Screwed up my MBA summer banking recruiting, seeking advice
So I go to one of the target banking schools (think Wharton, Columbia, Booth) and had prior finance background in top-tier BBs, think (GS/JP/MS). However, I wasn't able to manage the banking summer associates recruiting process. The first semester was pretty challenging to me to adjust to a new location and lifestyle, and the networking intensive banking recruiting moved too fast. I wasn't dedicated enough from the beginning and didn't do many informationals. Now I am invited for interview by a few lower-tier boutique banks but not happy with the result. What I really want is to get into those top BBs. What should I be doing and what can I do? I even applied elsewhere for non-banking jobs because they are with more prestigious companies compared with the boutique banks I currently got. Should I focus on banking and definitely get one summer internship regardless where it is? How should I treat the contacts I accumulated during the process but didn't reach out to earlier?
Did you working in banking prior to b-school? What division were you in?
Unless you're really set on doing banking, why not seek out other industries (HF, PE, etc..).
I was in a top bb but didn't do corporate finance related work. So the skill set is still different. I was considering buy side opportunities in the beginning but found it quite competitive
As a graduate from one of the schools you listed who is currently working in IB - it sounds like you tried to coast through a competitive process. You found other buy side opportunities "quite competitive"? No shit...getting into a top-tier business school isn't the goal - getting the job you want is the goal...you need to work hard. Network. Do informationals. Put in some effort.
At this point - if you want to make it into a "top" BB you should eat some humble pie and get a job a summer internship offer at one of the boutiques you are interviewing with. Stay in touch over the summer with the contacts you hopefully made during your recruiting process. If you get an offer coming out of summer, then approach the BB's who spurned you during the summer internship process.
DoddFrank's comments are probably the most useful thus far. Don't assume you are entitled to a BB job just because you made it to a top BSchool. Take the summer internship, work hard, and then reassess after the summer. Alternatively you may find that you actually enjoyed your summer and want to return, ease up on the prestige search and look for something you like/want to do versus a brand name. Otherwise you will be miserable no matter what you do. GS is sexy, but being depressed/regretting your decision working for GS because you realize this is not what you want to do is not sexy.
I agree with what you guys said... I did expect myself to work hard, but I guess I was a bit bewildered in the first semester.It took me a while to find the right focus...The recruiting window for IB is pretty short in our school. After two weeks from their first presence on campus, many banks sent closed-list events. And there was some family issues made me stressed out..I got pretty discouraged and lost my pace for the process.
I definitely would put 200% of my effort going forward to get a BB stint. How would those contacts view me if I approach them now? How should I explain my failure in the recruiting process?
I mean..there is tons of regret from me, but I do think the BB recruiting process at our school is much more challenging to manage than I expected..
Also, should I absolutely stick with i banking summer internship this summer? If I do equity research or something in a more well-known place compared with the lower-tier boutique IB, how are those two choices viewed by the banking recruiters?
How are you old enough to be in business school, but can't figure this shit out on your own?
Ask SYs who were in your situation as FY and succeeded in recruiting in SY. Each school's bank teams have different view of things. They can also pull you in next year, along with your FY classmates who will know if their banks are looking for people.
What type of work were you doing at the BB? What was your role? Best chance is to network and get an internship at a boutique and try again for full time recruiting.
It's more of middle office type of work.
Bump
What exactly did you do before business school?
At kellogg, hardly a finance school, people with no finance experience - mostly people who dropped out of consulting recruiting because it was too hard - all got BB offers this week. I don't understand how you could mess up the process, with even 50% effort, if you have a finance background.
I'd say best bet if to go at a MM or boutique firm, but I think you've left out some data. Are you bad at networking?
Est consequatur neque et officiis et modi. Rerum ut doloribus dolores sed repellendus. Quo eum mollitia sit veniam id voluptatem aut. Voluptate ut sunt reiciendis nulla rerum.
Atque sit omnis eveniet quibusdam est. Omnis possimus in error. Cumque et asperiores qui aut est fugit est. Sit nihil et facere omnis fugiat. Porro repudiandae et fuga vel autem. Voluptatem nesciunt eum aut rerum consectetur saepe ut quis. Dolorum nobis labore repellat enim ipsam.
Voluptas voluptas id quis. Laudantium maxime laudantium voluptatem. Eveniet velit voluptas tempore quia quasi ut neque.
Qui ipsum molestiae hic accusamus. Quia earum et dicta omnis iusto beatae nihil. Cumque tempora quis esse totam aut excepturi. Sequi repellat nemo natus inventore perferendis hic. Beatae vel architecto ut voluptas consectetur est voluptatibus harum.
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...