Applied to Investor Services instead of I-Banking

I just got an email from someone in Investor Services at a BB for an interview. I was pretty confused until I looked at my application and realized I had applied for the "Corporate & Investment Bank Investor Services Analyst Summer Program. I'm not entirely sure what to do. Do I go ahead and pursue the opportunity or do I tell him I accidentally applied to the wrong division or what. I would appreciate some advice, especially if someone has made a mistake like this before.

 

There's no decent escape from this.

Either you out yourself as someone who can't read a simple application form (ie someone I wouldn't trust with simple matters) or you work in investor services.

Neither is a pretty outcome.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 
Best Response

As the others have said, it is going to be hard to get out of your situation. They likely won't offer you an interview for IB, even if you tell them that you applied to the wrong program (especially since IB requires great attention to detail). I'd either pursue the Investor Services internship, and try to network my way to a FT offer in their banking division for next year or just keep trying at other banks.

If you do decided to pursue the investor services position, then make sure that you don't tell any of your future colleagues that you accidentally applied. Just play along and say that you thought investor services was a good fit for you. Once you're on the job, you can just say that it wasn't what you were expecting and that banking seems more interesting. I've seen people move to different divisions within a bank between their summer internship and full time, so I'd say that you do have a shot at that.

 

I'm a little surprised at how you guys perceive this mistake to be severe. I really don't see myself taking this position. The firm also allows you to apply to 3 positions. Also, it's one bank out of 10 BB out there.

I'll probably just through with the interview and say I'm interested in finance but unsure of which specific section or type of work. I'm also a non-finance major so it'll make sense with my story.

As for making a mistake like this for someone I-banking, I admit it was quite dumb on my part. However, I got interested in finance quiet recently, and between all the different firms have different positions in different regions all titled slightly differently, I don't think it's that crazy of a mistake to make. I applied to this position probably a few months ago and I don't think I would make the same mistake now (having learned so much more about the finance industry and different roles since then.)

 

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