“I recently had a LinkedIn audit call with Arnau as part of my WSO Academy program, and it was one of the most practical and useful sessions I've had so far. I came in thinking my profile was in decent shape. I left with a clear picture of how recruiters and bankers actually see it, and a concrete list of changes that will make it work much harder for me.
Some background: I'm moving from corporate finance into investment banking, corporate banking, and private equity. I have an MBA in Corporate Finance, a PMP, and several years of finance and project management experience. Making that kind of move depends heavily on how you present your story, and LinkedIn is often the first place a recruiter or analyst sees it. That's why this session mattered so much to me.
From the first few minutes, Arnau was well prepared, direct, and focused on what actually moves the needle. He didn't just give generic tips like "add a professional photo." He went through my profile section by section and explained why each piece matters to someone in finance who's quickly scanning candidates. His feedback was honest without being discouraging, which I really appreciated. He pointed out where my profile was underselling my experience and where it wasn't clearly showing that I'm aiming for banking and PE.
What stood out most was how he helped me think about positioning. My background covers corporate finance, project management, hospitality, and real estate, and it can be hard to make that read as one clear story. Arnau helped me connect those experiences to the skills banks look for: financial analysis, modeling, managing budgets and capital, and working with senior stakeholders. He showed me how small changes to my headline, About section, and experience bullets can make that story obvious within seconds.
The session was also very actionable. I didn't leave with vague ideas. I left with a short list of specific edits I can make right away. That matters a lot when you're job hunting and every week counts. He also shared advice on using LinkedIn more actively, such as engaging with the right people and content, so the profile supports my networking instead of just sitting there.
I also want to recognize the overall WSO Academy experience. Between the modeling bootcamp, the company research work, the mentorship, and sessions like this one, the program has given me structure and support during a career transition that can otherwise feel isolating. This call was a good example of what makes WSO different: the people coaching you understand the industry you're trying to break into and give feedback that reflects how hiring really works.
If you're a WSO member and haven't booked a LinkedIn audit yet, I'd strongly recommend it. It's a short time commitment, and the return is significant. Your LinkedIn profile is often your first impression, and having an experienced set of eyes on it is worth it.
Thank you, Arnau, for your time, honesty, and practical guidance. I'm excited to put the changes in place and keep building toward my goal of breaking into investment banking.”
Email all the boutiques you will find out there. And call the ones that don't give out their email addresses. I did that and I got bunch of interviews and offers that way. Good luck!
What should I say in the email? I go to school in myrtle beach,sc so I'm not really close to a financial center.
@tdhenry031
Plenty of banks in Charlotte and Raleigh
I feel like I have exhausted my list of banks in Charlotte. I have sent out a lot of emails (that's how I got my one contact and informational interview) but more often than not I don't get a response. What can I do to improve my response rate? Do you have a list of some boutiques in Raleigh?
Directly call MDs at these boutiques. I wouldn't email them.
What should I say when I call to make them listen? I'm coming from a small school so how do I convince them to take me over someone from a bigger school?
I think the best way is just to try it and figure out what works and what doesnt. Theres alot of opportunities out there and if you mess up on your first couple its not a big deal, you can even go back later and try the same places again.
btw Im in the same (or worse) situation as you (3.1 gpa, non target, I dont even have any actual internship experience), I only called 5 boutique banks so far and got a phone interview for a possible internship. Not sure if anything will happen (I have no experience) but its kinda fun trying to get people to give you a job.
staying positive is really important
Tell them the reason you want to be in the industry, ask them about their path and why they wanted to do it, and ask for any advice. Talk to them. LISTEN.
People hire those who they want to be around. If you come across as calm, intelligent, and enthusiastic most will give you a shot.
GPA cut offs and school pedigrees are both just a hedge. When you get thousands and thousands of applicants and don't have time to meet and screen all of them, picking the 4.0 from Harvard is a safer bet than the 2.8 from Coastal Carolina. That 2.8 kid could be brilliant and have legitimate reasons for fucking up in school (trust me, I would know) but more often than not he's just lazy or dumb or something. The Harvard kid? Far more likely to not be a waste of time.
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I started emailing a lot of MD's at various boutique banks and have 3 phone calls set up already. How do I transition the informational phone call into more of a networking/job hunting conversation if it is going well?
I think you're overthinking it. If you're frank with them about why you're calling, i.e. "I want to be an investment banker," it should come out naturally in the conversation.
"What path did you take to get where you are?" Follow up: "Would you recommend a similar path for me?"
"What does your company specifically look for in a candidate?" Follow up: "That's great that you said _____, _____, and ______. I really got to experience ______ when I ______ed and I learned ______ from it."
Keep going with stuff like that and it should get obvious whether or not he likes you and would like to interview you. If so, excellent. If not? Ask him if he would take a look at your resume and point out a flaw, or just a flaw in your current makeup. Or, if he likes you but actually can't hire you, ask him to refer you to people or give you names of people at other companies to contact. At least get something out of the call - even if what you get isn't an interview it can be a victory.
Trust me too that he knows the game, so drop any pretense about why you're calling. Just be upfront. Chances are he did it himself and it's even more likely that you aren't the first person to cold email him about getting a job.
Finally, make sure to ask each MD if they would be interested in a guy with shit grades from a shit school but with an otherwise sick resume who works in commercial real estate.
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