Its a slow day for me, so I figured I would take some time to share my story. I hope that at the very least, some of you will find it interesting. For others, I hope it shows that career progression is not linear, and crazy things can happen with patience and luck.
Just over three years ago I created a post on WSO asking for advice. I had been unemployed for 11 months, and the only job offers I had were underwriting surety bonds for an insurance company, or working at a glorified call center. But, at the same time, I was in a process for a seat in ER. I had to make a choice, go for the ER job and risk losing the only job offers I had, or accept I would not have a career in finance (for now).
Today, I am two weeks away from starting a new job as an Investment Banking Associate after three and a half years in ER. My path has been unconventional. I was an Arts major at a solid school in Canada. I was almost suspended after my first year due to poor grades (was placed on academic probation instead). By the time I graduated, my resume consisted of a mediocre GPA (I pulled it up from a 1.7 to a 3.0 on a 4.3 scale) and zero work experience (I did not have a single internship having spent my summers working as a line cook).
Here is a rough progression of my career since undergrad:
- I spent my first year out of school doing unpaid/low paying internships at a search fund and a hedge fund;
- The hedge fund does not hire analysts, so I was then unemployed for 11 months;
- After 11 months of searching, I had three job offers. Underwriting surety bonds, working in a call center, working as a barista.
- A day or two after I accepted the job as a barista (I wanted a part time job so that I could spend as much time possible trying to break into finance), I got an offer in ER;
- Worked one year in ER at a small independent investment bank (lots of stories from this time);
- Was poached to join the ER team at a bank;
- Worked two years in ER at the bank when an opportunity came up to move internally to IB;
- Went through 16 interviews with three different IB teams. Received an Associate offer from one, a Sr Analyst from another. Last group was looking for a Sr. Associate but said they would have offered me Associate if they had the mandate to hire a 1st year Associate.
🤝
Congrats man!
This is awesome.
What a story, would love to hear more stories from your time as an ER at the independent investment bank.
That's great to hear as a non-target undergrad with little traction. Thanks for sharing.
Voluptate natus nihil aliquam itaque voluptas quia. In sint sunt accusantium nobis corporis earum est id.
At sed alias saepe aperiam velit voluptatem. Quaerat impedit ut consequatur rerum ducimus debitis. Ratione dolores voluptate voluptatem quidem magni debitis minima repudiandae. Et optio vero impedit nam voluptas consequatur quam dolores. Qui aut adipisci aut alias sunt. Aliquam esse sit odit.
Non vel rerum ipsum tenetur. Numquam et odit modi quo dignissimos nisi dolor. Beatae consequatur odit et ipsam maxime. Quisquam sit commodi et qui ex eos. Atque molestiae sed dolores voluptate doloribus quo.
Voluptatibus et nostrum quis architecto nobis. Nulla aut modi et voluptas et possimus. Tempora dolore est nihil assumenda.
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...