How to deal with Karens???

At a target university for PTMBA chasing IB opportunity. I have complete access to recruiting which is the best part. I get to interact with top BBs during networking events and schedule coffee chats which are basically a less formal fit interview. I get to participate in the NYC trek, network more as well.

Now comes the bad part. I am an international on H-1B with limitations. Basically the circumstance is such that I cannot intern but only work after getting my MBA since H-1B is tied to your degree and internships occur before getting one.

So despite being part of and getting access to every possible opportunity, I am unable to leverage it because of this issue.

So I found a work-around. I asked my university to opt for internship recruiting during my graduation year instead so that I graduate, have a degree and then can intern at BB since the IB pipeline is ONLY through Summer Associate roles at top banks. Its a win-win. Its completely legal, the university gets to show stellar recruiting figures and the banks can choose what they want.

BUT

The university career office filled with a bunch of Karens won't let me pursue this route. 

Karen: MBA2s are not allowed to recruit for internships.

Me: I agree. However, I cannot recruit for internships as an MBA1 so let me do it as an MBA 2 since over 95% of recruiting happens through the Summer Associate route. Besides, its completely legal and not unfair since I anyways did not have a shot as an MBA1 and was not a competition to anyone then. I believe I should get a fair shot at recruiting. Besides its not unfair to anyone else since I ain't cutting into anyone else' business.

Karen: MBA2s are not allowed to recruit for internships.

Me: So you are saying I pay 100% tuition and get access to less than 5% of opportunities since FT recruiting is close to nothing especially for IBs. How is that fair to me? Especially when there is a fair way, a work-around the whole thing.

Karen: MBA2s are not allowed to recruit for internships.

What should I do? How should I convince Karens in the career office here?

If I am unable to convince Karen, should I give up on Investment Banking? Again, I am at a top tier MBA program, just doing it part-time however, finishing it in 2 years.

NEED HELP!!

10 Comments
 

I am not sure how. This is an unconventional route. Typically, students pursue PTMBA for career advancement and not for making career switches and even if they do, it is typically for Consulting.

Besides, students do not recruit for internships in PTMBA. I am keen on doing so and willing to take the risk of being jobless after internship and look for one until my FT stint the following year. Typically, PTMBA students do not have that kind of risk appetite so they do not go seeking for these opportunities and this route which completely makes sense in my case.

 

The sad part is that they sugarcoat shit to get you into believing the plethora of opportunities available to you, suck in the tuition money and then deny you every possible promise that they made when getting you in the program.

 

Unfortunately, I am the only international in the PTMBA program that wants to pursue IB and IB internships specifically. They did not even let me in the IB club stating that it is meant for ones genuinely seeking internships only. And it makes complete sense. Happy to back out from it today as an MBA 1 but want access to it and want to be part of it as MBA2 which the career office is not allowing me to and stating that it would be something that has never happened before and is unconventional which is why it will not be allowed.

So to answer your question, I am the only one and infact the 1st one too.

 

I did. And that is how I got to know about all this which the career services wouldn't tell you. Till this day they are like, "You will still have access to FT opportunities". I mean if there would be any left.

In my opinion, if I keep listening to the university, I am definitely screwed.

Point being, is there a way to leverage the contacts that I made during these networking events for FT opportunities next year? Seems like there isn't since interns get converted to FT almost all the time. Why would they want to hear me out?

My best bet would be to recruit for internships in my graduation year making it a win-win for all i.e. me, the university, the banks and the legal system. But Karens won't listen.

 

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