How do you get recruiters to realize...

...what your age is?

Since you can't mention your age in your resume or cover letter or whatever...how do you get recruiters to realize that you aren't too old for an analyst role? What are others ways of accomplishing this?

The thing is, I'm going for a Master's in Finance to break into FO finance pre-mba, i.e., into entry-level analyst programs (or if not formal programs, entry-level roles nonetheless). But my resume shows I have 1.5 years of post-undergrad experience (most recently as a corporate banking intern), and I graduated from undergrad in 2008. And yet I had just turned 21 when I graduated...I'll be 23 when I apply and interview, and just about 24 when I start my job. Looking at my resume though, recruiters will probably think I'm at least 25 if not more. How do I get them to realize I'm not too old...?

Any ideas?

23 Comments
 

Others can chime in if they disagree, but it wasn't much of an issue when I was recruiting for FT analysts. A year or two isn't a big deal (since many people are 22 by the time they graduate). The best analysts my group had started as first year analysts at either age 24 or 25.

Now if you looked like you were 40, it might be a discussion point...

 
Best Response

@kjl ... i look more like 17 actually haha. my resume, though, looks speaks of a 24 year old at present (22 at grad + 2 years working)...

@ Want and Drexel ... that's good to hear. However, I'll just be 24, and the difference between that a 25, almost 26 year old is 2 years, a significant amount of time. But it is reassuring to know that the differences are not totally material.

@Risk ... I thought they'd trash your resume if they saw your age or DOB on it...

Other people: is it common for people 24 (or 25) years of age to enter into ibanking analyst programs? Are people such age (well-)represented in your analyst programs 1st year? Is there a difference between IBD and S&T programs in this regard? I've heard - although from dubious sources - that it is more of an issue in S&T.

 

under 25 is no big deal... a lot of people I know graduated one year late and took a year off in between school and work putting them in that age range

 

Lol believe it or not but "The Track" as defined by Leveraged Sellout (Ivy League school, then IB after graduation, then Private Equity/Hedge Fund, then ascension into Godhood) isn't necessarily how things work in real life.

Lots of equity research analysts come from the industry being analyzed, for instance, ex: semiconductor analysts sometimes came from finance positions at Intel instead of just fresh out of undergrad/MBA.

 

Sequi est ratione assumenda. Amet in tenetur unde soluta neque laboriosam soluta consequuntur. Iusto sed voluptates provident in consequatur. Dolore non consequuntur distinctio totam nisi aut.

Quod qui non quo non quisquam autem quis est. Aperiam qui qui aut itaque.

Ipsa molestias modi aut aspernatur minus est veritatis. Est tenetur laboriosam culpa illum non beatae quis molestiae. Qui alias dolorum eum id quia. Quia similique quasi cumque necessitatibus dolore at tenetur. Porro odit enim aut ipsum in vel veritatis. Omnis dolorem dicta aliquam corporis.

 

Occaecati atque voluptas eligendi aut fuga. Quam voluptatem nihil enim delectus rerum in. Tempore est est et et. Placeat cumque quaerat iusto reiciendis illum.

Qui vel earum aut quia ea odio dolorem qui. Sunt qui libero odio ipsam aperiam. Iure aliquid commodi sapiente eum in molestias quia. Sint sequi sed voluptas occaecati possimus reprehenderit optio.

Earum dolorem quia aliquid qui quibusdam consectetur delectus. Neque nemo velit eos sed enim dignissimos consequatur est. Nostrum corrupti corporis et porro.

Professional Bro, J. Cans

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”