Opinions on Career path?
Hello Users! Currently looking to get into IB/PE/HF/AM.
I am currently entering 4th year at a non-target Canadian University, majoring in Finance and minoring in statistics. I currently have a CGPA of 3.1/4 which renders it hard/impossible for me to get any jobs at one of the large banks. I went on exchange last semester so was unable to bring it up. I expect to have around a 3.2-3.3ish /4 CGPA by end on next year (being conservative).
Here is my work experience:.
- Student Investment Fund (Do equity reports, DCFs...)
- Hotel Front Desk
- Family Financial Services Firm (sell insurance, invest clients money into mutual funds, seg funds, GICs..)
- FP&A Intern position at one the largest companies in Canada
I am also very active on campus with societies and clubs
I am planning on taking a 5th year to try to bring my GPA up. Additionally, I plan on taking my CFA next summer.
- Should I look into doing an MFIN/MFE? That would require me to take the GMAT and I don't know if I have time.
- What should I do that will help my chances to break into IB/PE/HF/AM?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks
you would be better off transferring to a different school, graduate from that other school, and then using that school's GPA only (assuming you cna get close to a 4.0) for when you apply. Otherwise, you will find yourself locked out of the career you desire, because of shitty grades.
Another option, if you have good social skills...is to network your way into interviews. That can negate a bad GPA....but you gotta have mad skills to pull this off.
Why are your grades so bad? a 3.1 is pretty shitty
Let's be real though, a 3.1 in Statistics is equivalent to a 3.5 in undergrad Business Administration / Econ / Finance. I coasted through my BBA, just cramming the night before exams, and graduated with a 3.7. OTOH, I really busted ass for my Electrical Engineering degree, and managed to claw myself a 3.1 - with a much lower class average.
edit: Not saying that recruiters differentiate or there's some handicap for people that study more difficult majors, but comparing GPA from different majors on a 1:1 basis is a bit stupid.
No
Idea one seems kind of stupid.
I've been networking a lot and managed to pull a pretty good gig in corporate finance. Still grinding hard in that aspect.
Absurdly naive
Your GPA is shit and if you can't get a job in your desired fields after graduation, you will start to get a gap. Then you will have a shit GPA and a gap. Then you're really fucked.
So, if you really want to get into this industry, first of all, they don't believe in you. You got a 3.1 - you don't care. Do you? Nah - you don't give a shit. So since they have the power in this equation, you're going to have to work for free to prove to them that you care. All you can really do at this point is strive to get an internship in this space. An internship after undergrad to seek a possible full time opportunity.
If you go this path, I suggest smaller shops that have more flexibility with hiring interns. Some of the bigger places have defined programs and you might be 3 mo and done. If that is the case and you can only get a summer internship, be aware that their recommendation could seal the deal for a good opportunity.
In summary: you fucked up in college. Now you have to prove to employers you can hack it. If you worked harder in college, you could have avoided all this, but you're here now and this is how it is. Maybe you get a FT job in a different industry like consulting. Then you could choose between a paid and non-paid but your industry pick.
Thank you for being honest.
I still have 2 years to bring my gpa as I'm planning to take an extra year. I realistically don't expect to get a IB internship next summer but am trying to set myself for after I graduate.
I am planning to take the GMAT sometime in September/October and potentially apply for a Msc. Additionally I am planning to take CFA LVL 1 next year.
Hopefully that will help me get in a more favorable position.
If you still really want to go down the IB/PE/HF/AM path it's going to be a grind. Like at least 5 to 7 years before anything other than IB becomes a real option. Most of your time will be spent in a corporate role learning as much as you can. (You might be able to break into AM a little faster after IB)
Your GPA is very low. I would say everything is pretty much out of the picture even if you offer to work for free like @Isaiah_53_5" said above. (My opinion is banks won't want you even if you are free because you will just slow them down). So I would recommend working in a corporate role for 1-3years. Then internally trying to switch to a Corp Dev role in your firm that you are working with or try networking your ass off and trying to transition into IB. (Most likely a smaller shop then to a bigger shop) From there, then you can try and transfer to the other roles you want.
If above doesn't work, after 1-3 years in corporate I would try the MBA route. Get into a good school and then network out of there. I don't know a whole lot about MBA, but I have heard some success stories come out of an MBA program. This will give you time to think about your options.
Wish you the best of luck in your grind because it is going to be a long one.
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