Dark Place - FT Recuriting

Hey guys,the IB that I Fall interned at is not taking on full time so I started the FT recruitment process a few months back for IB. Problem is that this FT cycle was absolutely brutal. I got an interview at a top boutique and superday at MM and first round at BB, but doesn't look like its going to work out.Currently sitting at no offers and FT recruitment is practically done. Now feeling real anxiety and not sure what to do.For background I'm graduating this fall with a 3.8 GPA from non target type school, IB experience (two internships) and PE gig. Not too worried about paying the bills right now but very worried about my career.

Could really use some advice; I'm feeling pretty lost. WSObros gave me some good guidance in the past; I think I just need some clarity and motivation. I want to make it to IB and in finance. I'm too hungry to give up now. I strongly believe in myself and my willingness to succeed.Ive been networking and lots of no's and running out of people to talk too. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

13 Comments
 

Thousands of non targets don’t get full time IB gigs but then lateral after a year or two.

Starting in IB a couple years later doesn’t mean much in grand scheme of things, considering you’ll be working for like 40 years

 

This is a dumb question fueled by my inexperience but don’t things like PE or GE kind of close off if you don’t do the normal IB -> On cycle?  Hell some roles are impossible if you’re not at an analyst at an EB/BB. Even lateraling upmarket in PE is pretty hard from what I had heard from folks

 
Most Helpful

Yes bro. And some opportunities close off to you the day you’re born, if your parents aren’t billionaires, or if you’re not 6’10”, or if you aren’t extremely good looking. Okay so you you weren’t legacy at an Ivy, your dad didn’t run a hedge fund, and your career isn’t going to start with PJT Restructuring straight to Apollo… and? 

You’re smart, ambitious, and have a good gpa, but unfortunately are graduating into a recession. It’s simple, now your #1 goal becomes getting a job that will make it easy for you to lateral to IB. Start taking a long term view and think about the infinite opportunities that are open to you, not the few that are out of reach. Ruminating on how you might not get a top PE offer on cycle is not the way. Recognize that many top target grads, even at top firms, will also NOT get those opps because they’re so competitive. 

And if somehow you are 100% sure that God put you on his green earth to work in Megafund PE, I’ve spoken to multiple people that have moved to firms like Carlyle and Apollo off-cycle 5-10 years into their career (hell I’ve seen people make those moves 20 years into their careers). There’s infinite paths to success  for the people who look for them.

 

Much harder but not impossible. I know people who broke in to mm IB one year after graduating from non target, then MM PE, then MF but started again as an associate. There's a bunch of different paths other than ivy -> bb/eb -> mf.It might take longer for some to get that dream job / position but that’s life

 

Can you provide insight on what went in the 3 superdays, did you mess up technicals?

 

Dude take a deep breath. Relax. No industry is safe right now due to the recession. Chill out you’ll be fine. Keep going you’ll eventually land. Have some perspective bro you could be the 30 year old associate who got fired 5 months into his job due to mass layoffs with a baby on the way and variable mortgage payments and MBA debt. Chill and have some perspective you’ll be fine.

 

Apparently insight is doing off cycle recruiting for FT starting in September

 

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