Career/ Life Guidance
I need guidance on navigating a career transition to Investment Banking (IB) given my current situation. With degrees from IITs and a Masters in Corporate Finance from LBS/ ESCP/ ESADE. My Masters sparked a keen interest, leading me to pursue self-learning, modeling exercises, and interactions with senior bankers. I bring 2 years of experience in Data Analyst and Consulting (non-MBB), yet lack direct IB exposure. At 27, my goal is to shift to front-end IB roles in India. While I am non-target for front-end BB roles due to the absence of transaction advisory experience, CA background, and competition from IIMs, I plan to enter MM/boutique IBs to gain transaction experience, intending to transition to BBs through strategic networking. Managing expectations with senior bankers is pivotal in this endeavor.
I need your opinions on the below:
1) I am set to marry this year and I believe it will overlap with my switch to IB. I know first-impressions go hard in IB. I want to create a trust relationship with senior bankers in terms of delivery but I will be not readily available always given I will be involved in the whole marriage work. How will senior bankers perceive my current situation and how would it affect in my career progression at the firm?
2) How to manage expectations on joining Sr. Analyst/ Associate position at MM/ boutiques as I have no experience in IB, hence have no on-hands job experience? I don't want to join zero experience roles (Under-grad Analyst position) and waste my 2 years work experience. I believe the transition in possible because I have received interview calls from Boutiques given my IIT and Masters background.
I know there's no straightforward answers to my situation but I would appreciate your honest opinions on this. Thanks
Too long didn’t read
Fixed but what happened to your attention span?
Honestly, I think this will be a difficult path and it sounds like maybe not worth it. In IB you are expected to almost always be available and saying straight off that you won't be is not a good place to start. Of course people understand you need time off for your wedding and maybe some pre-wedding appointments, but besides that IB is a pretty "sit at the desk all day" type of job.
In the US you would be eligible for the MBA -> ASO path and Associate is often a zero experience job, but if most associates have useful experience there I would expect to come in at entry level. It doesn't really matter if you join as an analyst because it'll still be a pay bump, and only 2 years experience is not that much to give up. I have hired people in their mid-30s as analysts.
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