Start i-Banking at 31

I'm currently 31 yo and really started looking into an i-banking analyst career either in Los Angeles or NYC, due to a friend of mine who works at Morgan Stanley private equity division making insane money. I have a BS in accounting and MBA in finance. I have 6 years of experience in corp finance/auditing and recent 4 years of business development experience in consumer product. I have started researching on i-banking, online classes, self study, to get my self up to speed with all the financial concepts, advanced modeling skills...etc.

Has anyone made this kind of career transition and actually made it into i-banking? What is the best way to go about it? Welcome any comments and suggestions.

12 Comments
 

You will not be an analyst with this much experience but I have doubts that they will welcome you with wide open arms for an associate position, without relevant work experience in M&A.

Your friend at MS could be your best source. Try to get info out of him. You could also leverage alumni network. Make cold calls and ask what they think! If you are patient, some of them will gladly talk to you and answer Qs.

 

Yeah you'd come in as an associate for sure, what firm you can go to is somewhat dependent on your role in business development. No one really would be bothered by your age; it's unusual but you won't get ding'd for it.

 
ceotaiwanWhy can't I go in as an analyst and start from the bottom?

I'm not sure that I...um...yeah I definitely don't understand the question.

 

You have an MBA you said, MBA's, even those without experience are hired as associates. There is no way you would be hired as an analyst. Associates are hired without IB experience all the time. It just usually tends to come from on campus recruiting

 

A) why would you want to start at the bottom of the heap if you don't have to?

B) confirmed, that at least a lot of summer associates have zero IB W/e

 

You will prob have a little harder time to get into IBD, since you have "missed the train". I mean that regular recruting happens right out of ugrad and right out of MBA. And unfortunately you do not fall in these 2 categories, if I am not mistaken...When did you get your MBA???

 

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