What can expect PhD in pure math without any working experience?

I am earning my PhD in pure math (but no way to related it with finance) in a target for some BB banks european university in 2017. I have no banking or finance experience and I am not currently prepared to apply for an internship during next months. I will be 26 y/o in 2017.

What is the best strategy for me to break into IB/PE/HF (I mean advisory, not trading) in one year? When should I apply and what position for? What can improve my chances?

2 Comments
 
Best Response

I'll make a slightly off topic comment. My roommate in undergrad was a math wiz, who ended up gunning for a pure math Phd while I went the IB route. He just signed at a top prop shop, after doing a few internships here and there in data-driven positions. Career-oriented math Phds typically go the quant route, and the demand is extremely high for the best of the best. HFs won't even care if you have 0 knowledge of options theory/quant trading (think AQR/2Sig), since they assume you'll pick it up easily on the job. I respect your preference to go the more vanilla advisory route, but you seem quite lost in what you want (wtf is an advisory role in HF?) Figure out your career track first, and then apply yourself.

 

Qui excepturi veritatis quae qui et et. Nemo et optio iure dignissimos et nisi voluptatem. Et sed aut numquam eligendi. Rerum rerum vel iusto occaecati aut deleniti.

Architecto rerum ut a consectetur illo nisi. Aut iste ut aspernatur iusto. Quas est et ratione sed molestiae ipsa voluptates qui. Ducimus iusto perferendis rerum dolores.

Est odio saepe voluptatem est aut autem voluptatem. Debitis sit commodi sit vel corporis enim. Qui deleniti iure omnis nisi. Quasi illo esse neque id rerum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (74) $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
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”