As an analyst at an investment bank, it was difficult to evaluate positions outside of large-cap private equity. Through my conversation and interview prep with a buy-side investment professional, I gained knowledge of not only how to screen buy-side opportunities but also how to position my sell-side experience to future employers.

I found the insider info from the mentors, as well as the simulated interview prep, to be a key differentiator in not just making a successful transition, but selecting the right firm. I'm happy to report that I accepted my dream job at a top VC fund.-- John

Each mock provided the opportunity to simulate real interviews with former consultants who know how to walk through a case. The mentors offered new insights into how to approach cases and emphasized minor details that can make or break your interview. I was able to incorporate their advice and received final rounds at BCG and Bain before accepting a job with BCG.-- Alan

I wanted to be prepared as much as possible for the upcoming recruiting season for Summer Internships in London so I decided to have a mentor session with a WSO Mentor. They matched me with someone who has been successfully working at an Elite Boutique in London before jumping to the Buy-side. As the interview process in London is known for its emphasis on intense fit/competency-based questions, I asked him to share his personal experience with me and to give me advice on that topic.

The session has helped me tremendously to understand what the person who is conducting the interview is looking for in a candidate. He also gave me invaluable insight into the banks recruiting process and the technical questions involved. Even though he was extremely busy with a deal in the days we had our talk, he helped me to understand how to solve a paper LBO case and even sent me an excel model for further learning.

Heading into the busy recruiting season I feel much more confident than before WSO's help. I can highly recommend a mentor session with WSO. It was absolutely worth the initial investment and should be part of everyone's preparation who is trying to break into the extremely competitive investment banking industry. -- Helena C. - June 2015 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Internship @ Credit Suisse in Switzerland

As a result of working closely with my mentor, I have developed much better interviewing, presentation, and speaking skills. Also especially feel more prepared for banking interviews. I just went through 1st round with a few banks and and I got the offer. Very quick turnaround, so thank you. -- Nathan O. - September 2014 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Analyst @ Wells Fargo Securities

I had a mock interview with the WSO mentor and she really helped me tease out my story so that it was more compelling. I received an offer from GS IBD in large part to the advice I received. -- Ella M. - August 2014 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Associate @ Goldman Sachs in London

Before I signed up, I found the trickiest thing about making a transition into private equity was finding the opportunities right for me. My mentors provided me with in-depth market insight and developed my plan for building a 'networked job search' in private equity. They also highlighted the fact that there are other routes that an older candidate might have to try to successfully break in. I finished with a clear strategy, multiple alternative routes, as well as some tricks to get an interview.-- Jessica

Wall Street Oasis has done a great job preparing me for the questions and structure of potential interview. My mentor shared his personal work experience to give me more knowledge about the corporate development group. Also, he stayed with me during the entire process by providing offer negotiation and communication strategies. I truly appreciate Wall Street Oasis' help.-- Zack H. - August 2013 - Goal: Corporate Development - Result: ​Manager @ Health Care Company in Minneapolis

My mentor shed light on opportunities that I was not aware of, as well as gave me critical advice on how to tailor my approach to recruiters and firms. The most helpful part of the consultation was that he provided me with great ideas for firms to apply to, as well as strategies and techniques for approaching them that I didn't know about. I wish I had found Wall Street Mentors earlier, as I've been seeking advice from recruiters for weeks, yet I was never satisfied.-- Wayne D.

I have several final rounds approaching. After working with my WSO mentor, I feel that my walk though tells a much better and more focused story. Have not failed to make it past a first round interview since I used the service. -- Kristoffer D. - October 2013 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Analyst @ Moelis & Company in New York

What I liked best about the service is that i) you have a very strong Mentor team so there is always someone impressive available ii) it's affordable - I can keep using it over many months even if I do not have an interview invitation right away, iii) everything gets organized/ set up quickly. -- Jamie D. - February 2015 - Goal: MBA Program, PE - Result: MBA at Berkeley Hass and PE Associate Internship (as of 2016)

