Thanks WSO - IB Finally from Non-Target

Thanks to everybody on this forum, many of you have been extremely helpful in fielding questions and helping provide me with the opportunity to learn. It's been a tough road full of rejection but all you need is one offer.

Top tier MM and ranked on the league tables in a few categories. I was the only non-target at my superday and was a little concerned afterward. Either way here I am.

Thanks a ton and I will be sure to contribute more moving forward.

 

Congrats

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

Congrats! Another victory lap for a WSO user. Now that this site has been around a few years, I'd be really interested to see a list of all the certified users and where they worked. I bet we have a pretty serious network going on the site. Will be interesting to see what it looks like another 1-2 years out.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

congrats!

dublin:
CompBanker, that's a really interesting idea.

Patrick, would it be feasible to put together some aggregate info without giving anyone away?

I could reach out to the Certified Users to try and collect that data but I think it is best left 100% anonymous. We have a certified user group that is only at 100 (but growing very fast nowadays), so I expect that # to be in the 300-400 range by this time next year. We'll see....definitely still a lot of professionals that never get Certified but that's ok.

Also, if Certified Users want to network within the private Certified User group, that is completely an option open to them.

Thanks, Patrick

 
Best Response

if i have to give other non-target kids some advice here it is

1) Network - use linkedin, facebook, alumni databases, or whatever else you have. You need to get in contact with someone who you can get to know so they can possibly "go to bat" for you if need be.

2) IB Internship - you need to have something to help you stand out against your target competition. This shows you are serious about IB, since you have some experience about what the work is like and the non-existence of work/life balance. Contact regional boutiques, you will be surprised how many MD's are willing to help students who are extremely motivated to break in.

3) Resume/Cover Letter - just make sure it doesn't look like crap. Compare your resume to other WSO users and against the Mergers & Inquisitions template.

4) Applications - since there is no on campus recruiting you will have to applying online to at least 40+ Investment Banks. This is why networking is so important. If you have someone on the inside who can at least get you a phone interview the rest is on you.

5) Interviews - Obviously purchase the Technical & Behavioral guides and go through them a couple of times. The biggest sell however is the "story" this better be killer. I watched the Mergers & Inquisitions guide on the story and rebuilt my story numerous times till it came out memorable. BE YOURSELF!

6) Confidence - Remember that you might be the only kid from a non-target at Superdays but that does not mean you should be worried. I had a VP tell me during my interview about the odds against a non-target being interviewed during a Super-Day. He said those that usually do come through are very strong candidates.

This might be a regurgitation of things you already know, but what the hell. Its worth saying it again.

Good luck to those looking to break in.

 

Thanks for the motivation man. Just to reiterate what someone said above, I think it's the committed non target kids who are the most driven and the hungriest for success. Cheers and I'm off o the city which I hope to be working in soon! Enjoy the Saturday. Big ups to NY NY.

Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis - when I was dead broke man I couldn't picture this
 

Nice work!

I expect to see more non-targets break in during the next several years. Non-targets realize they have a chip on their shoulders so put more work in. The target school candidates with flashy credentials can sometimes be seen leaning on their accomplishments a little too much. As a non-target you also differentiate yourself, and while the BB and other majors want to have the best possible candidate for the position, they also want a well-rounded office with people from targets and non-targets alike. Congrats again!

www.wallstinsiders.com www.facebook.com/WallStreetInsiders
 

Congratulations! I have broke into the street as well and I have not even graduated yet. The feeling is beyond normal, and very difficult to explain. I went straight for the throat. I work at a hf. Cheers.

If you ain't buy side what are you doing on Wall St.? Gimme something good sport...
 

great story guys. I am currently a freshman at a non-target so you are my inspiration. lucasblane and bkwr83 can you tell me what you did your freshman summer? Thanks.

 

Congrats. Stuff like this motivates me. I love to see non-targets succeed, because it is proof that not everyone that goes to a non-target becomes a bartender or waitress after college, a lot of people go to non-targets for reasons other than stupidity.

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions. -Niccolo Machiavelli
 

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Bitch please, I love bananas! If you found my advice useful, hit me up with one.

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