“I recently had a LinkedIn audit call with Arnau as part of my WSO Academy program, and it was one of the most practical and useful sessions I've had so far. I came in thinking my profile was in decent shape. I left with a clear picture of how recruiters and bankers actually see it, and a concrete list of changes that will make it work much harder for me.
Some background: I'm moving from corporate finance into investment banking, corporate banking, and private equity. I have an MBA in Corporate Finance, a PMP, and several years of finance and project management experience. Making that kind of move depends heavily on how you present your story, and LinkedIn is often the first place a recruiter or analyst sees it. That's why this session mattered so much to me.
From the first few minutes, Arnau was well prepared, direct, and focused on what actually moves the needle. He didn't just give generic tips like "add a professional photo." He went through my profile section by section and explained why each piece matters to someone in finance who's quickly scanning candidates. His feedback was honest without being discouraging, which I really appreciated. He pointed out where my profile was underselling my experience and where it wasn't clearly showing that I'm aiming for banking and PE.
What stood out most was how he helped me think about positioning. My background covers corporate finance, project management, hospitality, and real estate, and it can be hard to make that read as one clear story. Arnau helped me connect those experiences to the skills banks look for: financial analysis, modeling, managing budgets and capital, and working with senior stakeholders. He showed me how small changes to my headline, About section, and experience bullets can make that story obvious within seconds.
The session was also very actionable. I didn't leave with vague ideas. I left with a short list of specific edits I can make right away. That matters a lot when you're job hunting and every week counts. He also shared advice on using LinkedIn more actively, such as engaging with the right people and content, so the profile supports my networking instead of just sitting there.
I also want to recognize the overall WSO Academy experience. Between the modeling bootcamp, the company research work, the mentorship, and sessions like this one, the program has given me structure and support during a career transition that can otherwise feel isolating. This call was a good example of what makes WSO different: the people coaching you understand the industry you're trying to break into and give feedback that reflects how hiring really works.
If you're a WSO member and haven't booked a LinkedIn audit yet, I'd strongly recommend it. It's a short time commitment, and the return is significant. Your LinkedIn profile is often your first impression, and having an experienced set of eyes on it is worth it.
Thank you, Arnau, for your time, honesty, and practical guidance. I'm excited to put the changes in place and keep building toward my goal of breaking into investment banking.”
It's often about convincing them why do you want to be there rather than a BB in NY? Are you from the area, have family there? Some of these boutiques in small markets look for ties. I am from one of these in the SE and used to work there and that was my experience.
That being said, people like to recruit from where they go to school, etc. That being said, there aren't too many target degrees in the SE, so you would be competitive if you can show ties or some valid reason you want to be there.
^^ Strongly Agree. I am a SE graduate and have interviewed at places like Lazard MM in Charlotte and SunTrust RH in Atlanta, just to name a couple, and a lot of the Fit/Behavorial questions were about why I wanted to work in the SE compared to NYC. For your question, school brand should help but having a solid story about wanting the SE will help you more.
I too am in the SE, and from what I have noticed in interviews, they are very concerned with finding someone who will stay at least 2-3 years, and not just ditch them as soon as you get an NY gig. Growing up and going to school in the SE has its advantages for applying to these boutiques because you can easily say "I was born and raised here, and have no plans to leave". Also, sev of the offices down here have tons of SE alumni, so that helps greatly.
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