I'm a senior Mechanical Engineering major with another major in Economics. I'll be graduating in the spring and I'm applying to many of the usual suspects: GS, UBS, Bear Stearns etc. Just wondering if anyone else out there in the ibanking world has taken the same career path?
Any advice or experiences you can share transfering from engineering to finance? Thanks!
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Just a curious question... why the fuck would anyone major in engineering unless they wanted to be an engineer?
Basically you need to declare an engineering major freshman year upon arriving at college. 4 years ago it seemd like what I wanted to do and now it's not as attractive. But after working so hard for 3 years it makes no sense to just drop out of it with a year left. So instead I'm double majoring.
I've also been told by multiple companies that some of their most successful people are engineering majors because it requires a stronger analytical background than say accounting majors.
Eh, most people who are in investment banking never even took calculus... I'm pretty sure they have desks that do all the quantitative work for you so majoring in stuff like engineering or math is not even necessary. I strictly believe that you should not major in engineering unless you really want to be an engineer for the sheer fact of how hard the curriculum is, you
A lot of banks prefer engineers due to their Quantative Background. I have met quite a few alumni form my school who have taken this path.
You're prospects could be good if you have good grades (unfortuntely, thats the first and formost thing that matters in this industry).
Just make u know what you want to do in IB. Since not every job in finance is as flashy as it sounds.
P.S. no offence but 'Wasting Time' did ask a good question.
I am also an Engineering major but I'm a sophomore so I don't have really any experience with banking itself yet. However, I do know some who have gone into banking with an engineering undergrad. Both of them had really good grades and a business background to compliment during their undergrad. What school are you from?
I went to engineering school. I happen to be good at science/math, I just don't LOVE it - which is why i'm a consultant now.
When I asked several alums who went into banking, even those who were Finance/Accy majors say that engineering is a good path. It's not very important, just keep studying what you like and take some related courses on the way. Quantitative skills gained through engineering is always applicable in banking. Of course, I'm not an expert but that's what I've been told.
Well I can say in my 4 years at a top engineering school between my Engineering and Economics majors there has still been time to go out. It all just depends on how efficient you are when it comes to actually sitting down and studying/working.
In any case I was also told because the curriculum is so hard it is attractive on a resume for any job. It fosters a very strong work ethic and really stresses the importance of team problem solving.
Now I'm not saying people interested in iBanking should major in engineering! But I'm just asking for anyone out there who's made the switch, how was the transition?
we had a speaker at my Investment banking club last week, who was an engineer, worked for 3 years hating the job, then he went into Ibanking research and loved it.
I think it really has to do with what kind of engineer you are
elektrikq - what school are you from?
i promised you will be asked the "why" question -- why do you want to change from ME to IB? make sure you know the answer to this question in your sleep! other than that, everything is the same. if you know something about finance/accounting and can talk really well, you're set.
That's a great point H20...I'm sure that I will be asked a similar question and like you said, knowing the answer in my sleep is important.
yup, good luck! by the way, my name is H2O (not H20) =)
strong quant background is a plus, stress that in your interview
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