Advice for embarking on banking job search please?

Hi all

first post here, and after having browsed through seems like a pretty resourceful place, so i figured id see what people had to offer.

i go to a non-target/non top-tier school with a 3.4 gpa.

my experience:

4 months in ubs wealth management (private client office) 6 months on ubs trading floor (credit derivatives) 6 months of merrill investment banking

i was an intern for all these positions

i have been treasurer of my sailing team and the international affairs society

i was wondering what my chances are of getting interviews at other bulge bracket banks and what would be the best way for someone who does not go to a ivy/target school to approach this situation. any help would be much appreciated. thanks in advance!!!

6 Comments
 

the wealth management was through fathers contacts. however,i go to a 5 year school that makes us work in industry for 6 months at a time and we switch back and forth between classes.

needless to say i had to work VERY VERY hard on interviewing skills and learning the actual finance. and these were some of the top internships available. the first foot in the doorstep through the wealth management was a huge help in getting the interviews at least.

also the internship department is separate from career services, and does not aid in full time job search. career services only has positions in operations unfortunately

 
Best Response

Having had three internships at BBs, you shouldn't need help geting a full time job, especially if you worked for ML IBD for 6 months. You should have enough contacts that you shouldn't be asking this question. Did you not network/inquire about full-time positions during your internship. Do you have the contact information for HR at Merrill? If you don't want to work at ML, I suggest you apply online.

 

i suppose the first problem is that it was not Merrill IBD..it was Muni-Banking. interesting but not my cup of tea. shouldve mentioned that at the forefront.

ive never met anyone who has even gotten a callback through submitting the resume online. seems like you just let your resume drop into a huge void and it never gets looked at?

 

Agree with gq. You should have begun neworking as soon as you got into these places. Should always be using the resources around you to get ahead.

Did you make any contacts that could help you get into ibd at merril/ubs? Or if you made any friends at all, the should be able to help you with other banks.

This is your best resource and qualification. The other stuff is non-differentiating. Use it as much as possible.

 

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