Junior looking for IBD SA - What else to apply to?

Hi WSO,

I'm a junior at a target applying to IBD SA positions - I've done a decent amount of networking, but nothing crazy like drinks with an MD or anything. I'm coming from an engineering background, in terms of my past work experiences and my past major at university, but I switched to a finance major last year.

I'm concerned that I might not be able to land a great SA internship at a BB or MM bank this summer due to my non-finance related background. I've also concentrated my networking efforts to the bigger banks, so I'm not sure what kind of a shot I would have at boutiques.

What other positions should I be looking into for this summer, in order to best position myself for an IBD analyst position fulltime after I graduate?

4 Comments
 

Ivy/Stanford/MIT/Chicago/Duke

When a plumber from Hoboken tells you he has a good feeling about a reverse iron condor spread on the Japanese Yen, you really have no choice. If you don’t do it to him, somebody else surely will. -Eddie B.
 
Best Response

If there's an industry you're interested in, that is potentially a good fallback. For example, an engineering background might give you some kind of an edge with tech or natural resources F500 internships. Then you leverage that and network that summer with bankers in the related industry coverage group. This works out relatively often.

Could also look at financial development/leadership programs at GE, Intel, Apple, Lockheed, etc., and your story is it's too slow a pace. These options are even more viable if you have these internships being listed in your OCR.

Another option is commercial banking internships...though perhaps not quite as helpful as the aforementioned.

 

Minus nemo alias velit vero temporibus deserunt qui. Et ut dolor veniam quas. Molestias rerum molestiae voluptatem a dolorem et. Earum quia consequatur quaerat voluptatem aut.

Aut vel mollitia aut ducimus eos aut laboriosam. Rerum at totam quos.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 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

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 11 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $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

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...”