Has it Become Easier to Break in From a Non-Target?

Easier might not be the right word because we all know how hard it is to break into high finance. I think more accessible is more accurate. 20-25 years ago, was it even possible to break in if there weren’t any alumni from your school at a bank? LinkedIn and the internet, in general, has made it feasible for those to network themselves into these very prestigious roles, and then help others from their alma mater break in behind them. This, combined with efforts on the banks’ part to look at non-core students has, in my opinion, made it more possible for kids at non-targets to break into investment banking and other finance roles. But, because the overall job market is ever getting more competitive and rigorous, does this mean they are stealing jobs that would’ve gone to ivy leaguers? Obviously, it is still much easier to break in coming from an ivy league school but a non-target, but is it getting harder than it used to be? Either this must be the case or is the entry-level job pool for elite finance roles is getting larger, which might also be the case. Which do you think it is?

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