Hi All,
Happy to share my journey / trajectory coming from a non-target school in SoCal and breaking into a coverage group at a BB in NYC. The path was extremely unconventional and was primarily a function of preparation, good fortune and persistence above all.
Background:
- Private non-target school in SoCal with small presence on Wall St. The few students that break in — happen to place very well and are an anomaly among the general student body (e.g., Lazard, Goldman, J.P. Morgan, Qatalyst, etc.)
- Finance major / 3.4 GPA
- Internships throughout school (M&A deal sourcing, asset management, VC, Corporate Strategy Summer Analyst at a BB, PE before graduation and then recruited full-time for an MM in NYC)
In retrospect, I've come to realize that branding DOES matter, but there are a variety of ways to brand yourself well without going to a target school. For example, strong internships, flawless preparation when opportunities do arise and a good narrative can overcompensate for school pedigree.
To summarize my path, I focused most of my efforts on gaining hands-on experience, having internships that were relevant to IB, networking with professionals / individuals at my academic institution who might be able to help, and having a detailed execution plan.
Please feel free to ask any questions.
WSO Mentors
Do you want a 1 on 1 mentoring session with me? Here's my mentor profile - click here.
WSO Podcast:
Member @Bull-Ish shares how he built up a robust internship profile and networked aggressively throughout his undergraduate studies to help him break into an elite boutique investment bank from a complete non-target with a 3.4 GPA. How he was able to secure an offer even after bombing multiple investment banking superdays and what happened when he had to leave unexpectedly from his analyst stint.
How was this an unconventional path? You had amazing internships and ended up getting a job at a BB because of them. It must not be anomaly that your school ends up placing you at good banks if you do happen to break in. With your internships it seems like your path was very conventional unless you think the 3.4 GPA held you back a ton, which obviously from the internships you gotten is not the case. I don't mean to be negative but I don't see what is special about your path at all.
I gotcha OP I just meant that its pretty conventional to have great internships and then get into IB when you're coming from a non-target. Like it would have been unconventional if you had random non finance internships or changed majors last second etc. With those internships though it just kinda seems like with enough networking and determination it was bound to happen. Congrats!
Completely understand where you're coming from, but don't think you can analyze the outcome in a formulaic way.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but what you're saying is "Good internships + determination + networking = IB role"? If you're in the industry and are from a non-target with a mediocre GPA, you know how difficult it is to even get a networking call. Even more difficult, is converting that call into an intro to someone else within the group and ultimately participating in a formal screening.
Wait......but in order to get a screening, you have to be somewhat comparable in caliber to other people in the pool. Non-target, mediocre GPA, extremely limited alumni presence and lack of IB experience, don't exactly equate to a conventional / traditional profile.
Now if that didn't make it difficult enough, think about off-cycle / full-time recruiting in NYC with that background...easy pitch?
Anyway, the purpose of the messaging was to encourage atypical candidates to compete and pursue their career objectives. I can't tell you how many times I heard, "You should probably think about CA. I think NYC is too competitive", "You probably shouldn't pursue BBs. Focus on MMs and boutiques — they'll be less critical of your school"
My story isn't special and neither am I. The thing I love about the industry and this ecosystem, is it rewards grit and competency. PERIOD
Cheers!