I got in touch with Wall Street Mentors after exhausting the resources available through my personal network and MBA career center. The mentors were tough and critical during the interviews, but were thoughtful with their feedback and helped me refine my technicals, as well as my personal pitch and 'why banking' story.
The mock interviews I had with Wall Street Mentors were the most helpful piece of prep work I did - they simulated the rigor and pressure of real banking interviews and offered actionable steps to improve. And I felt that the practice led directly to my getting two banking offers.-- Pete - Kellogg second-year MBA student

The mock interview definitely helped. Specifically, addressing the question about long term and short term career goals, because that came up. Also being able to drop little things in the conversation like generation stack I think helped add credibility. By getting all hardball questions from you, it made the interview itself seem easier.-- Avery C.- April 2014 - Goal: Market Risk - Result: Senior Analyst @ Energy Company in Dallas

My private equity mock interview with my mentor was amazingly helpful, as it was the most challenging practice I've had yet. David gave constructive feedback, shared his experience, and conveyed a lot of insight on the industry in addition to interviewing skills. Thanks for arranging the interview on such a short notice and I'll definitely recommend your team to my colleagues at school.-- Current Wharton Student

My Mentor is a phenomenal interview coach. Not only is he highly accomplished in his own career, but he knows how to teach concepts by breaking them down into understandable pieces. He knows the ins-and-outs of every question. He used real questions that he has asked himself to candidates and questions he received through the interview process. He broke down how to answer each question clearly and concisely, and gives helpful critical feedback (the kind you need to improve).

Without a doubt, my Mentor improved my confidence in my interviewing skills. When interviews actually arrived, the same questions came up and he taught me exactly how to answer them. Just using the Mergers and Inquisitions / Vault / or other guides is not enough. With coaching and advice, I landed several top offers in investment banking as a business school student. I recommend him enthusiastically and without any reservation.-- ​Pete - January 2014 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Internship @ Moelis & Company in New York

For anyone looking to break into the finance industry, I would recommend that you go with Wall Street Mentors because you will interact with mentors who actually worked on Wall Street. Prior to my consultation, I had used other services that were helpful, but none of them are up to the level of WSM in terms of resume and cover letter reviews, market insight, constructive feedback, and interview prep, as well as with respect to prompt emails from contacts working for the company. After working with WSM, I realized how clueless I was in terms of effectively marketing and differentiating myself from prospective applicants to Wall Street firms. I am now better equipped to approach investment banking firms of interest and have more success now reaching out to those firms.-- Fadila D. - College Senior

My experience with WSM's service has been invaluable and they were very helpful with the entire process of choosing the appropriate service I needed. I signed up for a mock interview and my mentor exceeded my expectations. He was not just extremely knowledgeable about the interview process for the company and field I was going into, but what really impressed me was that he also genuinely cared about me succeeding in my interview. Throughout my consultation with him, he constantly gave me critical feedback as to where my strengths and weaknesses were. He gave me the confidence and knowledge necessary to succeed in my interview, and I won't hesitate to contact WSM again for future career and mentoring services.
-- Annie L. - Entry-level financial analyst

As a trader with six years of experience, I thought I knew the industry pretty well. Therefore, I was amazed at how much new information I received from my mentor about hiring trends within the industry. What was most valuable was that he provided me with firms that were actively hiring and worked with me to create a strategy on how to approach these firms. Phillip G. - Chicago Booth MBA student - Goal: Trading

The service at WSM is exceptional, and was a great help. My mentor gave me great advice that approached the entire recruiting process differently and more targeted towards results. He carefully went over my entire resume to make sure I was emphasizing the strongest and most relevant qualities, and this is after several bankers and friends had already helped me out with it. A lot of the advice during the interview portion ended up resonating quite nicely with the interviews I had over the next several months; I got several offers!-- Justin L. - College Senior

I want to express my great gratitude for the time Wall Street Mentors spent with me helping on my resume and prep for investment banking. The constructive criticism and sincere advice based on his industry and interview experience was by far the best I ever received. I had a biased impression on career coaching as a money-making business, but as consulted, I felt my mentor truly cared about helping me.-- Brian K.- College Junior

I didn't realize until my consultation that I had been improperly marketing my experience and skills. My mentor carefully went through all the elements of my resume to make sure that I was presenting and emphasizing the right qualities that investment banks and investment management companies seek.

