Should I quit my job for an internship?

So here is the dilemma.

I am graduating from a non-target in the spring and have no internship experience. I couldn’t afford school, so I worked full time at retail banks (Wells Fargo, JPM Chase) during my studies. I am licensed and deal with consumer investments, but the job is still a meh sales job for people with high school diplomas. I am applying to tons of summer analyst internships for 2019 because I realized my experience has some good names, but no substance.

As for my question, is it worth it to try and get an internship last minute, quit my job, and bank on getting an entry level analyst position after the internship? Or should I just keep working at JPM and try to break in by networking? I’m seriously considering doing a one year MSF program to make me more competitive and extend my internship lifeline because I can’t be sure I’ll get an offer right now.

I have experience managing a 500k student fund. GPA is 3.7, (Could be higher, but i screwed up as a freshman). I believe in my work ethic, but I don’t know if I have a chance.

If you read this, thank you for taking the time to offer any advice. Im realistically aiming for low/mid boutique IB/MM firms in the LA area or anywhere that will take me.

 

Hey FinanceFern, I'm the WSO Monkey Bot...do any of these help:

  • 1st year FLDP- thinking about quitting the program. Help please. i think it's too late for that. Monkeys..... what should i do?.... I honestly just want to go into my ... couple of corporate finance internship & co-ops just for the sake of "doing something" and ... my job so much. I hate living in the middle of no where and not have any friends. I think the job ...
  • 1st Big Boy Paycheck- Keep your heads up! my freshman summer, I interned for various financial institutions back home (retail banking ... , investment banking and M&A boutique), but never managed to secure an internship here in the U.S. (mostly ... many of you out there still looking for a job, and just so you know, there is hope for everyone if ...
  • Quitting time- views on how to leave your job current bank has policies for how to deal with leaving employees. Have your desk packed and everything you ... it's an investment where you're largely useless for the first year, but will start providing net ... new job is firm first Don't tell your current employers anything until the key paperwork is ...
  • 1st Year Analyst- Thoughts on Quitting I'm a 1st year analyst a BB and I'm pretty sure I'm going to quit after I get my ... 1st year bonus. I knew the hours were going to suck going into this job, but, after 6 months, I have ... What do you monkeys think? Hours quit analyst bonuses Analyst Lifestyle 1st year analyst ...
  • AMA: Reflections on 1st Semester at Columbia Business School So just for Morgan Stanley, there were ~80 1st round interview spots for Columbia Students across ... For example, for 1st round interview slots, Eaton Vance has 13 slots. Also, whereas Goldman Sachs will ... to my understanding, it is analogous to sell-side banking recruiting. BCG, for example, handed out 70 ...
  • UG PE Analyst- 2.9 GPA, no internship, non-target Contacted 1w later, phone call next day 1st round: 30-40 minute call, long form elevator pitch followed by ... passing it, was for my job search. It doesn't matter what space you're in, no one with ever ... to the list of hurdles I've faces for the last 3 years. I would like to throw my story out there ...
  • 1st Yr Associate IS- no UG degree- need advice on possible career change & school into an Associate level ibanking position with a MM bank or boutique shop, even given my old age. ... sort of banking/finance/ CRE positions would I realistically be considered for, if I finished at say, ... me and its at this point I got serious about an alternative career path (age 26). I never graduated ...
  • Leaving good job for IB internship incubator / VC fund based as investment mgmt analyst. Salary is really good, though a tad below 1st year IB ... a regional office here in Europe (so not London) in FIG. Now, would it make sense for you to quit my job to ... terms of prestige and size), and they called me to schedule an interview for a six-month internship in ...
  • More suggestions...

If we're lucky, the following users may have something to say: tk_421 Kellykk yoyo250

You're welcome.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
Most Helpful

The way i see it is that you've still got 7-8 months before you graduate and there are a lot of boutiques in the greater LA area. With enough hustle, you have a decent shot at getting an offer somewhere.

That being said, I'd recommend casting a wide net in looking for finance roles. Even if it isn't IB, having some more relevant finance experience on your resume can help you transition later on.

 

Laboriosam quisquam deserunt quos iure sit accusamus consequatur omnis. Ut voluptate cumque neque sed odit molestias et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
98.8
10
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”