Well I would just like to thank all the members and forums on WSO! I know there have been so many of these but I owe a big thanks to WSO. I finally received an offer, after attending a Non-target, some work experience, and ZERO connections. The technical guide (from the IB Prep Pack) from WSO was HUGE-- so many of the questions were literally straight out of the guide. All the pros here on WSO, constantly post useful topics, current events, etc which is so useful, thanks guys! It been a long journey of interviews, but I am so lucky to get a job as a recent grad. For all you guys that are still searching, never give up!
Some things that helped me get the job:
1) Networking till you drop.
Getting coffee with joe schmo who is a MD or w/e at so and so company, that went to your school. Cold calling, or cold calling just to see if you can talk to someone in the industry. Researching and finding lists of companies to apply to --Cold emailing (huge got my job this way), I used the shotgun approach and it worked somehow!
2) Get the WSO guides, they're extremely useful!
3) Work hard at it and make your own luck!
Cheers!
congrats!
Congrats!
Great to hear another. can't have enough of these. Remember to become a Certified User once you're working.
Awesome man, banana for you. Congrats.
CaptK. I think your suffering from to much cheap SB liquidity because your giving it away easier than a drunk Tijuana whore.
Hahaha thanks guys!
congrats! I'm hoping to emulate your story in three years
Congratulations.
Congrats dude, great to hear that this site and the WSO guides really help people rock the interviews and break into the industry. Patrick has done an awesome job creating an amazing forum with amazing information and resources.
Congratulations!
Never Give Up!!! (Originally Posted: 08/01/2016)
I have had an account on this site for the past few months but I did not start posting until recently. I would like to give some background information on myself and I hope I can inspire others.
I graduated high school in 2011 slightly above average for my class (of about 212 people). I then went to a decent university but I failed out eventually because I was too busy partying (acid, molly, blow, tons of booze/weed/loose pussy) and too hungover to get up for class. I took two years off to work (retail/food industry/tourism) and to support myself and my lifestyle. At first this was great because I had a ton of fun for the first time in my life (I was kind of a loser in high school and I come from a very conservative family; so I was an awkward virgin who couldn't hold a conversation). After working shit jobs for shit money with shit people, I came to the realization that I did not want to continue this life. I wasn't going anywhere! I was simply existing!
One of my roommates at the time was a finance major and he would always talk about the work he did. This sparked an interest in economics/finance/business for me. In my free time I would read as much as I could to educate myself on the markets and careers in finance.
Over the next year I continued to work full time and took night classes to get my GPA up and so I could have more credits. I applied to several colleges last summer for full time enrollment and most of them rejected me. They could not get over my abysmal cumulative GPA and the fact that at my first college I had a record for plagiarizing a paper (I panicked at the last minute before a paper was due because I did not want to fail the class; I got caught and failed anyways). I drove out to visit several colleges (some that were hours away) to try to convince them to let me in. A few schools were impressed my "redemption story" so I got a few acceptances. Target schools were wayyy out of my reach. So I chose to go to a large non-target university in the northeast that has fantastic resources, great sports teams, and a social scene that I knew I could fit into.
I came in as a Junior knowing no one and knowing dick about how to get a job on Wall Street. I did not get one of those high flying Wall Street internships that everyone on this website is obsessed with since I was still figuring out how the process worked as well as adjusting to a totally different environment. But I got a 3.5 GPA, networked a ton with alumni, and I am interning at a local investment firm this summer ($400 mil AUM) where I am actively involved in the investment process (picking individual stocks, bonds, and preferred shares). I actually got this internship the same way I got into my current university. By physically showing up at the office in a suit and with my resume. Old School guys love that. If only you could do that at GS.... My current firm does not have any full time opportunities but I have learned a ton from my boss and I cannot wait to start the process for full time jobs.
I now know what it takes to make it and the steps I need to take. These past few years I have learned a ton about the markets, careers, and myself. I may not have the pedigree or background as a lot of these Ivy League brats on here but I have a self-awareness, passion, and work ethic that I hope will carry me into my dream of eventually managing my own L/S Emerging market focused hedge fund.
