The application forms to apply to the BB banks are so tiresome. I’m currently on an internship and, quite frankly, I am not bothered to complete 6 numerical tests. My question is, are there any banks, possibly even MM banks that are easier to apply to? I’ve done 3 BB applications but cannot being myself to do anymore. Responses are greatly appreciated.
| Current and Former UBS Bankers: Do You Regret Joining? Was It Worth It? | 23 | 3h | |
| +177 | UBS IB Americas has failed, now behind Santander and Stiffel | 35 | 1d |
| +160 | Sent my Claude prompt to 200+ Teams chat. MD wants to see me Monday. | 48 | 1d |
| +146 | Some banks are overrated as fuck | 52 | 2h |
| +122 | Beware all those preparing to recruit for '28 | 27 | 13h |
| +68 | How do I understand vs. just memorizing? | 12 | 2d |
| +58 | IB is the new EY/Deloitte | 27 | 14h |
| +48 | The good and bad with Wells Fargo | 19 | 1d |
| +42 | Tech to IB Pivot | 22 | 3d |
| +39 | Advice on Neuromaxxing | 8 | 2d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Are you serious? No investment bank, (BB, EB, MM - not even Tobin & Co.) will want to hire someone who throws in the towel before submitting an application.
I can understand other barriers to entry like going to a non-target, having a low GPA, zero experience, no network - but not being able to fill out the application itself.... that's a first.
I thought that my honesty would be well received, honestly not. No need for the posturing. The application process is excessive and is a direct contributor to a lot of anxiety and stress to young students. I’m sure I will get hit with another cliché such as ‘you can’t take the heat’, but I suppose, by saying that you’re implying you can take the heat. Which just adds to your own vindication. The non-target etc argument is fair because it is constantly spoken of. My argument may come across as lazy, and possibly, rightfully so, but nonetheless, having to fill out 3 hours worth of applications to be sent an email back is wrong.
No one's posturing. I'm just saying it like it is... The reality is, if you don't fill out those applications, someone else will - regardless of how excessive or how long it takes. And trust me, the anxiety and stress from the applications is minimal compared to what you'll experience on the job.
There's really no other way for me to put it but unless you're rich, go to a target school, or have a great network, there isn't a shortcut. You're just going to have to keep hustling. I know it sucks having spent a lot of time on applications and not hearing back, but you should hang in there.
LOL...IB at the analyst level is all about processing random crap, PowerPoints, filling out questionnaires and edits. If you can’t do it for the application, you best look elsewhere.
Dude... I had to reread your comment multiple times to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. if you think the application process is a huge contributor of stress and anxiety, you are either a troll, or need to look at other occupations well outside of IB.
Yeah well there's always case interviews for consulting and coding interviews for tech so pick your poison well sir
If you can’t handle the heat... get out of the kitchen
when i was a college student, i studied and thought i did a lot of work.
when i started my 1st job, i worked more hours (7am-10pm) and learned more in 3 months than 4 years of college.
most college students just don't understand the pace and intensity of working on wall street...
This post summarizes about 80% of the people who say they want to go into high finance. They want the prestige and money without putting in any of the work. If you can’t even spend the time to fill out an application, how can any banker expect you to turn v20 of the pitch you’re working on? Or take the time to double and triple check your work? Or go through your model line by line to see where the error is occurring? Finance is full of menial, annoying tasks from demanding people. Lots of what you do may end up going in the bin because it wasn’t needed or you didn’t win a mandate. Save yourself the trouble and pick a different field.
It’s called barrier to entry level 1. You, my friend, will not enter.
I hear MidWestOne Financial Group in Iowa is pretty easy
Yikes. Wrong field to get into if an application seems like a burden. If you TRULY want to get into IB, you really have to grind. As another poster mentioned above, there aren't any shortcuts unless you're the offspring of Jamie Dimon. The application process (from physically applying to super days) acts as a filter.
Check out Lehman Brothers application
Wu-Tang Capital has imo the easiest application process.
Disagree. Very rigorous - and our resume pdf doesn't auto fill the fields so you have to do it manually even though you uploaded your resume. We do this on purpose to weed out unmotivated.
Try Tobin & Co.
If you can't even do the apps, you're not cut out for the industry. Sorry bub.
best of luck with the rest of your process.
most of the applications, save for a few, don’t even ask for a cover letter. sure it takes time; but the effort is so minimal compared to the effort you’ll be putting in an internship and then a full-time job.
You simply don't want it bad enough and came off as extremely entitled. There are applicants out there who I'd be willing to bet would fill out 2+ applications for the same firm if it meant they could have a 1% chance of getting a phone screen.
Investment banking isn't inherently hard, but it takes mental toughness to be able to do mundane tasks repetitively 15+ hours a day under the (albeit sometimes false) sense of urgency. Complaining about a application that takes an hour of your time to fill out is the easiest way to filter out those who can fundamentally do the job and those who can't.
Also for what it's worth, I don't remember these job/intern applications taking that long to complete. As a matter of fact, I only remember completing those as a formality after an initial phone screen (since I networked my ass off and was able to get my resume pushed to HR). I would reconsider how you're going about your process of breaking into the industry.
Honestly, thank you for this- really helps put things in perspective. Well said
Glad I could help
Try applying for unemployment, I hear they don't do any numerical tests there
Goliath National
Praesentium velit est et. Sequi soluta iure enim quidem ex provident.
Omnis natus praesentium odio distinctio deleniti omnis. Sunt sint quas ad. Atque dicta ab temporibus. Quas iusto suscipit rerum.
Soluta id a a odit officiis. Maiores voluptates doloremque aut ut pariatur hic est quo. Quis quasi voluptates soluta voluptates.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Tempora eos praesentium alias voluptatem repellendus. Consectetur accusamus qui at sunt eligendi aut veniam perspiciatis. Alias aut veniam nesciunt debitis provident. Consequatur velit alias dolor quis velit ab. Aut illo quis exercitationem natus sit incidunt expedita rerum. Aut omnis temporibus laudantium dolor.
Sit ipsa nihil sed et tempora molestiae officia itaque. Veniam accusantium qui nihil perferendis id. Molestiae beatae maxime ex perferendis necessitatibus laborum in.
Ut modi maiores ducimus unde et laborum in. Esse eos vitae corrupti optio eligendi illum consequuntur. Delectus rerum dolores ut amet deserunt. Modi iure voluptates autem facilis at nam.
Quia sit quia vitae sapiente. Id et vel velit. Iusto aperiam ullam officiis officia nobis quis porro.