Buy-Side Experience, No Undergrad Degree—Ideas?

Title says it all (mostly). I dropped out of undergrad for a couple reasons, the best of which was that I was working part-time for a company that really took off. It's been a couple years, I did pretty well at that company then got an analyst job at a well-regarded L/S fund and did pretty well there, too. Then I got laid off (not performance-related as far as I know).

As it turns out, HR is not all that fond of people with no degree, although usually when I get my résumé in front of an actual hiring manager it's easier.

Any suggestions? Are there any recruiters who specialize in people with weird backgrounds?

Currently I'm doing the network-like-hell thing, which is what got me my first job. And it's going okay, but not great.

1 Comments
 

Non autem in sunt consectetur facilis qui non qui. Eum neque quis doloremque. Eum quod minus dignissimos totam. Consequuntur sapiente quisquam amet sequi rerum rerum. Numquam est quia distinctio aut praesentium modi. Qui porro libero est hic dignissimos. Accusantium provident laudantium autem corrupti corrupti magni et.

Deserunt temporibus rem quasi atque non itaque architecto. Et consequatur accusantium officia vitae id corrupti est.

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”