My immediate goals are to land a full time gig on Wall Street in S&T, AM, or ER upon graduation. I may not have the credentials to end up at a BB or one of the larger AM firms (BlackRock, Fidelity, etc) but I would be totally happy at a smaller firm as long I am involved in the investment process.
Anyone feel free to message me if they think they can learn something from me or if they just want to bullshit about the markets/careers.
Great story, keep going!
Awesome story. Thanks for sharing man!
Congrats, keep towards your final destination!
1st post: My story- NEVER give up! (Originally Posted: 08/08/2017)
Hi monkeys,
I'd like to start off this post by saying thank you for all of the incredible content on this forum and site. I've been reading this site for a long time and am now joining the community. I'd like to introduce myself with my background so others have a sense of who is the person behind my future posts. A TL;DR version will be at the bottom.
I got interested in finance at around 14 through playing fantasy sports when my father and his financial advisor said I should learn about the markets and make real money doing something that is analytical and projection driven. I eventually sold myself short of a loose plan to get into finance by dropping out of HS(2.8-3.0 GPA, hated school, was immature, etc) at 17. After dropping out, I started working as a RE assistant and then got my RE license and began as a Realtor at a major firm(think: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Sotheby's International Realty, KW, Coldwell Banker, etc) in a high end market. I didn't really enjoy it(and it's tough convincing "old money" folks to hand over an inexperienced 18-19 year old their most valuable asset) and sold myself short of finance because I was too lazy to go to college. I had an epiphany at 19(about 8 months ago) and said if I can work 40 hours per week doing something I don't enjoy, why not go to college and apply myself and get back on track for my life's career goal: high finance? So I got my GED and immediately signed up for my local community college(which luckily for me is one of the best in the nation) and started this summer. Through 4 classes(Math, English, Finance, etc) I now have a 4.0 GPA and am set to start fall semester soon. Also, I've obtained an internship through networking efforts at a local PWM firm and work with updating client presentation materials as well as have access to the platform in which they trade, so I can research and familiarize myself with the funds, REITs and securities they invest in. I also am joining the board of a charitable foundation that has a diverse portfolio of blue chip securities that gives to various causes. I am now on a path to pursue a career in NYC in an FO role upon graduation after I transfer colleges in the spring(I'm aiming for Cornell AEM, Dartmouth, UMich, NYU Stern, UNC Chapel Hill). I would prefer to work in investment management rather than banking(trading, AM or HF are my top 3- trading being most realistic coming out of UG) however I'm open to everything. I'm now 20 years old and about a year or two behind my peers who worked hard from the onset however, I am 100% committed to obtaining the best possible grades and getting onto the street and joining those of you on this board into a finance career.
TL;DR: dropped out of HS and sold myself short of finance dreams, got back on track- got a GED, RE license. Now in CC and pulling a 4.0 while working a PWM internship. Hoping to transfer to a target for fall '18 and then work in trading, AM or HF. I'm now willing to do whatever it takes.
****The point here: for anyone in HS or college, don't sell yourself short. You can either suffer the pain of discipline now, or the pain of regret later. Even if you hit rock bottom as a dropout like I did, you can still turn the ship around. It requires a complete mindset change and a commitment to your success. Best of luck!
Anyway, I'm honored to be a member of a forum with so many smart, shrewd and experienced people. This truly is a great place to build a foundation of how to get on the right track and pursue something worthwhile. I would not have the knowledge of colleges, industry basics, etc without this forum. Thank you all! Here's to many more!
+1. I messed up in HS as well. Thanks the inspiration man!
Are you west coast or east coast? Anyways, Good f**king shit bro!
Thanks, in southern California.
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Never Give Up (Originally Posted: 01/03/2018)
One of my buddies from forestry school always wanted to get into finance. After we graduated, he got an MBA at a target school. He was rejected from BB IB roles idk why when he had a 3.8 GPA. He instead found a high paying job selling insurance in the mid west. If any of you ever face rejection, you can be upper middle class selling insurance in Minneapolis.
A 'high paying job selling insurance' is an oxymoron in it of itself.
I'm dying. I'm sure you're being serious but it feels like you're telling a really funny joke.
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