Career advice/guidance for an undergraduate student

Hey guys,

I am in need for advise from people with greater insights into the Investment Banking "industry" and the way they recruit.

I am an 2nd year Undergraduate student, currently studying finance/management (the most prestigious study in my country) where i am placed in top 15% of my year. Furthermore, I have been working as a student assistant (corresponds to a part-time internship) at McKinsey & Company in Copenhagen for almost a year now. I have been considering joining Investment Banking as my career path after my undergraduate studies (will be finished in summer 2018), but i missed or applied to late for the summer internship position available within Investment Banking in London. (I have been told the summer internship after your 2nd year is the standard way of breaking into the industry after your undergraduate studies). Therefore, I am in a miserable position going forward, as joining an IBD in London would have been the most desirable outcome.

My question for you folks is as follows:
Is there another way in, that will allow me to join an IBD in London after my undergraduate studies?

Any advice is appreciated

Thanks

 

Would it be feasible for you to study a Masters programme at a prestigious institution in Europe after you graduate? For those who typically miss the boat so to speak for summer internships/ could not convert their internship, it is very common in Europe to study a Masters programme as you will then be eligible to apply for summer internships in your final year prior to graduation.

 

Well, I have considered that option as a possibility and I think that I might end up doing that if it turns out to be impossible to land a analyst position after my undergraduate studies. Do you know anything about off-cycle internships and when most IBDs might have their deadlines?

 
Best Response

I don't know much about off cycle internships myself but as far as I know they are typically for experience and less so as a means to secure a full time position (others can correct me if this is not the case in Europe) and hence either way it would probably be a good idea to attempt to apply to boutiques looking for either off cycle or summer internships and then to additionally apply for a masters. However I am pretty sure that even now there are IBD summer analyst positions which may still not have finished recruiting and/or do not openly advertise their positions so it may be worth either looking for smaller firms and cold calling to see if you can get something for the summer.

 

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