SAncient: BB internship when I'm old as dirt

I was lucky to get an SA spot at a BB in London after a year in another career after undergrad, and another year getting a masters. So I'm oldish (24 in a couple weeks)

Anybody have any perspective on being an older intern? I'm know that I was not the only old guy interviewing, but did any fellow Methuselahs make it through? Is it any easier in Europe where everyone seems to have six masters degrees?

I know I'll be older than many of the analysts, but I'm incompetent so I'll have no problem looking up to them. But I suppose I'm most curious about my fellow interns:

I just don't really know any 20 year olds! Any tips for cool lingo so a product of the 80's can kick it with some 1992 vintage? Will they even get my TMNT jokes?

6 Comments
 
Best Response

Don't sweat it. You're 2-4 years older than the people you'll be working with, that's barely any age gap at all. Considering that we're all the perfect "90's kids" (someone who spent the majority of their post-infant, adolescent years in the 90s ... born '87-'92 in my book), don't overplay any generational gap. I actually got along better with most of the summer Associates during my summer than analysts.

As I see it, you have two options: one, don't even mention it and see if you get by without ever being noticed, and two, don't be afraid if it comes out in natural conversation and simply be cool about the whole thing. Either way, I see no huge storm coming of it. Be natural, relaxed, smile a lot, ask questions just like anyone else, treat everyone as a peer, and be prepared to talk sports/video games/news as readily as the rest of 'em. Don't overthink it.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

To OP, just a few questions because I had an SA position last year at a boutique but no FT offer this year. There's more open spots for SA's then FT's and more people apply FT so I'm just asking for some advice because I'd rather not have to do a Masters to stay in education to get another shot at a BB SA.

1) Did you apply through the online for SA positions for BB banks in London like everyone else or did you go through a different process?

2) When you applied did you have lie and say you were currently in education?

3) Were you straight rejected from anywhere by not being a second year undergrad?

4) Which places where okay about you no longer being in full-time education?

5) If you don't mind saying so, where are you interning?

 

My group has an intern now thats 25. The only tip I can give you is don't bring it up constantly and remember that you're there to learn.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Qui reprehenderit dolores eveniet vel ratione et autem aut. Incidunt vero sapiente aliquam nihil quisquam. Dolores dicta aliquam non autem est.

Et reiciendis vel impedit. Magni aut molestiae ad culpa. Velit ut velit alias voluptates et consequatur.

Ut non voluptates inventore dignissimos velit impedit enim. Nihil dolore enim ut voluptatibus eaque. Itaque et reiciendis eos expedita saepe rem voluptas. Ullam enim est magnam nemo neque omnis qui.

Ut qui dolor aliquid assumenda nisi. Aut voluptatum voluptatem nostrum molestiae nostrum aut facilis. Ea eum suscipit ad et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (51) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (26) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”