I’ve been working at a solid prop firm (Optiver/DRW/etc) for the past year now and am looking to break into banking. I have the option of working for a small asset manager now and breaking in later or just trying to break in now. Is it even possible for me to break in now? Or should I go to the asset manager and try later or go to bschool from there? As more background I went to a target school, have a high gpa, and worked for an MBB consulting firm for a summer. I also have junior contacts at most of the well known banks. Please help.
Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
| +221 | UBS Accused of Favoring H-1B Workers While Cutting U.S.-Born Employees | 54 | 1h |
| +117 | ONLY THESE BANKS OR YOU STRUCK OUT | 34 | 6h |
| +110 | IB Energy Drink Tier List / Ranking | 73 | 5h |
| +91 | PJT M&A Group Selection 2026 | 14 | 1d |
| +58 | Firm Thinks I'm Lying About Offer | 18 | 1d |
| +51 | Feedback for internship first desk at IBD BB - personal fit, "don't be too confident" | 29 | 1d |
| +37 | Indiana University Fraternity Pipelines | 17 | 1h |
| +33 | Stay at Weak Dealflow Team or Lateral? | 10 | 9h |
| +30 | Does BofA still pay its associates rat pellets? | 15 | 1d |
| +30 | Rogo AI | 10 | 5h |
Career Resources
When you're saying banking, I assume you mean Corporate Finance (M&A, Coverage, GCM, etc) not Sales and Trading right? If it's S&T I wouldn't know but if you're targeting CF it's going to be a struggle to lateral given you won't have deal experience compared to other laterals. I think you have 2 options: i) wait out another 1-2 years and got to Bschool then -> IB ii) lateral to IB at smaller boutique/no name IB and then work your way up to BB (if that's what you're targeting)
Doloremque maiores tempora saepe suscipit et. Suscipit ipsum eius aut excepturi debitis rerum possimus.
Vitae facilis temporibus eius dignissimos sunt voluptatum quisquam. Distinctio nulla possimus ea. Nesciunt unde aut velit aut in.
Laborum deleniti unde autem quis et. Odit amet facilis voluptas aut sit nesciunt repudiandae. Quo pariatur qui sed commodi est repudiandae saepe. Iusto autem et quia enim. Esse illo totam delectus tempore reiciendis.
Consectetur quia aperiam culpa ut. Veritatis quo veniam modi. Ut et molestias et vel atque modi rerum. Non aut sequi est error omnis sed nulla. Quibusdam accusantium pariatur reiciendis accusamus deleniti. Ut harum id ut vitae optio saepe.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...