Will I be too old for Investment Banking?
I am 27 years old and I have been working in junior management position in small companies for past 7-8 years in India. Recently my grandmother passed away and I have inherited some money. Now I want to invest the money in education. I plan to go to UK to study A&F or economics from a target or semi target university. Assuming I do very well in college, will I be too old (31 or 32 with a paid intern-ship) to begin an investment banking career? Will the employers prefer a 22 year old over me with the same stats? How much more difficult will it be for me to break into good financial jobs later? I heard there are vaws on age discrimination, but no idea how effective they are.
Am I assuming right that you have yet to go to undergrad?
Yes, I am planning an undergraduate degree in Economics or A&F from top -15 UK universities. I am just at the initial stage. If IB at this age does not sound realistic than I may look into other courses and options. All I can say is that I can work 100+ hours a week consistently (even in college) and I am comfortable with numbers.
OP - There are a few stories on WSO where someone is 30+ and were able to get analyst positions (which I guess is what you're targeting if you have yet to do an undergrad). That said, they were US citizens and the firms they targeted were middle market firms (which may or may not sponsor you for a US work visa). I think the UK is similar (smaller firms want candidates that are already able to work there without sponsorship).
With the years of experience you have, you're probably better off trying for an MBA for 2 yrs and try for an associate role. There may be situations where MBA programs are willing to overlook whether or not someone has an undergraduate degree (but I think it's rare and there has to be a really good case for it).
Admission into a good B school for MBA is not realistic for me. I contacted several universities. They are willing to overlook an undergraduate degree generally for 1) Army Veterans 2) Entrepreneurs who have started at least one company successfully 3) People working in Family business who had a chance to work in all departments and eventually were involved in the decision making process of the company.
I just have a mid level management experience, a lot of administrative stuff and running errands.
What about large Investment Banks. Will my age be negatively perceived? If yes how negatively perceived? I will investigate further about how many middle management firms, really sponsor for a visa.
Also say if I manage to finish an undergrad and go to study MIF in Top 3 UK Universities , will that improve my chances of landing a job with Big Investment Firms drastically (at the age of 32)? I understand Networking is the key but how badly is my age going to effect my chances in the large investment banks?
I think that since you are in school as an undergrad, you will be fine, if for no other reason that they wouldn't really have a way of knowing your age during the application process. Make sure you work hard to make your resume look "normal".
And make sure you get good grades...they have a way of wiping away people's reservations during an interview.
Unless he started his job when he was 13, his resume will not look normal. That said, it might not be a major issue.
Completing your degree in the UK used to guarantee you a one year work visa in the country after you finished.
I'd recommend researching which schools you've chosen have on-campus recruiting by UK investment banks and make your decision based on that. Then all you gotta do is kick ass in class and network the shit out the recruiting events.
Not too old. I personally knew an MD who finished his second year of residency before switching to an analyst role. He must have been around your age. GL limey.
So what I did before the undergrad degree (junior level work, getting photocopies, preparing documents, getting coffee, preparing balance sheet, entertaining the clients) and stayed unemployed for a year will not matter if I score a first class degree, network hard and may be clear cfa level 1 during my tenure at college?
Also can I appear for cfa level 1 in the first year itself? The CFA website says that they need a a 4 year professional work experience. Will the work I have done even at junior level count as work experience? If that can happen I can work hard and also try to clear all three CFA levels. Is it realistic? Assuming I work very very hard of-course.
Hypothetically considering if I clear all 3 CFA levels and get a first class degree, will I my profile be strong than?
No your resume can look normal if you are selective about what to include. You don't have to list everything you did before undergrad. Just be smart about it.
Working 100+ hours a week while going to school? Didn't think that one all the way through did you?
class hours + study hours + Networking hrs. + one activity I like or a club which can also look good on my resume >_100 hrs work
is that unrealistic?
Thought you meant you were somehow trying to work 100 hours a week while going to school full time. THAT'D BE CRAAAYYZEE.
LMAO, Noooooooooooooooooo!
30+ years old is not unheard of, especially outside of the US / at non-US and non-BB firms. It's a matter of if you're qualified and willing and able to make the case that you're basically just joining the party a little later than most. Talk to the bschool admissions people though, as a 2+2 program may actually work to your advantage in this case - I don't know, I'm not a guidance counselor - but if you're got a decade of work experience, it would seem somewhat unreasonable to have to go UG -> analyst -> 3 years work -> MBA. There might be a way to shorten the requirements to get to associate.
Top 20 UK B-Schools are not interested in me for MBA, and the rest have mixed views.
Also I want to take a break and actually read for sometime for the love of it.
Are there any other kind of educational councillor or advisor's in UK (even paid) who can give a 360-degree view?
Also what is 2+2?
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