How does a recent grad with an unconventional background get into IB or S&T?

A little about me, I spent the last few years working as a commercial model (not waitress/etc, actual, legitimate modeling) to put myself through a fairly well-known business school, got my undergraduate last year, realized how questionable my job history looked and decided to take the December 2014 Level I CFA which I passed.

Every job app I've looked at for analyst/associate level positions want matriculated college juniors/seniors or graduate students. I've been applying to dozens of analyst training programs with no luck. How does someone with a degree and no experience get into IB or S&T?

Right now I'm in a temp position doing corporate governance research until May, but I honestly have no clue what I will be doing after. I would prefer to work at a MM or boutique firm than a BB but I realize at this point neither of those are likely recruiting for summer 2015 anymore. Can anyone suggest other options that might be open to someone in my position?

4 Comments
 

I'm reaching out to as many people as I can but up until recently I wasn't sure what I wanted to do (IB or ER or S&T or prop trading or bank corporate treasury) so a lot of the help I've been getting is learning more about the different departments and trying to find a fit. I'm closing in on what I could be really good at and enjoy doing, but also feel like I might be reaching the outer limits of my network. Do you have any suggestions for how I might be able to keep expanding it?

 

If you've exhausted your personal network, then try reaching out to alums, and then once you've exhausted that, try cold calling/emailing

 

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