The Rise of IB/High Finance Coaches – Overpriced, Misleading, and Just Plain Annoying
Has anyone else noticed the uptick in IB recruiting coaches lately? Everywhere I look on TikTok and LinkedIn, I’m bombarded by people who have never worked in investment banking, claiming that unless you're from a top school or pay thousands for coaching, you won’t break in.
What’s even worse are the specific examples of coaches making ridiculous claims. Like the guy who calls his program a “super-target” and says that only Ivy League kids or students from his program can break into top IB roles. It’s not only cringe but a blatant lie. Another coach has no degree but brands himself as an “IB expert” despite having only worked as a paralegal for eight months. And then there’s the guy who demands tens of thousands for coaching and insists on meeting your parents before even considering working with you. These guys are pushing the idea that IB is only accessible to a select few, and while it’s competitive, they completely overblow how tough it is to break in.
The most frustrating part is how unfair this is for working-class or poorer students. Not everyone can afford to drop thousands on coaching, making it even harder for those from less privileged backgrounds to break into the industry. To make matters worse, some international consulting agencies (allegedly) go so far as to bribe bankers for interview questions or referrals, further distorting the process and creating an even more unfair playing field.
They prey on fear, convincing students they need to drop thousands on their services to have any shot at success. What’s frustrating is that this takes away the need for students to do their own research and learn the ins and outs of the industry. Instead of gaining real knowledge or building up skills, students are just handed canned answers to memorize. It distorts the recruiting process and makes it seem like IB is more about who you know or how much you can spend, rather than the skills and hard work needed to succeed. Anyone else feeling this frustration?
Careerxl???
that careerxl dudes the sleeziest guy on social media lmao never seen him make a positive post
Dude couldn’t break out of Dallas, let alone actually break into IB full-time but he preys on freshmen and sophomores who don’t know any better and charges them 5 figures. He’s a grifting, arrogant hack, through and through.
There’s also a typo on the front page of his website going back over a year that he’s yet to notice or change lmfao. Hey Nick, if you're seeing this pls fix, thx
Also, keeping seeing replies to my post that aren't here and my original post was also taken down, pretty sure this is because of them containing the name of a certain career coach run by a guy from UT Dallas that has a name similar to JobsObese.
In Germany we had a guy like this become a famous meme. His consulting company recks up debt like horseshit though
IB nicht mehr moglich
Ohne Ralph Lauren Polo, Target-Uni und Pumpkin Careers Coaching? Garantiert nicht. Sagt auch das WiWi Forum!!
Here to drop a few names for EMEA:
A few others I tend to forget but happy for anyone to update the list as per.
At least in the UK, you also have:
Hassan Akram, who goes by City Careers Coach and who has never even worked in IB only as a recruiter. He also never shuts up about how he’s talked at Yale.
Oliver Cordingley, who hasn’t even been to uni let alone graduated, but somehow thinks he is a IB expert.
sameer merchant is too funny lol
guy thinks most important factor in getting in is a level grades😂
Actually met him in person when he came to my uni to give a talk.
also he says that firms view his course as equivalent to an internship
Thomas’ eyes throw me off lol
Other names to come to mind:
Not sure if Eddie Donmez belongs on that list. Financial Edge and Amplify are actual training companies that are widely used on the street
NEVER PAY MONEY FOR SAMEER MERCHANT....when in DOUBT...REREAD THIS COMMENT
careerxl is just terrible
Nick Contreras is a clown. Has never worked a day in real IB in his life. Scammer. Stay far far away.
Bro i want to join his program but im also doubting, i thought he was legit I even talk to some of the students he work with and already working in IB but idk, why do you think he is bs any experience you had with him?
I know kids who drop $30k on this program called One Strategy Group to get IB summer internships lmao
Heard 'em on the streets lol. They have someone inside Evercore so they can get the interview questions b4 AC or shit. pretty unfair u know.
Craziest part is that their placement rate is 60%... Like how can you fumble when you have auto-referrals and the interview Q's
theres also this company called intocity prep (London based idk if they operate in US) u can pay them for an internship and app have 93% placement rate into IB.
i feel bad for the schmucks who fall for scams like these because they are usually non-target so feel like this is the only way to break in - caused by the fear that these places and career coaches sell.
Intocity Prep also posts fake LinkedIn jobs like investment banking, venture capital, private equity internship, etc and then tries to get you to sign up for their course if you apply.
there's this one specific guy who has really lost it in Canada called Jason Lum. The guy spent a summer at CIBC and called it a BB. General embellishment everywhere (he will put things like 2+ and 3+ on his resume as if he can't count past 3). gives terrible advice like 'never network with seniors/MDs, they will never help you.' feel bad for the kids that get sucked in because the ones who really did get good roles likely would've succeeded without the thousands of dollars spent (sorry, according to him, "membership investment")
generally these guys have a vested interest in making it seem virtually impossible to break into banking from a non-target. the truth is it's not, and the tools you need to get there are readily available for free on this site and others. get off the fearmongering train, calm down, hit the books, network, work out, and be a human in your interviews and you'll figure it out.
Dude, I can’t tell you how shit these guys make me feel, since I go to a non-target because I can’t afford Ivy or Smith, and obviously can’t drop that much money on their stuff. Thanks for this comment, man. It genuinely made me feel better.
I stumbled across some guy's post on getting people into IB and thought "fk it, I'll bite." so I filled out his form and then he had a question stating "Are YOU ready to invest in your future?" - I selected no. He reached out and inquired why and then I proceeded to tell him his business is a scam and that all he's doing is repurposing BIWS WSP, and other known guides/resources as a sure way to get in.
He didn't like that and blocked me. Even after I went out of my way to help him clear up his grossly misunderstood notions of IB. I mean, I don't work there either, but I sure as hell don't charge for my "expertise" in the field.
Gymxl
where the check you got that one from lmfao
I have a particular set of skills
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