Consulting Intern to IB FT

Hey everyone, as the title states - rising senior at T10/incoming intern at T2 consulting firm but realized I made a mistake in terms of what I want my career opps to look like down the line. Is there any possibility to make this switch so late? If so - what would be the best route to take? 

2 Comments
 

Based on previous WSO threads, here are some steps you can take to transition from a consulting intern to a full-time investment banking (IB) role:

  1. Networking:

    • Start reaching out to alumni and professionals in the investment banking industry. Use LinkedIn and your university's alumni network to find connections.
    • Attend industry events, webinars, and networking sessions to meet people in the field.
    • Follow the advice from the "13 Networking Tips and Tricks" thread, such as suggesting specific times for calls or meetings to make scheduling easier.
  2. Skill Development:

    • Enhance your financial knowledge and technical skills. Consider taking courses in financial modeling and valuation, which are crucial for IB roles.
    • Utilize resources like the WSO Financial Modeling & Valuation Bootcamp to build these skills.
  3. Leverage Your Consulting Experience:

    • Highlight the transferable skills from your consulting internship, such as analytical thinking, client management, and problem-solving.
    • Emphasize any financial or strategic projects you worked on that are relevant to investment banking.
  4. Apply Strategically:

    • Target banks that have later recruiting cycles or are still hiring for full-time positions.
    • Look for boutique or middle-market banks that might have more flexible hiring timelines compared to bulge bracket firms.
  5. Prepare for Interviews:

    • Practice common investment banking interview questions, including technical, behavioral, and situational questions.
    • Use resources like the WSO Investment Banking Interview Prep to get a comprehensive understanding of what to expect.
  6. Consider an MBA:

    • If you find it challenging to make the switch immediately, consider pursuing an MBA from a top business school. This can provide another opportunity to recruit for investment banking roles.

By following these steps, you can increase your chances of successfully transitioning from a consulting intern to a full-time investment banking role. Good luck!

Sources: What are the best investments we can make Before/During the war between Russia and NATO? Share your knowledge!, 13 Networking Tips and Tricks, Ways of Underperformance - and how to avoid them (Part 1), Private Equity vs. Venture Capital in 2018, What’s the best route to become a trader

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

Voluptatem accusantium exercitationem quod officiis voluptatibus amet. Nihil exercitationem et tenetur provident harum magnam. Mollitia est quis porro in odio inventore minus eligendi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”