What to do before FT

Hi everyone, just landed a FT IB job with minimal finance experience. College senior with a lot of free time, looking for ways to prepare over the next semester and a half so I am not blind walking in. I know the usual advice, get laid, spend time with friends etc, looking for ways to be productive before starting. Thx in advance. 

8 Comments
 
Most Helpful

This is only my opinion, but:

Sure, go get laid.

Or maybe…. put your fucking head up, be an adult, start studying, preparing for your job and the things that actually matter.

You won’t loose your closest friends because of work, but you will loose you job due to negligence and underperformance bro.

There’s 168 hours in a week.

First impressions are a long-lasting stamp.

- Start grinding excel, start practicing 3-statement models and valuation (purchase the modeling courses at WSP and BIWS).

- Call every buddy you have that works in IBD and take them out for breakfast and literally bombard them with questions.

- Research the industries you’ll have the most exposure to

And spend the remaining hours drinking brews with your boys and getting laid.

Good luck and congrats on the offer.

 

Great advice here. A great way to maintain many of these habits is by taking on a leadership role in an investment club at your school if there is one. Not only will you keep your technical skills on-point, but you will also learn what it is like to view these work streams from the perspective of a manager.

Additionally, I would suggest doing some travel if possible. You’ll make good memories and become a more interesting conversationalist, particularly in circles that can afford to and have travelled to cool places.

 

Not in industry yet, but it seems like doing the prep that most people do just to get the job would ensure that you're at least at the level of your peers going in. So BIWS guides, some basic modeling, etc. would be a good place to start

Just say no to consulting
 

Ab aliquam rerum est vel assumenda quam. Sapiente voluptatem molestiae dolor ea omnis illum vero. Quidem est cum sunt dolor. Asperiores est aut sit perspiciatis itaque. Et eum accusantium quaerat atque enim aspernatur similique. Soluta non aut corrupti debitis explicabo molestiae eveniet. Quis maxime nostrum deserunt voluptas accusamus.

Qui nihil inventore itaque perferendis perspiciatis nihil. Iste et quibusdam sunt. Ad nemo alias et corrupti est dolorem. Facilis maiores asperiores molestiae in quas amet debitis.

Et id totam officiis laborum et repellendus sed. Deserunt id dolor quo enim reiciendis enim.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”