Lost Senior and need help

Didn’t get return offer from my IB internship this past summer at a “top MM”. I am lost and don’t know what to do. I was told relatively late, so I didn’t have a jump on the process and started to get lost. My leads are far and few between and the outlook is dim. I am open to anything in finance really, but just don’t know the right jobs and how to approach recruiting for them. Also if it’s helpful, I go to a decent school w a good GPA with plenty of experience and a handful of “finance” internships including this past summer. Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

For reference, I have tried recruiting for corporate banking, consulting, RE, and PE and haven’t found any luck. I am starting to interview at jobs that I previously thought I was “too good” for, it’s a bad mentality to think I’m above anything, but times are rough and I had an ego when it came to these things.

Please help.

7 Comments
 

Seen a lot of people in your situation head for TAS/FDD roles at B4 firms. Not as glamorous but could always work your way back to IB via an MBA. FP&A, Treasury etc are also not too bad. Considering you’re pretty early on in your career would take anything you can get that’s “finance” eventually crush your GMAT and go via an MBA route into IB/PE/MBB.

The ego is what’s hurting you right now in all honesty and you should really let it go. Take what you can get and forge your own career no need to follow the standard route for anything. There are so many routes into High finance anyone who tells you your “too late” are idiots on WSO who think the only way to get into IB/PE/S&T and any other elite finance career is via the standard route. You seem smart enough academically but need to stop panicking thinking that the doors to IB are closed to you.

I’ve seen people go from MM AUDITS to Rothschild IB, audit to private credit heck I know a Non target guy who worked his way from internal audit to FO trader so anything is possible if your motivated enough. But to actually learn and work your way up you need to lose the ego quite frankly.

 

Appreciate the response. Yeah the ego has been lost(or so I hope), and that’s why I haven’t really been considering just IB. Frankly, I’m leaning towards other career paths instead of IB just because I used to think it was the end all be all, but recently discovered it isn’t. Also, am not sure I find the work in IB super interesting. It’s hard out here.

 

Idk when apps close but have you considered doing a Masters? You could probably get into one at your current school relatively easily and maybe even transfer to a hyper target to really maximize chances for a possible FT recruitment in Fall 2024. Just a thought.

 

Hey man, Im also in the same boat, was told end of sept due to non-performance related issues, and been ft recruiting for a month now. I know how it can feel. If you need someone to talk, feel free to pm. But all u can do is stay strong and positive, and keep grinding. I’ve actually had more interviews during ft than sa, and its really all luck so dont beat urself for it. Stay strong king

 

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