ECM intelligence provider to actual ECM

Howdy forum,

I will appreciate any thoughts on the feasibility of moving over to ECM desk (BB or not) given the following background:
* No-name overseas school, Finance major, perfect GPA
* CFA Level III passed (I know it's useless in IBD, but I figured it could add credibility to my educational background)
* 1.5 years of experience in data analysis (stock ownership, deal flow, targeting case studies) and other support work for ECM and corporate clients
* Math-inclined mindset, decent modeling skills, find both EQ and FI interesting (convertibles ECM looks like a good fit)
* So-so networking skills (maybe I am being hard on myself, but I definitely see room for improvement there)

Some specific questions:
1. Is recruiting process for CVT ECM desks any different from other IB positions? I.e., is it all about networking?
2. I interact with ECM analysts (most BBs) as part of my current job, but I am reluctant to really leverage those contacts. Am I wrong to think that reaching out to them is a big no-no while I am still with my old firm?
3. Anything I can do to shift odds in my favor, other than MBA? Will I have a better shot at this if I move to BB BO first?

Thanks!

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“I had a very positive experience with my mentor and I am truly grateful for the time, support, and guidance they provided throughout our sessions. From the very beginning, my mentor was extremely kind, approachable, and available, which made it easy to communicate openly, ask questions, and discuss both my goals and uncertainties about the next steps in my career. One of the most valuable parts of the mentoring experience was the work we did together on my LinkedIn profile. We essentially rebuilt and improved it from scratch, carefully going through my previous experiences, skills, and achievements and discussing how to present them in a clearer and more effective way. My mentor helped me understand how important it is to have a strong and well-structured LinkedIn profile and how to use it to communicate my strengths, professional interests, and career goals. The feedback and practical suggestions I received were extremely useful, and I now feel much more confident about how I present myself professionally online. Beyond my LinkedIn profile, I particularly appreciated the practical tips and honest advice my mentor shared with me about how to approach the next steps in my career. The guidance was not limited to improving my online presence, but also helped me think more strategically about where I want to go and how I can get there. I received valuable suggestions on how to position myself, what aspects of my profile to focus on, and how to approach future opportunities more effectively. Another aspect I appreciated was my mentor’s willingness to listen and adapt the conversations to my specific needs. I never felt that the sessions were generic or simply followed a predefined structure. Instead, the discussions were tailored to my situation, which made the advice much more relevant and actionable. My mentor was patient when explaining things, encouraging when I had doubts, and constructive when pointing out areas where I could improve. Overall, this mentoring experience gave me both practical tools and greater confidence in taking the next steps in my professional journey. I came away with a significantly improved LinkedIn profile, a clearer understanding of how to communicate my experience and strengths, and a better idea of how to approach my future career development. I would definitely recommend this mentor to anyone looking for someone who is supportive, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping others grow. Their kindness, availability, and practical approach made the experience extremely valuable, and I am very grateful for all the time and effort they dedicated to helping me.”

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3 Comments

probinganalyst

ST

13y

2) imagine if you were a trader and suddenly you get a chat message from BBG helpdesk asking for a job

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Cash Flow Statement Definition

bsea_93

CO

13y

Good point, although I was thinking about maybe asking for an informational interview first (which probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense either, since they know I already have a good understanding of what they do) Would my experience give me any kind of advantage when applying for these jobs (including internships) at all, in your opinion? Assuming all else equal.

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Authored by: Certified Consulting Professional - 2nd Year AnalystCertified Consulting Pro

bsea_93

CO

13y

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Authored by: Certified Consulting Professional - 2nd Year AnalystCertified Consulting Pro

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