Full-time Recruiting Without a Stellar GPA: Getting Noticed
I go to a target school - in Canada anyway - and will be doing full-time recruiting this Fall. Campus recruiting is huge at our school but there is no shortage of people looking to break into i-banking either so it's going to be competitive. My problem is that my grades are below average and my ECs are okay but nothing too spectacular. I've done internships the past three years (two with a Big Four accounting firm, and most recently in a small PE firm) but all of them have been abroad (Middle East).
What would you guys suggest is a good strategy to get the attention of recruiters so that they don't immediately overlook me for an interview on account of my grades. Is there a way to separate myself early on so that I have a better shot at getting the initial interview?
Out of curiosity, which school?
I'm at UofT which I assume has at least as much appeal and recruiting sessions as any other canadian school, but I'm studying engineerig so I know almost nothing about it (unless its engineering recruiting) ...
Just curious if there are any other UofT students/grads here... feel free to pm me if you want :-)
Networking.
And no, stillsleepy, UofT doesn't quite have the appeal as others. For S&T recruiting to Canadian firms you are no worse off, but IB would be a different story.
read: you're fucked!
Are you you are 100% determined to do iBanking? Are there any other industries you are considering?
What does it matter? He's got experience in irrelevant countries and below average grades.
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Maybe you can try again after your MBA. Low GPA at a semi-target puts you in a very difficult position during recruiting.
Change your focus to other business areas would be my advice. Best of luck with everything.
Network at MM's and I think you'll be fine.
Okay so right now the consensus looks pretty grim, which is about what I expected. But I'm sure it's not unheard of that someone in my position breaks through. So I guess networking looks like my best bet if I hope to get recruited this year?
Would it become any easier if I were to apply to banks elsewhere in the world (London or Pan Asia) or is that still pretty much the same situation. I want to jump on opportunities early when recruiting starts so any advice is helpful!
(I'm at Ivey btw)
^ Oh, ok. If you're at Ivey, you at least have an 80% or around that average, right? I know about this requirement because one of my good friends will be entering as an AEO this fall.
Ivey HBA is the top target (perhaps the only target) for Bay Street. With anything around an 80 you'll be fine.
Unfortunately, banks everywhere are GPA whores. Also, I don't know if this applies to Ivey or not, but after talking to several alums and seniors, it's become pretty evident that nearly everyone from Columbia who gets IB overseas tends to be fluent in at least one language other than English.
Not true. 80 is the average. you need 83+ to be considered, most candidates who land offers have 85%+
Not sure how low your GPA is, but Canadian banks especially put a lot of weight on GPA, whereas even at American BBs in NY, if you have some people pushing for you, you can get past a low GPA.
Since you are at Ivey, I would say exploit your vast alumni network and try to do the best you can. In some ways, getting interviews/offers in America may be easier than getting them in Canada if you have some prominent alums batting for you to get the first round.
Well if he gets a first round interview, his GPA or lack of experience won't matter then? It would be more about this interviewing skills than anything else?
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