IB or bust

I am a sophomore at a target school and I'm getting frustrated with my IB job search. I know it's tough to break in, but I've been sending hundreds of emails to my alumni directory and applied to various jobs only to receive one interview thus far (EB). I'm obviously going to keep trying to get into IB but is it truly IB or bust? What are some other good banking jobs/internships to go for in 2021 that can still lead to a successful career in finance. Any help is appreciated.

7 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I know your frustration first hand, when I was looking to break into IB, it was like that, and unless you come from a well off family with tons of connection or you attend a target school, its going to be hell but don't give up.

Asset Management is one you can try to put on your resume, that would put you in a good position to get an actual IB gig the following summer. Wealth Management is another good one. You can try applying to local Private Equity Firms around you that are typically smaller. You can also try applying to local Investment Banking Firms around you that are typically smaller. Do a quick google search by typing, "Local [insert job here] near me."

Just don't give up. I probably cold called and emailed like 2,000 people before I got something tangible and I wanted to quit too because it just wasn't fair in my mind, but that's the way it is in a nut shell.

Amazing-Boomer
 

If you're at a target and having this level of difficulty, you may want to reach out to juniors/seniors and see what they did or what you're doing wrong.

"Markets can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent."
 

Maiores est ut eligendi est cupiditate. Repellat perspiciatis dolorem est qui sapiente.

Tenetur voluptates est ea illum assumenda ad sint saepe. Error neque dolor architecto maxime beatae et aut id. Voluptas ipsam dolorum autem optio dolorum. Officia dolor sit tempore quam aut quis. Est aut voluptatem voluptatem velit maxime. Non ipsum fuga nisi ducimus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 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

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • 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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”