Fucked up hard during 2024’s recruiting ended up at BB Private Bank
I’m a non-target 3.7 kid, but at the time of this post I’m sitting at a 3.5. I would’ve loved to grind it out, but unfortunately throughout my college career I’ve been injured constantly. This past year had to get a discectomy and my freshman year dealt with torn ACL and then meniscus.
Not that I didn’t want to focus on recruiting I just was pretty behind the curve, my campus doesn’t have recruiters come for anything other than big 4 consulting and accounting, so finance careers is pretty cooked and is a self grind. There’s people from my school who prove every year ofc it’s possible and land themselves in great positions at top firms. Unfortunately I was not one of them and had to settle for a Private Banking internship. Honestly, doing it so I can say I’m doing something this summer, and I know this forum thinks it’s utterly useless, but I figured I could meet someone and just put myself to work.
Anyways my question is, can I still get to IB? Im incredibly realistic with myself. I know my limitations and I know none of these banks give a shit about my injuries and all of that. Bottom line I wanna work at it. I know I should start with smaller boutique banks hiring on a need basis. Honestly I’d even work unpaid and tank the cost of living if necessary. The most important thing to me is getting some sort of experience that speaks I can do the fucking work. Is this realistic, is there a better approach, or am I just cooked beyond measure and will end up working for Mr. Dimons private bank the rest of my life.
Why don’t you look at it as a blessing in disguise? BB PB is an awesome place to be, especially in a sales/investment capacity.
Great hours, great comp, solid WLB. What more could you want? Think about what you want and what’s important to you
I know dudes who started analyst at 28-29 after an MFin or gradually lateraling after working in a different industry for 3-4 years. And one of them started in Canada - they barely have banks there.
It’s never too late, it just feels like it because all you read here is 19 yo kids telling you if you don’t land GS TMT or PJT RSSG for SA, you’re cooked.
Life is long kid, you can get it from anywhere at almost anytime. You just gotta adapt and keep hitting. Keep reaching out to folks, ask for advice on your particular situation, keep doing calls, follow the advice.
You’ll be in sooner than you think. But if you think it’s over and you let it go, then it’s over.
I would not be specific about your injuries. Most of us have had ACL/meniscus or know someone who had. I’m not joking when I tell you I literally had the ACL repair and mensiscus surgery twice (different times/different knee) and then re-tore an ACL skiing so that makes me the ACL tear champion of 3x doing it. All of this is to say- no one would accept that as a reason for not doing well- it’s a minor surgery 2 weeks tops of missed school.
I guess that’s a good response? I didn’t really ever say I was using it as a excuse anywhere to companies, and also mentioned in my post I know they wouldn’t really care or except it as a reason. I think the bigger issue was my back leaving my left leg almost permanently nerve damaged and being bed ridden for half my junior year. I never would bring it up and even networking right now when I get asked how I’m doing I just mention it so they know because it is a big part of my life.
If it’s JPM private bank take it and run. If not, try and shoot for JPM PB. Lowkey getting into BB PB is a blessing in disguise. You get banker base, decent bonus, and as you become senior you have an insane upside on comp.
I tend to agree with you, but I really do find the investment banking work incredibly interesting. I designed a securitization course during my fall semester and absolutely loved doing it with my professor. Idk a lot to think about this summer.
If you wanna be a securitized product analyst the prestige requirements are a bit lower for that. Just network hard.
Fwiw I know an analyst that started in the PB and lateraled into TMT in the IB. It wouldn't have happened though with the attitude you're approaching this summer with.
I can also relate to this - non-target that has spent my entire sophomore year focusing on IB recruitment just to have landed an offer at a PB BB. i felt relieved & grateful once i got the offer (after a horrendous SPD conversion rate) but i began to question myself and fall into the trap of comparing myself to my peers who landed IB roles. i began to realize that there genuinely isn’t much point to fret about interning at a PB BB, especially when it’s not for certain it’ll be for a FT gig. additionally, i’ve realized through self-reflection that there are things that more of a priority to me now (i.e. spending time with family, being close with friends) that i wouldn’t have being in IB and i realized this after i got my offer. i genuinely do think that you may need to self-reflect and figure out what goals are most impotent to you know as it may not be better in the other side. eod, don’t discredit yourself for the role as there are people who kill to be in your position. hope this helps.
Im a current sophomore recruiting for IB and PB/PWM. Im at a semi target with a 3.7, play a d1 sport, and have done a wealth management internship. I'm really interested in JPM PB, do you know how hard that is to land? I'm currently networking there and have submitted my Hirevue. Thanks.
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