top 3 SEC school and found that a lot of alum were very receptive.
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