Non Target trying to get into S&T

Hi, I'm graduating in a few weeks from a non-target state school with a 3.45 gpa and a small tech focused VC internship. I've been sold on getting into S&T for about a year but with no luck in applications I'm starting to lose hope. I accepted a portfolio management job in my home city (not by any means a finance hub, think more tech) but still plan on applying to trading roles once the recruiting cycle begins again. 

Anyone have recommendations on breaking into S&T?

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Hey, so I graduated from a non-target and was able to get into MS/GS/JPM for S&T on a vol desk. A little different since I got my return through an internship rather than full time recruiting.

1.) leverage your network. As much as you have to be intelligent and knowledgeable about your product this is still very much a relationship driven business. So, if you have any friends that are in the space utilize them to help you prep for interviews, get your foot in the door, or even just talk to another person in their desk. This way you can find out more about what you’d do in the job from a first-hand experience and be able to envision it.

2.) find out what product/space you are interested in and take advantage of google honestly. Once you find a space (macro/micro) and a product (equities, credit, rates, FX) that’s you are interested in you will be more intellectually curious to learn it. Hence, you will become more knowledgeable about the space/product.

3.) it’s already hard to get an internship —> return offer. Full time recruiting is much more difficult as you are fighting for one spot with candidates that already have experience. So, find out what makes you different, unique, and the value-add you possess that no one or very few other people can do. While analyst positions are mostly operational in the beginning they also want to see in 3+ years are you able to really be a “trader”, handle high intense, stressful situations, etc.

Keep pushing and believing in yourself, you got this.

 

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