Hey guys, I am sophomore at an extreme non-target in the south with a couple of relevant internships under my belt. With many of the major firms application deadlines coming up within the next few months, I was wondering if it was still worth applying to these firms without any connections/speaking to anyone at the bank or if I should not even bother, thanks!
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It doesn't hurt to apply, but you'll be at a disadvantage
Why don't you just start networking?
Your best bet is to target MM firms in the South and start networking with those. It should be easier to break in at those banks (maybe like STRH) since you'll have an easier time networking and maybe making office visits.
While you definitely should start networking, as one data point, I also was at an extreme non-target in the south, and got an IB internship my junior summer with a MM firm I had no connections with just by applying online. I like to think I had very good stats though, and that I was extremely lucky. All the other firms I applied to without networking rejected me without a 1st round.
I networked hard in few firms but cast a very wide net when applying to SA roles. Landed a BB SA role in field that I wanted because of mass applying. For my recruiting experience it was a game of numbers.
There is absolutely no harm in applying. I am from a non-target and knew no-one at the top BB I summered at, just was plucked off the online app. Definitely very fortunate, I know how rare this is though. Point is no harm in applying. (To be fair, I did have very good internships prior in my first two years at school)
You should start networking.
learn connectivity and networking
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