Breaking into IB Post-Undergrad

I'm a current graduating Junior at a target/semi-target school (Think Northwestern, Cornell, etc) majoring in math with a 3.5 GPA at the moment. I've decided that IB -> PE is a potential career goal for me and I know that taking the MBA -> IB associate route will rule me out for a future in PE. Is there any reliable trajectory for me to land an IB analyst role after graduation? I have the advantage of only being 20 when I graduate.

 

Get a related job (corporate banking, equity research, corporate development, consulting etc) and lateral into the coverage group of the industry you’re covering at your job. Reach out for networking phone calls the same way you would as a student.

Depending on the quality of the firm you land at, it will probably have to be a MM firm or lower.

Array
 

Is there any reason you can't take another year and graduate in 2020? Add a major/minor and bring your GPA as high as possible, get something for this summer and try to transition into MM or BB IB for full time.

It's expensive but much easier than trying to claw your way up from a full time position in a lesser group/firm. Not many paths that reliably lead into IB without stopping for an MBA

Array
 

Agree that an internship this summer will be tough.

Finance MS is not popular in the US and only really worth it at a few schools (Princeton, Columbia, MIT, some other top-20 types) and if you can get into one of those, it's doable for the OCR. But a top 50/top 100 program won't have enough IB recruiting power to be worth the money IMO

Array
 

Quibusdam voluptatem sint nesciunt eos. Quas ad occaecati ea amet autem exercitationem.

Provident fugit quas assumenda atque. Reiciendis quas est dolore eum facere.

Corrupti delectus saepe ea. Et sed nobis delectus sapiente saepe. Repudiandae quia et ab nemo culpa praesentium alias. In magni rerum amet cupiditate fugiat quos voluptas.

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 (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”