Breaking into IB from Part Time MBA
Hello,
So just to keep my situation and background brief, I am currently in the part time MBA program at NYU Stern. Initially when I decided to pursue the program, my goals and situation was different. I was managing the operations of my family's business, and thought the program was a great opportunity to expand my understanding of business and was drawn to the flexibility of the part time program rather than the full time. However now, due to reasons I won't get into, I do not see continuing with my family's business the right path for me. I am deciding to pivot, and I am really attracted to investment banking. However, all my work experience, soon to be 7 years, has all been with my family's business, and I do not have any of the relevant background of a traditional investment banking associate candidate.
Also, as I have really taken notice to how the full time students have significantly more access to recruiting, especially with investment banking. In effort to keep this brief, does anyone think it is possible for a part time MBA student, with no traditional IB experience to break into IB? I have tried reaching out to over a hundred regional boutique investment banks in search of an internship, however, this pursuit has been unsuccessful. Do you think this approach is not the right strategy, or is it just a volume thing and keep plugging away at it.
Does anyone have any tips for breaking into IB for a part time MBA?
Thank you, I greatly appreciate it.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights and tips for breaking into investment banking (IB) from a part-time MBA program:
Networking and Informational Interviews:
Targeting Boutique Banks:
Internships and Experience:
Resume and Application Strategy:
Educational Resources:
Flexibility and Persistence:
Remember, breaking into IB from a part-time MBA program is challenging but not impossible. With the right strategy, networking, and persistence, you can achieve your goal.
Sources: Part Time MBA Break Into IB, Accountant trying to break into IB, How to break into investment banking for non experienced, Failed to "Break In" at my MBA Program - Next Steps?, Accounting major, can't seem to break into IB
If you wanted to career pivot, you should have done a FT MBA. Not sure how you spent so much money on a part time MBA without doing your research. Seek help with NYU alumni - good luck.
Curious, what is your experience like with the part time MBA program, and how does it differ from what you've seen from the experience of those in the FT program?
Is it similar opportunities to meet new people / for networking and finding jobs, or are some of those aspects more limited?
So the part time program definitely affords you the opportunity to network and immerse yourself in the Stern community. The classes are the same, and depending on you schedule/flexibility you can take classes alongside the full time students. So from that aspect, there really is not much of a difference.
However, what I have found as a part timer is that it is really up to you to become involved and to utilize the resources the program offers you. I hate to say it, but I really feel the full timers are given the priority and are really the focal point of the university when it comes to employer recruitment. This is definitely the case when it comes to IB, as a part timer you are not even allowed to the corporate presentations for recruitment, so this really is a hurdle to get over when recruiting.
Upon entering the program I did not really realize this. Now that my ambitions have shifted, I have definitely noticed the difference between the full time and part timer opportunities. There is a program called Ignite, which allows part timers to apply to be eligible for recruitment. I have not gone into this program yet, so it is not fair for me to say an opinion on it. But still even with the ignite program, you don't have total access to recruitment like the full timers, so it makes getting into IB more difficult and really up to you to find your own creative solutions, if it is possible.
Overall, I actually really enjoy the program and I am very grateful to be in such a great environment. However, when it comes to recruitment, I have definitely noticed the differences between the opportunities of the full time vs the part timers.
This is helpful info - was wondering how part time students go about networking with ft professionals given the barriers to recruiting opportunities mentioned. Also, given these hurdles, would it be worth doing the FT program for a prospective applicant?
Also, what barriers exist in the ignite program for the parttimers?
I always thought PT MBA students had full time jobs with their tuition getting paid by their employers.
Schools don’t let those students participate in recruiting, one, because they’re already working, and two, because using on-campus recruiting to land a better job just pisses off employers who are losing employees whose MBA they just paid for.
Curious to learn more about this program as well.
How would you describe the general environment and the people within the program and people's personalities overall, and is there a difference between the people in the parttime and fulltime programs?
In my experience everyone is very nice and to my surprise actually very affable. Going into the program I had this biased perspective that everyone was going to be this stereo typical finance bro type, however, to my surprise the environment is very engaging and encouraging for you to become involved.
