Blue-Collar to High Finance

If any monkeys have made the move from a blue-collar upbringing to high finance I would really like to hear your story(ies).

I didn't have a lot of money growing up, worked road construction after high school to pay for school, saved enough to pay for JUCO after 2 years, and got a good scholarship to a good non-target (going into senior year there).

I have a hard time relating to decision-makers that I meet and it's holding me back. I have the technical skills and work ethic, but I need to learn to speak their language better.

 

I knew a guy who made it with a case similar to yours, but he was an athlete. Relevant experience would probably help you the most. Try starting out in Private Wealth Management or Sales & Trading, then transition over to banking or whatever you want to do. If you have the skills you say you do this shouldn't be a problem as the former two don't really require academic pedigree. If not, start reading up using free resources online. Network hard and it'll pay off. Best of luck!

Swinging Through
 

I have a very high GPA and my resume jumps out well on my RE institute's resume book (RE finance major). Keeping my foot in the door once I get it in is the hard part for me.

I don't have the Ivy league polish that seems to be a requisite for the positions I'm looking at. Based on my resume I was invited to a private recruiting event at an international HF's CMBS group this week. The guys who worked there were all Penn/Columbia guys and I stuck out like a sore thumb.

I need to learn how to interview/network w/ the polish of an Ivey Leaguer and I have no idea how to learn that.

I come from down in the valley, where mister when you're young, they bring you up to do like your daddy done
 
Best Response

Some things here.

First, consider going into real estate with a focus to either scale those ranks or leverage into a real estate development career and have a shot at possibly some true high finance real estate career paths. Worst case you still have an amazing life, experience and make bank.

Second, you have to practice and train. Communication, especially business or "high class" talk is learnable. Study business communication textbooks, read up on social psychology and how people of affluent social classes interact. That's the high level stuff.

Next you need to surround yourself with the people you want to be like. Don't get me some several of the experiences at first might suck but as you experience you learn more and more. That could be getting a membership and playing golf at the local Players club or frequenting high level conferences and networking events.

Lastly, learn the actual techniques there are several gr at books like How to Win Friends and Influence People, and Influence The Science of Persuaduon. Mix that with watching youtube videos of charismatic people, people that are influencers or talk show on Bloomberg and business news sites.

If you study and immerse yourself, you can learn it. I grew up poor and rural and have had tremendous business success by using these techniques to be on a "higher plane".

"It is better to have a friendship based on business, than a business based on friendship." - Rockefeller. "Live fast, die hard. Leave a good looking body." - Navy SEAL
 

Consequatur dolores nesciunt aperiam qui quam dignissimos. Quibusdam quia autem consectetur vel et numquam. Modi quo nostrum ad et perspiciatis dolores perferendis. Inventore ducimus dolores nihil illo laboriosam. Perferendis impedit iste alias est quod.

Aut repellendus architecto et voluptas maxime aut. Et explicabo est accusamus est qui sed ad. Et ea et qui sed voluptatum. Et illo voluptas adipisci ut est quisquam autem. Nostrum assumenda dolor ipsum in earum harum. Sed quisquam quia dolores et inventore. Autem aperiam debitis fugiat pariatur.

Accusamus facere iste dolores voluptas odio ut ratione. Nam maiores enim autem quos sit cupiditate. Itaque quae non possimus. Ipsa aut voluptates magni culpa unde qui in. Ipsum sint laboriosam iste ut. Minima ab distinctio voluptas velit ratione. Est maiores ut ea rerum repudiandae delectus soluta.

Aut consequuntur quia cumque omnis est dolorem commodi eligendi. Et expedita incidunt quia. Voluptate aliquam et et enim sunt eum neque. Autem possimus enim est at laborum sunt eaque.

Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”