Non Target Chimp
In dire need of advice. Trying to get IB SA from a non-target. Mass applying has not seemed to work yet.
Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum
| +64 | PWP acquisition by Piper cancelled | 27 | 20h |
| +51 | Is my MD a grifter? 16 years, 8 firms | 13 | 5m |
| +43 | No return offer - UPDATE. | 12 | 15h |
| +39 | Article: UBS Wall Street Rebuild Is a Study in Management Failure | 7 | 2h |
| +38 | Evercore poaches Baird DC Defense Team | 29 | 27m |
| +25 | Lack of talent in IB! | 20 | 2h |
| +23 | Best Houston Banks for Culture in 2026 | 18 | 19h |
| +23 | "Corporate & Investment Banking" Analyst - Why? | 30 | 31m |
| +22 | Moat of modelling in PE/Finance completely vanished; | 3 | 17h |
| +21 | Internal lateral from coverage to M&A (focused on coverage) | 6 | 1d |
Career Resources
Assuming you have solid grades, extracurriculars, CV, can pass numerical tests, interviews, etc, general advice would be to go for any front office internship. Failing front office, go for back/middle office. Any related experience helps.
Then, try again next year, maybe even do a master's/delay graduation to get an extra year of internships.
The odds of breaking in are low but not impossible. Good luck!
Mass applying does not work. Most successful candidates really focus on a few firms, usually apply to 10 max.
I disagree. For a non-target (like me), mass applying (without sacrificing quality) is the only way to get top FO internships (IBD, S&T, ER, AM, etc).
Some of my friends from targets did 5-10 and got multiple AC’s. Me, I did over 100 and got 10 AC’s, only two of which were top FO roles. The hit rate for us non-targets, even with top grades, extracurriculars etc is extremely low.
Of course, this is from personal experience/those at my university.
Understand, I just took a different approach. Go to a complete non-target and only applied to 10 firms across the board (IB, S&T, CRE). Got interviews at half of them from networking and real preparation. Much more efficient way of doing things.
Corrupti minima assumenda iusto aut. Doloribus alias quo voluptas voluptatibus cupiditate et animi. Incidunt accusamus occaecati eveniet possimus.
Atque dolores eos neque tenetur illum voluptatibus maxime. Dolor magnam ut explicabo. At aliquid non exercitationem architecto est. Vel quibusdam nemo expedita voluptas nulla. Corporis in eaque delectus omnis.
Praesentium rerum officiis voluptatum repellat. Ipsum id nobis pariatur reiciendis facere quae. Voluptatum consequatur voluptatem sit odit cumque enim. Ad est laborum hic.
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...