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?

15 Comments
 

It’s a little ageist, but you have to be confident. I’m starting FT in early 30s

 

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. 

 
Most Helpful

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. 

 

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. 

 

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

 

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