Your opinion on my chances breaking into IB

Monkey from Eastern Europe here. Target school in the Netherlands (one of the best). Next year doing a master's in finance. Currently working (intern) at one of the Big 4 companies in my home country. Next month I am transitioning to a state agency (as an analyst) focused on attracting investments and grants for a particular region in my country. Continuously exposed to management consulting and finance-related tasks like strategy development and modeling. Getting my CFA Level 1 in the summer. My GPA is 8,1/10, it’s like 3,7 US grading system.

Do you guys think I have decent chances to get an internship in one of the major banks? (In Europe)

5 Comments
 

It's EXTREMELY EASY for you. But this means nothing. Because YOU give yourself the chances. YOU create the chances—not them, me, or anyone else here. How much do you want it? If you want it badly, you should be already applying, talking to people, networking on LinkedIn... well before you start your Master's in Finance or get your CFA, etc. The doors are all open for you my friend provided that YOU give yourself the chances. Go hunt it down dude.

 
Most Helpful

I think you definitely have a good chance. You are already doing internships before your master’s, so you are ahead of many students at Dutch universities. In addition, your Dutch GPA is very good. Definitely sufficient for IB (I have seen people getting in with lower GPAs). My advice would be: make use of all the recruitment and networking events during your master’s. There are many events out there, either with companies or alumni. Assuming that you are doing your master’s in NL as well, the International Banking Cycle is the main IB recruitment event in the Netherlands, many BBs are present (JPM, BAML, MS etc.). It takes place in September so make sure to register on time, and already start writing cover letters well in advance. When applying for workshops and presentations you need to provide cover letters. But besides this event, I would also apply for SA positions if I were you. Just spread your chances : )

Good luck!

 

Okay that might make it a bit harder but definitely not impossible. There are enough non-EU students who do internships at banks in either the Netherlands or other European countries. Dutch universities almost always have services that can help you with getting the right documents etc. Just make sure to be early with researching this stuff and contacting your university.

 

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