Hi guys,
This is the first time that I write a message like that but I hope that I will have your advice. First sorry if my english is not perfect, I am not a native english speaker. I come from a target school in Europe in Finance (Top 3) and graduated with a master 2 in Finance last year. It makes 2 years that I try to join Investment banking or M&A boutiques and never succeeded to have an offer even from the smallest one! The thing is the recruiters always hire people from my school and my classmates all managed to join Investment Banking or leading advisory boutiques except me.
- I had more than 15 interviews for internships in Investment banking (in the last 2 years) for almost all the banks and always got rejected : 4 times for summer internships in bulge bracket banks, 2 times for a full time job in M&A and 10 times for internships... -I did an internship in internal M&A in a top 5 European company, my internship went very well and got a very good recommendation letter! However at the end, the head of M&A who was a previous director in one of the world's top bank in NYC told me that I will never get a job in Investment banking because my personality just doesn't fit. According to him "I am immature, like a 15 year old girl who wants to join IB", "I am too nice", "I care too much about the people" and I am not "shark" enough.
- After this internship, I accepted a full time job in audit despite the fact that I hate it and I will resign soon (after less than a year).
- I networked a lot and I also became friend with an associate in a big bank in London (whom I worked with). He tried to help me get in but there was no vacancy. It seems like this guy likes me for who I am and as a friend but doesn't see me as a "potential candidate".
I am quite desperate. It makes two years that I work A LOT to join Investment banking (did a prep school for investment banking interviews that was very expensive + paid for mock interviews, gonna meet soon associates for coffees), work a lot on my technical skills but I am still rejected.. It is still a dream for me to join IB and this is not for the money. I am sure I will enjoy the work and I have the endurance.
Do you think that I should give up?
Thanks guys for your answers.
