Korean with a US green card who wants to break into world of Finance in NYC

I am a 23 year old who is currently serving for the Korean army.. will be delisting 2022/4..

After military, i will have 1 more year of school left (non IVY) excluding 1 session of summer classes beginning in May.. don't have a 3.5 or over GPA but want to break into the world of Finance in the US.. very desperate and willing to do whatever it takes.. I've previously worked for a large cap Korean securities firm for the Global Alternative Investment Department and an insuretech startup in Seoul

During my life in the military I've had a lot of time to think to plan out my future.. here's how it goes

Current-2022/April: study the BIWS Interview package.. or more so really trying to master it (especially the technicals)

2022/Apirl-May: move into NYC to begin networking & jobsearching.. cold calling, emails, friends, networking events.. whatever it takes

2022/May-June: Attend summer classes (not in NYC) & keep job searching

2022/June-Aug: Move back into NYC and continue looking for full time offer for 2023..

2022/Aug-2023/May: last year of school & keep on job searching throughout..Hopefully by the time I graduate, will land on a full time position in IB / PE / or AM..

Just wanted to get any advice/opinions I could get from you guys.. I know I am pretty late according to the "conventional" timeline or neither have any internship experience in the US, I am willing to do anything it takes to successfully land on full time offer.. Hopefully sharing this will trigger more motivation..

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Also a fellow international here who recently landed a FT offer at BB after doing an IB summer internship at lesser-known MM shop. I think your profile is a tough sell but definitely not impossible. Target recruiting is obviously your best bet/chance, but since you have limited access, I would focus on networking asap as soon as you come out of the military and if you can get an IB internship at a brand name shop in Korea or some IB-related work experience right after you are discharged (if you have the connections this won't be too difficult), but I think if you don't have any IB experience you are going to be at an incredible disadvantage to other candidates who do have that on their resume and also haven't been out of school for so long. But because you do have a green card, you will at least have greater optionality and therefore will be able to have a shot at banks where networking can essentially be more useful in getting your foot in the door. Hope this helps.

 

Thank you for your insight.. really helpful to hear from someone's who has been through the process

I have thought about doing an IB related internship in Seoul after discharging, but i am not sure if is worth the time- compared to networking & job searching for the full time offer in NY.. just want to get out of Korea and start things in the US.. hopefully this will increase the chances.. best case scenario would be to land on a summer internship in NY after discharging- if that's the case, I'm willing to graduate a half semester later

As I’m aware that I don’t have a proper internship experience in the US, I am also willing to apply to internship positions post graduation.. open for any chance I can get honestly.. expecting to start at a MM or boutique

 

Omnis aspernatur sed ratione quos nemo quasi quibusdam. Quo doloremque inventore error quidem enim et porro. Cum perferendis alias quia corrupti architecto nostrum. Recusandae ut tenetur voluptatem laudantium dolor.

Error saepe harum eligendi necessitatibus quaerat eaque maiores sapiente. Voluptatem expedita sunt aut qui praesentium. Corporis non molestiae et quos. Architecto distinctio magni quidem et dicta non.

Sapiente quisquam autem perferendis beatae dolore rerum voluptates reiciendis. Alias et ea eius consequatur quod iusto voluptatem. Illum rerum sunt beatae eveniet officia omnis quasi non. Perferendis accusantium corporis commodi explicabo. Cumque impedit deleniti delectus debitis.

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%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 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 (79) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”