Entrepreneur to investment banking - how to?
Honest advice requested please
I'm 26 and have founded and run small businesses since before leaving university and would now like to transition into investment banking.
Any ideas on how to do this would be greatly appreciated? (direct approach / MBA / MSc Finance etc.)
Commercial experience:
4 years real estate development in Budapest, Hungary. Founded a property development business, raised funding (PE and bank), planned and developed a number of projects (each project valued at 1-2mil euro). Managed takeover of a construction company. Total team under management at peak 25-35.
1 year technology startup. Co-founded an internet portal, concluded content deals with blue chip media companies across Europe (Telegraph, RTBF etc). Total team under management at peak 20-25. Exited to investors after one year.
Academics:
Junior Cert (Irish GCSE equivalent): Mostly As Leaving Cert (Irish A Level equivalent): As Undergrad: Business & Economics, Trinity College Dublin (First class honours with scholarship) GMAT: Scheduled for end June (anticipate 720+... hopefully)
Extra-currics:
Not-for-profit work; founded largest undergraduate awards programme in Ireland / widely travelled / fitness etc
Thanks in advice for any help on this.
Just go get a masters or MBA in Europe and you're set
I would not even get a MSc or MBA. Why not go straight ahead?
Dude, seriously, you could get into any MBA program with those creds.
Cheers Coffeebateman.
That's definitely an option I'm looking at. If I apply to do an MBA after I take the GMATs in June, I'm looking at starting in Sep 2011 - which leaves me just over a year in which to do some work. So I'm still left with a bit of a challenge as to how to get into an IB at a reasonable level for that year... unless you think I could get into an IB now?
Thanks again!
Cold call boutiques in London. I seriously think you have a good shot at getting something. You have a first class degree and some impressive experience. There will definitely be a boutique IB, maybe even hedge fund that will take you.
Start pounding those phones tomorrow morning.
Thanks for reply.
SirBankalot, what level could I hope to go in at after doing a masters? Thinking about the MSc in Finance at LSE.
Poll Bernando, Ideally with 5 years business experience I'd prefer not to go in at junior analyst level... even if it is not IB experience. All the ads for senior analyst / associate are looking for IB experience... which I obviously don't have. Do you think I can overcome this with my non-bank experience to get in as senior analyst / associate or that I should just bite the bullet and apply as a junior analyst rather than doing an MSc / MBA first?
Thanks again!
With that kind of background I think you would be bored in banking. Out of curiosity, what are your interests in banking. I think you would be more suited for PE or VC and you would enjoy them more.
Why in God's name would you want to go into IBD?
Don't listen to the idiot that told you to cold call boutiques. That is strictly for non-target college sophomores in the US, and it won't really lead to anything substantial.
The truth is that it will be very hard for you to get into IBD without contacts. I suggest that you focus on some top-notch MBA programs in Europe like LBS and INSEAD, where there are very structured graduate recruiting programs for investment banking. This is the most common and successful way for people outside of the industry to break in, unless you have some serious connections. You will certainly have a good shot with a first class degree from Trinity and your start-up experiences. Good luck.
He already knows this idiot. He asked how he could get into IBD in the year he's waiting until he enrolls in an MBA.
I'm going to have to agree with some of the people in wondering why you'd be interested in IB after a good career as an entrepreneur. Most people get into IB not for the work itself, but instead for the exit opportunities. With your background, it seems like you could go to those exit opportunities directly, like private equity or venture capital.
To each their own, I suppose. Good luck
Thank you very much for all your advice an assistance.
Looking into PE and VC and will be applying this Sep start an MBA in 2011.
Interested in more responses as well, as my background is kinda similar. However, a lot of people suggest that banking is the exact opposite of being an entrepreneur, so I think VC or PE is the better exit opp.
Guest1655, are you including sales & trading as being exactly the opposite of being an entrepreneur too?
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