I’m 18 and going to UMass Amherst business school next year - I am majoring in finance and am looking to get an internship at a high level IB firm ex. GS I learned how to use Microsoft Excel on my own time while in high school and have always been super interested in stocks/ and financial markets etc.
| +186 | Ideal College/Recruiting Timeline | 38 | 2d | |
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| Got fired after 1.5 years as an Analyst, want to stay in Banking but I am confused | 10 | 1d | ||
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| +21 | Job Switch Advice | 6 | 9h | |
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IB has nothing to do with stocks
ECM?
debatable whether ECM is IBD
I think you need to take a step back and explore finance more broadly. Sounds like you don’t know much about IB and are just interested because it’s IB. Explore other areas of finance, maybe broaden your lens beyond finance too
1. Join the top frat on campus for sick connects, your pledge bros dad in JPM private banking will fasho hook you up bro it’s a lock 💯 all that other prep shit is for nerds everyone knows finance is just about connections
2. Rip coke on the weekly to prep your immune system for a wall street career just like the movies, 100% accurate and you don’t want your future boss to think you’re too pussy to put down a line
3. Watch wolf of Wall Street and American psycho regularly to build your mindset. Dress as them for every Halloween at your annual frat rager as per step 1, women will love it and see your Wall Street potential
4. Get tuned in with the hottest stocks to hone your stock picking ability that will be vital to a career in IB. I personally recommend Tesla and Gamestop 🔥🚀
5. Tell everyone you have a deep passion for Wall Street, Stocks, and Finance in your interviews. Your genuine passion for the industry will show forth. Don’t forget to mention how you’re the hardest worker around and knew you wanted to be a banker since you were a child
With these tips you should be set bro! Using this me and the rest of my frat bros have lined up the sickest jobs like Jersey City UBS, GS Ops, and Deutsche (finance department). We go run Mr Purple every weekend and tell girls we work in finance, they love it and are overjoyed that they now get to post TikTok’s about hooking up with finance bros.
This is a question that has been asked and answered on this forum too many times. The thing about banking is that there is such thing as a stupid question. You shouldn't ask the question if you can easily find the answer yourself, and there's so much information on this site, in books, on Youtube, Quora, Reddit, etc. that you shouldn't have to ask this question, especially if you don't know what banking is. People are just gonna troll you or ghost you. If you start trying to network and go into coffee chats with stupid questions or you go into an internship asking questions that you can easily find answers to on your own then people are going to dislike you for wasting their time. Especially if you don't even sound like you really know what the job is. That's one of the worst things you can do. So just get used to being more resourceful.
With that said, I would learn about what investment banking really is. You can read this little book in a weekend, and you will sound a lot better than you do now.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Get-Job-Wall-Street-ebook/dp/B005XM6MU2
Before anything, keep your GPA up as high as you can. That's the most important thing, especially since you're coming from a non-target.
If you still want to do banking after you figure out what it really is then I would start learning your technicals. Look for some pdf guide on google.
Then start searching for people that went to your school that is in banking because you're going to have to network a lot. Use Linkedin, your school's alumni database, or finance clubs if there are any. Ask your economics or finance professors if they can help you out too.
If you're a diversity student then look for diversity programs.
Also, don't forget you're an 18 year old kid that doesn't know shit, no one really expects you to know too much, but they expect you to know just enough. Stay grounded in reality. Have a life, be interesting, don't forget there's more to life than banking, get some girls, and don't try too hard.
That should start you off in the right direction.
Yeah good points.
Executive Summary:
- Get a 4.0
- Get good internships
It's good that you have some idea of what you'd like to do after school. Some of the prior responses are good first steps to take at school. I would also add that there are regional investment banks, asset managers, etc. that could have summer internship opportunities where they are more open to taking rising sophomores. Having a strong GPA is the most important factor when you apply for any opportunity, so prioritize classes above clubs and internships.
Another point I would add is to learn how to write with conviction and prose. It reads as if you've already begun training yourself with excel modeling; while that's important, the numbers only contribute to an investment proposal or thesis. If you can use a data management tool (like Excel) competently while being able to craft compelling arguments, you'll likely find opportunities in not just finance but other fields that you might not have considered.
I would network by finding people on LinkedIn (start with trying to find alumni from Amherst definitely) and reaching out to talk to them - figure out when the deadline is for each summer program and apply to them ALL. Don't get burned out it's discouraging but keep your foot on the pedal and keep networking.
You may not get an internship after freshmen year but if you do good for you - it was uncommon atleast when I was in school. I worked in Ibiza that summer, then spent 4 years in IB after graduating years later lol.
Also read the guides they really are incredibly accurate. You will be fine if you do it right.
All valid points but UMass Amherst most definitely isn’t Amherst College. Very, very different caliber of school
Tbh I didn't realize they were different thank you for clarifying lol - I still think OP will be okay though! Maybe try and focus on Boston -
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