IB w/ 25 advice

So last year I (25) finished my Master's degree in Finance at a non-target uni from the DACH region. But before starting the full-time Master Program, I started working as an Analyst in Corporate Banking w/ a major italian bank (MidCap). It started as a means to finance my studies, but now after 3y, I got promoted pretty quickly to a Senior Associate & lead a small team.

Hours are nice (~60h) & work can be interesting, but I am fed up with the slow and sometimes bureaucratic processes in corporate banking & feel like my progress will stagnate from hereon. I like working with MidCaps & family-owned businesses - and I ultimately want to work with them from a private equity side.

Before that, I guess I have to get into IB. However, even though I have always been top of class, my resumee does not really stand out (non-target, no IB-related internships) and I'm not sure on how to best approach that challenge.

Do you guys have some advice for me?

I was actually thinking about doing several internships across different firms & groups. (LevFin, Debt Advisory, M&A, Restructuring, Big 4 Corp Fin, Management Consulting, etc.)

But it might actually be weird going back to internships after having my own analyst team & interns. I think I don't mind the hours that much, I have been doing 80-100h already while studying & working simultaniously. However I'm 25 & do n't want to work 100h at 30+.

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Regarding trying internships in your situation. The HR departments of most established institutions that you might apply to for internships tend to just do what they always do which is get interns who have one year left on their degree course when they do the internships. You might be a great older candidate but they are unlikely to interview you as they have plenty of candidates who do have one year to go. So I think the best way is to make smaller moves, maybe into some investment banking type part of UniCredit if it exists or to a similar bank. Smaller players might take you as an intern though maybe also unlikely. And look on LinkedIn etc for people with similar background to you maybe from the same school or country and get in touch. I was also top of my school, but from a non-target from a small European country and only got one interview with a major investment bank which is when I applied to the local branch office where people recognised that my grades were very good and I got referred for further interviews in London. So, I would personally not recommend trying internships but try to get in touch with people who recognise your good grades etc and maybe make smaller moves in the direction you want to go in. Best of luck! 

 

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