Is it a good idea to try to get into IB when you are in your 30's?

So, basically I moved to the US when I was 24 (with $700, 1 backpack and 0 English) and spent 5 years in CC, and then transferred to UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Undergraduate Program for 2 years. I will be graduating this spring and I am 32 right now. I just wondering what my chances are to get into IB?

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

First of all, congrats man - that's an amazing story, and you should be really proud of yourself.

As for IB chances, I can't answer without knowing you personally, your GPA, your past experiences, etc. It sounds like you don't have any past internships in IB, so it might be difficult to get a full-time position since you're graduating this spring.

Is it a good idea? You just have to consider your goals - if you're looking to settle down soon (wife, kids), it might be difficult to balance that with IB. Do you like the kind of work that IBs do?

The business world is really large, and coming from Haas you're in a great position. Contrary to what this forum might make it sound like, IB / Wall Street isn't necessarily the best path for everyone. Have you considered working on the business side for a company like Google, Apple, etc. in California? I bet they would really find your story interesting, hours are less demanding, culture is usually better, and I bet Cal has great connections with them.

 

Thank You! Unfortunately, I do not have any experience in IB field, as of today, since my interest in IB began to develop during the last 2 semesters. My current GPA is about 3.4-3.5. The thing is that I already have a wife and a 3-year old daughter and we are planning to have another child this year. In my opinion IB can give me the best experience possible on how the enterprises work as a whole and especially their financial structure. I know that the hours are crazy and a was majority of people last for about 3 years but I found this job is very interesting and would like to test myself as well. Also, since this job has a very fast-paced environment, I will learn faster. For my whole life I've heard the words such as "who do you think you are?" "lover your bar", "if you born poor - you die poor, no matter what you do". It was more painful when I heard those words from my own family. But I proved them that you still can make it if you really want. And now I need to set my bar even higher. I want to work for the top of the top.

P.S. Do you work for an IB company or have any experience in that field? Would love to hear any first hand feedback.

 

Harum sint fuga facere velit ut voluptatem fugit. Occaecati voluptatem deserunt est veritatis. Nostrum occaecati molestias placeat aut reprehenderit. Quo id consequuntur tenetur omnis corrupti ut.

Et quas enim odit aut assumenda sed rerum vero. Ipsa aliquid nobis quia.

Autem libero ut itaque natus optio aut rerum reiciendis. Sapiente voluptatem et velit dolorem. Velit omnis voluptatem consectetur quis reprehenderit. Dolore optio praesentium velit doloremque fuga animi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”