Prospective Monkey breaks into WSO - Introduction

Hi everybody,

that is my first post ever after just having subscribed to WSO. After one year spent on my MSc, and numerous applications for which I have not even been given the chance to sit for the psychometric tests, I found my salvation in Bloomberg, company which I will start with next Jan 2015. Apart from my BSc (Hons) in Economics & Finance (Italian Uni) and my MSc in Banking (Cass Business School), for which I respectively got 1st class and an honest 2:1, just one point far from Distinction regarding my Master, I do not have any previous experiences in the financial services sector. My jobwise experiences are lifeguard and basically collaborating with my father in his micro company. He is a tiler. All of that, before I decided to study, which happened 2 years after I got my High School Diploma. At that point, since I did not know English, if somebody wonders why I did not do any internship, I spent two summers studying the language, between 1st and 2nd, and 2nd and 3rd year of undergrad, plus I flew to France for the Erasmus programme during my last year of undergrad. I graduated end of July 2013 and flew to UK early Sept 2013 for my Master.

That is summarised my background, just because I think that is the reason why I haven't been given the chance to do any psychometric test. CV and Cover Letter has been scrutinised by a far relative of mine who is an MD. He worked for 2 bulge bracket banks and currently he is MD in a UK one. Again, I don't really know how to use the fact that I know him to get some kind of help...I don't really believe in networking. I am old-fashioned and rather than licking asses around and hardly smile to somebody I don't like, I would go the way everybody has to go: APPLICATION PROCESS. If you deserve it, it is yours...otherwise better change path. That is my idea.

Now....my big question is, since I want to get into IB, WHAT SHOULD I GO FOR??

Should I go for an internship, a graduate scheme?? Or what?? How do I really break into it??

I do believe that the fact I got the job in Bloomberg will give a boost to my CV, but still think that my next step is applying for an internship. But If I were to pass the selection process then I would find myself leaving a permanent job for an internship without the certainty I will get a graduate position for the next year.

Anybody who could share opinions on my particular situation would be welcome.

Good Luck to everybody!!

 
Best Response

Networking isn't necessarily ass kissing, actually it's not even close to it. Networking mostly means letting people know you exist and that when they need to recruit you'll be the first thing to pop up in their mind. As for your relative,he/she could inform you when they're hiring,looking for interns and maybe tell HR to give you priority for an interview. I really like the way you think but it's great way to score an internship/job and in the end of the day that's what you want.

 

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