Honest feedback for rising senior (pragmatic FT job hunt)

Hey guys so I was wondering if I could get some much needed advice on how to proceed given my current situation. I'm a rising senior at an extreme non-target in a limited area for finance (think STL, Nebraska, etc.). Despite this, I managed to get a small handful of BB SA interviews last year. If I'm being candid, I think I didn't get an offer because it is seen as way too big of a risk to hire a country kid at a BB, nonetheless glad that I interviewed. This summer I've been interning at a previously solid (5-7 billion AUM) pe fund in the NYC area. I was originally told that the firm does hire FT but I feel like that was BS because the firm has underperformed in fundraising the last 5 years. I did receive a good midsummer review but I am somewhat cynical on if an offer is even on the table.

Given the current environment and my background, I realize BB/EB IB is pretty much out since they have few to zero spots each and I'm not particularly a competitive applicant.

What do you guys think I should do? I was thinking of aiming for smaller mm or boutique ib, bo/mo, corporate finance, etc.

Sorry if any of this sounds entitled, I just really need some advice.

Thanks!

 

Its all a numbers game. You seem to have a pretty solid background so I'd say reach out to people (preferably alumni) in the groups you listed / can see yourself working in and explain your situation to them. Don't say "I'm reaching out to every group I can" make it more like PE hasn't been everything you thought it would be and are interested in their group for xyz reasons and were wondering what the FT hiring scene looked like. Since you are in NYC try to meet up for coffee chats with them. Good luck

 

Thanks. I agree except the alum part. My school has literally zero in any FO/MO/BO role at a bank. Lately I've been trying to send 5-10 emails a day but haven't had much luck yet.

 
Most Helpful
nba07:
Thanks. I agree except the alum part. My school has literally zero in any FO/MO/BO role at a bank. Lately I've been trying to send 5-10 emails a day but haven't had much luck yet.

Yeah it is just a numbers game. You have to keep on pushing and calling and knocking until you find something ... acceptable to your liking.

Because that's all FT season is about. You get that first offer ... phew! Then you look a bit more, you manage deadlines on when to respond and leverage if possible anything you have during the spring. Just fire away as many apps as possible this fall and be sure to get a 4.0 fall senior year. It will make your GPA look better for last minute spring applications and also you need that good GPA for grad school apps. Some people just blow off senior year, especially second semester on grades after getting offers. Don't do that.

It sounds like you probably have a 3.8 or above to land an internship in PE in NYC this summer. You're well aligned to be eligible for IB or PE or HF or whatever you want (HF and PE probably a long shot). Just focus on what you want to do and do everything you can to get into that position. While you're putting 80% of your efforts into your dream positions initially, throw some feelers out in the job market in other areas that you would consider, like management consulting or small businesses. You'll build up interview experience and should be knocking out these FT interviews like a rockstar senior year.

That's unfortunate you can't turn to alumni for support as that was one of my major avenues to land top interviews on the street. But, I took my main offer from a random lead at a job fair and it just stuck so after all my travels for interviews and going to NYC twice spring semester and spring break senior year, it just took that one. And that's all you need.

The PE internship could be good though. If they don't have the capacity to hire, they might know someone in the NYC arena who can, so keep in touch with them when you're interviewing with firms.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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