Too Late to Break In?
First time posting on here, have recently been trying to learn about the path into high finance but I'm not sure if I'm too late. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I graduated in 2022 from a non-target school with a bachelors in business admin. I did a financial analytics internship for a healthcare company in 2020, took a gap year during covid, and after finishing my degree began working in healthcare sales. After a few months of this, I realized that my original idea of working in finance is what I want to pursue.
Is it too late to break into IB? I never had a summer analyst internship and did minimal networking during school. I know it would be an uphill battle from here, but has anyone here gotten into IB after school without any background in it?
Edit: Forgot to add I had a 3.4 GPA, so without getting my resume in front of the right people, wouldn't my application just get auto filtered out
Hey there! It's never too late to pursue your dreams, and breaking into Investment Banking (IB) is no exception. While it's true that having a summer analyst internship or a strong network can make the process easier, it's not impossible without them. Here are a few tips based on the most helpful WSO content:
Networking: This is crucial in the finance industry. Start reaching out to people in the industry, attend finance-related events, and don't be afraid to ask for advice or mentorship.
Education: Consider furthering your education. An MBA from a top-tier school could help you break into IB. It's a common path for many who didn't get into IB right out of undergrad.
Leverage your experience: Even though your experience is in healthcare sales, you can still leverage this in your applications and interviews. Sales skills are highly valued in IB, so be sure to highlight this.
Internships: It's not just students who can benefit from internships. Consider looking for internships in finance or related fields. This could give you the experience you need and help you make valuable connections.
Persistence: Breaking into IB is a challenging and competitive process. Don't get discouraged if you face rejections. Keep applying, keep networking, and keep learning.
Remember, everyone's journey is unique, and there's no one "right" way to break into IB. Good luck!
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It is not too late to break into IB, but with your stats it is highly unlikely. Your best bet is probably to hit up alumni in regional shops to get your foot in the door. You'll be lucky if you can get an interview and if you do get an interview, thoroughly prepare as it might be your only shot.
Thank you for your response, I’ve been networking recently and I’m thinking of taking a back office job as a way to get my foot in the door and see if I can go from there. Do you think that’s a viable option?
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