Age question
Hello,
How old is considered too old to get into investment banking? Has anyone got into this industry at their late 20s to early 30s?
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Yes
Could you provide a bit more info..?
Haha sorry. I don't have personal experience with this (I'll be 23 when I start FT, I don't think that counts as aged) but I have seen a few threads on here that say while there may be some age bias, it's definitely surmountable.
I just signed my offer to start as a first year analyst summer 2014 at which point I will be 25.
PhilCollins, could you provide some additional info regarding your path to breaking in at a later age? Specifically when you graduated and what steps you took? Did you go for Masters/MBA/CFA?
I am 23 y/o, will be 24 by February and looking to break into IB or ER.
PM sent
I started just turning 24 into IB. Other factors weigh more (unless late twenties, then that is tougher to convince someone)....
Is 28/29 considered old to be an first year female analyst?
28/29 is considered old for any first year analyst, male or female, I believe.
I could be wrong, but I also think the age bias would be greater for women than men. At least subconsciously, I think hiring managers etc would wonder if a 28/29 year old woman would be fully committed, or would want to do things like start a family etc. Again, I could be wrong but I think that kind of bias may exist. However, I'm sure this bias is also surmountable.
Totally depends on situation. Can't speak for myself but for those in my class / classes above me, there were some "older" analysts in mid or late 20's. One guy was in the military for a couple years before starting college, a couple worked 1-3 years in accounting / finance before deciding to lateral but still came in as 1st years. It always comes down to having your story straight.
Depends, where are you coming from? What is your experience? Are you in grad school? Give us a sense of your profile.
will PM you.
Sent u response
If you list your background/profile generically on here, more people might be able to help.
Ok sure...
I came from accounting/audit back ground, have CPA, doing CFA, working in Corporate Restructuring/ Corp Finance in one of the big 4 right now. Let's say I'm in my late twenties.. would it be too late to make it into IB?
I am considering doing MBA or MFin if my current effort doesn't produce any results.
everything changes if you already have a bachelor's degree and are pursuing an MBA. At that point I do not think age matters unless you're going for Analyst positions but I have no say in this and will let someone with more experience chime in.
I do not think it'd be too late to make it into IB from your background, especially if you get an MBA. I can't speak to this so take this second part with a grain of salt, but perhaps with your experience if you go to a top MBA program you could enter IB as a post-MBA associate? Age wouldn't be as much of a factor in that role.
I think breaking into IB at your age will be easier with a top MBA because that will just be more common than people switching careers without going to b-school. You can definitely break into IB with some persistent effort in my opinion.
I'll change the tune on my previous response... you definitely should shoot for the MBA > Associate route as your #1 option. I assume your GPA / pedigree is high-quality because you're with a big 4. Plus add on CPA and CFA when you get it. Therefore, I see no reason to go backward multiple years career-wise for the Analyst route when you're a prime candidate to become an Associate.
There's definitely age-bias. If you're old b/c of Military experience there is a separate recruiting pool for some firms but at my target this process only entailed the first round selection for interviews - which was done separately from the "traditional" students. After, traditional and non-traditional students first round interviews on campus were done together. More often than not, your interviewer is a "traditional" college student but at this point it's up to how you connect - from my experience though, it's an uphill battle. Some firms have a Military-liasons sit in on 'some' of the interviews but again, in my experience, it was only on the superday. I have heard of some firms conducting first-round interviews for former Military over the phone but I have gone through the process at most BB's, MM's and boutiques and this has not been the case for me - however, do not that I did neglect to attend some Military-only networking events so this could be why.
Either way, I look very young for my age, and I hate to admit it but I catered my resume to resemble a young college student and was shocked at how many more first rounds I was able to nab (without going through Military recruiting). Oh, and I'll be starting FT IBD when I graduate next year at the age of 26.
****this is for UNDERGRADUATE students (former non-commissioned Military personnel).. NOT Officers who have gone to west point/the academy and then went to get an MBA****
Are you finishing your undergrad or grad school next year?
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