As for how do the personalities differ between full timers and part timers, really I can't tell much of a difference in personalities. However, I can tell they both have different focuses on their minds. To me the full timers, especially first years, are very focused on getting their summer internships, which makes sense, and that is their main objective at the moment. While the part timers seem to be less focussed on recruitment as most already have a job and are looking for some internal promotion down the line.
Does anyone think it is possible for a part time MBA student, with no traditional IB experience to break into IB?
- Yes, I've met someone from a similar tier program as you who was part-time, and got into IB with no prior IB experience, it sounded like it took a lot of networking and cold email/ cold calling, and took 3 additional months post graduation but he got into a strong hc group, but unsure how others did. Could be helpful to see how other part-time mba grads did to see if anyone had similar background or path and what their process was like
Additionally, I think a good amount of FT MBA students find jobs outside of on-campus events and job postings through a similar approach as the guy above, despite not having prior experience as well. Would those people be seen as different in terms of recruiting as people who are part-time?
Additionally, at what part of the recruiting process are you having the most trouble with? Are people at least responsive / receptive to your outreaches or is it difficult to even get on a call / chat?
Awesome, thanks for the comment, its encouraging to hear others were able to do it. I think it is definitely a good idea for me to reach out to other part timers that were able to make the shift. From an on campus recruitment perspective, the situation is definitely a hurdle to get over. The reason I say this is because IB especially, usually only recruits from their summer internship programs, and the recruitment process for these summer internship programs are only open to the full time students.
The trouble I am having most right now is the outreach. Of all the emails I sent out, well over a hundred, to regional boutique firms, I have gotten 3 responses, each saying either that they recruit from on campus or that they currently aren't looking. Perhaps my approach is wrong? I am customizing each email and making it as personal as possible, while keeping it concise and to the point.
If this is the right approach and its just a volume things, I have no problem plugging away at it more and just keep at it. Also how many times should I email them back, if any, to the ones that do not respond. I definitely don't want to spam anyone, but I know this is a numbers game.
Thank you
Yeah definitely - but just wondering, how would you be able to know who else is a part time student like yourself from looking around a classroom or scrolling on LinkedIn? I think I would have no idea what anyone’s degree is and I see everyone as the same
Yeah I think the outreach you described is good - I did a2a but generally had a similar approach in undergrad. I had to cold call / cold email a lot and would follow up once or twice over emails as I started to run out of options, had varying results depending on the person. During my junior year, there was less clarity around the application/recruiting timeline, but I had underestimated the amount of time I had, so I had missed out on the enrollment for many processes for even some of the places I had previously done calls and chats with. I still get anxious to this day wondering if I’m running behind or missed out on registering for something very important.
Wondering if the on-cycle application process started for you, or does that begin later? I don’t exactly know how the mba internship registration / application timeline works either
I did a PT program and now work at GS/MS/JPM. The key here is do you have access to the recruiting guidelines? You need to make sure you follow the guidelines from Stern when it comes to email etiquette, dress code, and timeline. If you are reaching out to banks too early or too late, it won’t work. Another point you may want to consider is to recruit outside of NYC because in other cities the recruiting process will be less structured for Stern and groups are unlikely to receive a resume book from FT Stern career services, so you won’t be that candidate that sends a weird email and who is not on the resume book the banker received from Stern. Following the recruiting guidelines is key so you do it the right way is key.
TLDR: read Stern’s recruiting guidelines, do it “on-cycle” when bankers are receptive to coffee chat requests, and focus on non-NYC groups.
Hi I’m not OP but why should the focus be on non-NYC groups?
When does on cycle recruiting start?
Awesome, thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. Makes sense actually to reach out to non nyc boutiques
Why does OP need to know where the interview guides are saved?
Lol what... read what OP wrote, he wasn't asking where any interview guides are located, nor was that implied...
Random advice but I think keeping up to date with job / recruiting info is helpful. I believe there are apps / sites that gives people notifications of when certain firms are hiring and for various job/internship openings
Really? What is the name of this app or site?
There are various job boards that give listings, such as:
Indeed
Glassdoor
Wellfound for various tech roles
Likely some others that I haven't listed
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