Overcoming nepotism
[If you don't like woe-is-me crap don't read through, this is a gigantic woe-is-me rant.]
In my country (don't ask me which country please), getting an investment Banking interview - not even an internship, let alone full-time employment - is probably the most unachievable thing. You can't get anything in finance if you don't have an elitist degree (a university that a nornal person like me can't get into either) & more importantly, if your family doesn't have ties to the corrupt ghouls governing the finance sector. This is killing me. I, along with many others, am totally left out because I don't have a big family name. I can't get any relevant internships or interviews, I have sent literally hundreds of emails and no one even bothers to reply. HR and recruitment staff wouldn't care to answer my calls and I'm not even allowed to get inside any bank to at least speak with HR. The most gullible, condescending, and financially illiterate douchebags end up with the highest positions in IB/PE just because their families are well-known. There is no meritocracy whatsoever, talents are waisted and lost, and with them any potentials in our financial markets. I can't even apply for a decent master's degree to get out of here because of the lack of experience. It doesn't get any worse.
A master's at a target or semi-target in the US or the UK doesn't require impressive work experience as long as you have good grades and an interesting profile. Based on your previous posts you're in the Middle East, go get some oil internship and then explain in your applications that you want to do O&G IBD.
work experience is not needed for admission, but it's definitely needed for subsequent recruitment. I'm doing my best now in other related sectors and hopefully something will come of it.
interesting profile?
e.g. not boring/average. If I look at your resume, can I guess who you are and why you are applying to a master's degree in finance? If we take the oil example:
internship in the oil industry + master's in finance = investment banking in the oil & gas sector
Such equation is neat and powerful and it is a one-line summary of the story you'll tell in your cover letter. An admission officer will not be interested in the oil industry in itself, but a candidate with a well-defined personality and "soul" is way more interesting than a soulless applicant.
You may have non-finance internships, but they can be extremely useful if they fit in your storytelling strategy. Another important point when writing cover letters is to make sure you show some desire to bring positive change to the world. Don't just say "I want to do motherfucking oil deals in Nigeria".
Good luck with that
Honestly? You see people overcome it all the time, it's really not that hard to make a compelling profile. You just seem entitled and angry at the world. Step back and figure out what you can do to mold yourself into an interesting candidate.
I'm not angry or trying to blame it on somebody else, I'm just a little frustrated that's all
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