No Internships/Military Obligations

ROTC?

Do you have significant military experience? (IE: Four years as a lieutenant)? If so, that's a PERFECTLY viable explanation for why you don't have any internships.

It was ROTC and National Guard duty (including 2 domestic deployments). I functioned as a Platoon Leader for an infantry unit and as an S1 for a battalion of 100+ cadets. I talked to most of the major suspects about internships and the general response was, "we technically can't penalize you for military service but there is no way an internship would be beneficial to you or to our organization if you have to be gone for that long in the middle of the season."

So let me understand correctly. Did you complete ROTC and get deployed and stick it out for four years? Or did you exit before the end of college?

I completed ROTC but was assigned to National Guard service (my choice) so I have to find a full-time job but am still associated with the military. So I guess the easy answer to your question is both, I completed ROTC and will be going to BOLC in the near future but will still need full time employment.

I hate to say that you are screwed but you are probably screwed.

I wrestled with the same issues when I was in school. I wanted to be in the guard for the benefits, etc but didn't want to miss out on internships and wasn't confident that banks would be okay with me being gone for a couple weeks every summer (or getting recalled).

I take it BOLC is like OCS. If I was in your shoes, I would probably get commissioned and go active duty for 4 years, or whatever the shortest obligation is. I know it doesn't sound like fun but if you bust your ass while you are in the service, get promoted (hopefully Captain by the time you get out) you could take your GMAT, get into a good Bschool and apply to BB IBs as an associate.

I know its illegal for anyone to deny you employment because of your military obligations but lets be real...its going to happen. You are trying to get into an industry where people work 100+ hours a week and miss weddings, funerals, holidays, vacations etc, just to turn a deck (maybe a little exaggerated, but probably not entirely) for an MD.

IB just isn't a career where you can just stop working for a few weeks and be totally gone. You get staffed on deals as they come down the pipeline. You can't tell your associate/VP you can't get staffed on anything because you will be leaving in a couple weeks and will be gone for an extended period of time for your military training. I just don't think it will work.

Sorry to sound so grim. Maybe someone on here has successfully dealt with a similar situation and it worked out just fine. I just don't see it happening. Good luck though.

Regards

That has pretty much become my reflex answer when it comes to things involving the military but thanks for the input