High School Junior Looking for Advice

Hello

Im currently a HS junior lookin to get into finance. My grades are decent but not stellar and I see myself getting into a semi-target.

Im planning on doing a search fund internship (20-40 Mil Transactional Value) this summer to get some transactional experience and maybe try to enter a boutique right before college. Does anyone have any advice(even general career advice would be appreciated)?  I would ideally like to enter IBD

Thanks!

11 Comments
 

You are way way ahead of the curve, especially considering $20-40 M is on the high end for search fund. There's not much advice to give for search fund internships. It will likely be sourcing companies using LinkedIn and some other tools and reading some company and industry reports for deals that come up.

Array
 

I do think it would be tough, nearly impossible, to get into a boutique before going to college. Ignoring the EBs and strong single industry boutiques, I think your only shot would be with a tiny regional place, and the odds will be low even there. Do you know anyone in IB already through for family or friends? That would help.

Dayman?
 

Its good that we're on the same page, but you would have to get in through networking and take more of an "apprenticeship" role because it still is not feasible to do a standard internship, if the offer them since you will still be competing with students at good schools. It has definitely been done, but it will be tough. You basically have to convince them that you are worth them letting you chill in their office over the summer. 

Dayman?
 
Most Helpful

Biggest piece of advice for you--don't do the internship this summer. Work as a camp counselor or at a restaurant. You will have your ENTIRE life to work in finance. Working at a restaurant is a huge character builder, IMO. If that's not reason enough for you, time and time again I hear from the people in charge of hiring that they prefer to see well-rounded candidates who did partake in restaurant/camp/non-finance jobs even through sophomore year in college.  Focus on learning about yourself first (I even took a gap year and worked as an au pair making basically nothing and sleeping on a broken bed). I hope you keep this in mind, but I was similar to you at that age (but on the pre-med end, spent my summer doing rounds and research). But I also ended up doing the gap year and then worked as a bus boy at a fancy restaurant downtown. Notice that I am no longer going into the medical field...

 

Hey Cluelessboutnance,

I realized that with the help of some mentors and put finance aside to take on a passion club and a research internship + potentially working at a restaurant this summer!

 

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just google it...you're welcome

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