How ageist is IB?
Hi all,
I'm coming into the industry late after making silly mistakes in my early 20's.
I am dead-set on IB to start off my career in finance. I will be going to a top 10 university in Canada and be partaking in networking events and internships in my penultimate year. I have spent many hours researching the industry and its positions and am determined to put in the work necessary to achieve a spot in the industry. I have no interest in pursuing familial obligations and willing to muster up the 80+ hour work weeks required for an entry level position.
Since I will presumably be several years older than my peers in the same entry level position, will this play a factor in my hireability to employers? If so, how significant of a factor will it be?
It’s a little ageist, but you have to be confident. I’m starting FT in early 30s
How old are you?
Maybe other people have different experiences than me, but I don’t think they’re ageist at all. I’m almost 26 going to into my first analyst year next June. They just expect you to do quality work and be somewhat personable. Everything else is irrelevant.
Maybe a tad but i know people starting in there 30s. I interviewed with a MD for corporate banking that came over from being at an accounting firm in his 40s.
I started as an analyst working with people ranging from 21-26. Some had just graduated undergrad, one had done a european masters degree, and another had worked for a couple years in another part of finance. Nobody really cares under 30 especially if you don't look old.
as long as you're willing to put in the work, learn and don't be an arrogant prick, you should be fine.
i know Singaporeans and Koreans who serve national service (2+ years) and then did their MBA after 6 years of working experience and started their associate stint as a ~35 year old.
no one really cares
but yes, too old then of course the analyst/associate jobs are a bit ageist because different age groups have different priorities.
I know i'm quitting once i have a kid.
Age-ism is not an issue, the issue is that there are extremely limited, fresh analyst (or associate) level spots in Canada. I'm not sure what a top 10 university is in Canada, having lived there for 20 years I'm not even sure I can name 10, but unless it's Ivey or Queens, spots are very hard fought for during campus recruiting.
Well I'm going to UBC, which is a fairly recognized Canadian university globally and am pretty certain it's a top 10 in Canada. Now is it a target school? Not quite sure...
More like top 5, and a target for Canadian banks if you’re in Sauder.
It's a good school and I'm sure you'll get looks from places in BC but there aren't that many banking jobs available. Make sure you try applying south of the border as well and hit up all the alum you can find.
Bro there are like 10 universities in Canada
🤣 pretty much.
Nobody cares as long as you do good work and aren't a dick. We have plenty of military guys come as associates in their mid-late 30's.
Third the above, not a problem. knew a guy a long time ago who went back to undergrad years later and was a mid/late 30s analyst. Was a top bucket guy too. If you are good at the job and have all of the qualifications (GPA, work/internship experience, networking, interview skills) you will have every shot out there.
Just be able to talk about what you did in your 20s / going back to uni in a reasonable way. Don't just say "Yeah I messed around for a few years" have a good answer that makes the path to IB make sense
Banks are fine getting analysts who are a few years older. If anything they feel like they are getting a steal. It also works well for the analyst because coming in as an older analyst is a lot cheaper than going to get an MBA.
In your case, employer won't even know you're older because it sounds like you're applying out of college. So either you're fine because they don't know, or you're fine because they do know and don't care. Either way you're fine.
Related: I've known many lawyers who want to switch to IB. And they all face the tough choice between either (i) trying to lateral directly to associate, which often fails because they lack the background or (ii) going to MBA which is painful after already carrying law school debt. But I know one lawyer who found a third way, which was to lateral in as an analyst. He was late 20's. It went brillantly for him; he was better prepared to handle the analyst years as someone with some adult experience. And he reached associate around the same age as most MBA associates, except with a few years of analyst experience instead of a few years of MBA debt.
Ipsam provident sint voluptas. Ut voluptate voluptatem explicabo ea. Facere aliquid velit est a. Autem delectus dolores et ipsa ea enim. Placeat et molestiae labore quo aperiam voluptas est.
Ipsum amet perspiciatis magnam ut qui ullam. Voluptatum accusamus architecto ipsa mollitia delectus voluptatem impedit. Et id illo tempore.
Veniam numquam sed quas sapiente cupiditate eaque ea eum. Nesciunt excepturi distinctio accusantium. Minima iste dolorum maiores totam qui quia. Vel praesentium unde enim ipsum. Atque sunt quia ea aliquam.
Cupiditate eum ab porro iusto tempore excepturi aperiam. Dolorem reprehenderit vel necessitatibus rerum nostrum. Doloribus similique officia voluptas et. Dicta nulla enim quod dolor repudiandae numquam. Dicta ut quam dolorem id velit.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...