Investment Banking Analyst after MBA: is it possible? Anyone heard of it?
After MBA it may not seems as the smartest decision but with zero finance experience and huge desire to start career on the investment side (PE, HF, VC), IB is a necessary bridge to all those roles.
Well, I am concerned with two things: is it possible and whether it makes sense?
Thanks.
My guess is that it will be easier for you to obtain a post-MBA ib role and recruit to the buy side after a few years as an IB Associate than it would be for you to recruit to IB as a post-MBA Analyst.
Personally, I'd prefer Associate role but it requires at least some experience in IB, which I don't have and it doesn't seem like I can get it. So I thought that going to the bottom of the food chain would be the only feasible way.
It doesn't require IB experience.
Post-MBA Associate roles do not require IB experience. Some of them do not even require previous finance experience.
A couple of questions?
Have you already finished your MBA, if so when did you? Why didn't you take advantage of any summer associate opportunities?
How many years fo work experience did you have before starting your MBA and in what field?
Is your MBA or Undergrad from a target or non-target and if so how much of a non-target (have you reached out to alums of each to network?)
How old are you (don't have to be specific but give a range)?
To be blunt having already graduated from an non-target MBA program without any prior finance experience, IB might be past your reach. Don't be too upset or beat yourself up because (despite what you might think after reading this forum) there are tons of wonderful careers paths (which could lead to an investment side position, albeit probably more non-traditional that Megfund PE) that dont involve IB.
If you are dead set on IB, I think there could be opportunities at a small shop. This would require a lot of networking but I think you could get a foot in the door at a small shop (20 people or less) and use that to lateral to a better spot.
I’d agree that BB and most MM as of now would be outside of your reach.
At this point you probably need to look at associate over analyst roles either way. Post-MBA and 30+ is a hard sell for an analyst position unless you have a fantastic story.
First: Decide how much time you want to spend on your search and how badly you want IB and the chance for the buy side. Then get the WSO interview guide (not hawking WSO wares here but it’s good — used it at b-school as it was a huge efficiency boost). Know it cold. If you don’t know the basics all the hard work you’ll put into pounding the pavement and networking will be for naught once someone asks you a remotely technical question. Learn the jargon cold. Use it. Use the guide to also help you craft your story. Story is 95%+ of your pitch here. It has to be interesting, logical, and at least somewhat reasonable.
Then pound the pavement. Target small, boutique banks. Start reaching out to everyone, cold emailing, calling, etc. Search job posting and LinkedIn to expand your network. This should become your second job. I frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this step takes months.
Look, it’s possible. But the jump from a (likely) very small boutique to PE/VC/HF will be very difficult yet again. But yet again, it can be done.
What type of role do you have lined up? It could be easier to get into VC or M&A from there, for all we know.