I thought I had a good resume going into my consultation, but he really helped me take my resume to the next level.-- Steve L. - Experienced financial professional

Thanks for the mock interview once more, I found it really useful. I'm just e-mailing to give you an update: I got the job and just signed my offer so I'm really looking forward to a summer of learning the commodity trading business.-- M.A. - February 2014 - Goal: Sales & Trading - Result: Internship @ Commodity Trading Firm in New York

Ivy & Patrick,
Just wanted to give you a heads up that my mentor has been a fantastic. He completely went above and beyond all of my expectations. He introduced me to friends working at other firms and his introductions were enough to get me a final round and some helpful informational interviews.

He is always willing to answer my emails and questions and he's my go-to person for getting advice during the recruiting process. For internship recruiting, I had a peer group at my school to get for help, but full time recruiting left me without a group of people to fall back and get good advice from. For this reason, I'm especially glad about the advice that I got from him during my full time recruiting process. He's genuinely one of the most helpful people I've met in my career. Overall, I am very pleased with my coaching purchase from WSO. It was worth every penny.-- L.G. - January 2014 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Internship @ Lazard in Houston

You are amazing! I just finished the interview and it's great! I was asked all the questions you have prepared me and didn't ask any technicals. Questions asked: strength and weakness, view about market, what do you do outside of work, self info, why finance, why hedge fund, location preference, how my writing skill sets are.

From his reaction, I think he likes my answer. He told me that next round would be 3 or 4 people in office interview with other investment analyst. And final round would be 2 people last.

Thank you so much for helping me prepare. It's so useful. I wouldn't be able to behave so well without your help.-- Kay F. - December 2014 - Goal: Hedge Fund - Result: Partner @ Consulting Firm in New York

Thanks for all the help throughout the process. I got a summer offer from AB. So right now I have two offers from AB and XY in NYC. My YZ interview is this Friday and my BC interview is next Friday, both in SF. I will hold off till I finish all my interviews before I make a final decision. I remember what you said about banking on the east vs west coast.-- Keegan K. - September 2014 - Goal: Private Equity / Investment Banking - Result: Internship @ Goldman Sachs in San Francisco

I just wanted to let you know I received offers from my two top choices: Principal Transactions at Maccquarie and TMT at UBS. Thank you so much for all of your help!.-- Samantha O. - January 2015 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Internship @ UBS in New York

I just wanted to thank you again for all your interview prep help. I ended up receiving and accepting an offer with Perella Weinberg Partners for the summer. Your feedback and technical guidance leading up to my interviews were invaluable.-- Matt B. - December 2014 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Internship @ Perella Weinberg Partners in New York

I'm really touched and felt I made a lot of progress after speaking to my mentor. He was candid, straightforward no bullshit approach not only saved time, but put a lot of perspective on my answers. Honestly, he had been the best mentor I could have asked for, my friends and colleagues didn't do much to improve me like he did.-- Damon N. - January 2015 - Goal: Investment Management - Result: Internship @ Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York

How are you? Hope everything's going well with you! I've just been placed at Citi's Sponsor Finance in Manhattan New York! The role is finance analyst. A massive thank you again for everything and hopefully see you soon!-- Sylvia Y. - March 2015 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Finance Analyst @ Citi in New York

I just wanted to tell you directly as well that I thought it was a very useful service. My mentor was especially great for me because he actually works in a very similar role to what I want to do (Tech banking in San Fran bay area). He was very insightful and I enjoyed both my informal chats with him, and the more formal mock interviews. Well done, thanks!-- Joe B. - July 2015 - Goal: Investment Banking TMT - Result: Tech Analyst @ Startup Company in Los Angeles

Last month, I started as an investment banking analyst with Capital Markets in Houston, Texas in their power and utilities group. I want to thank you all for your help over the last few months and with my resume. I could not have broken in without your help and I really appreciate it. I will be sure to keep in touch and keep you updated on my career going forward.-- Acco - May 2015 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: IB Analyst @ Capital Markets in Houston

Thanks so much for everything. I haven't heard from [elite boutique 2] yet, but I just got an offer from [elite boutique 1] and am as happy as I can be! I'm super grateful and am looking forward to the summer!-- Cameron L. - January 2016 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Internship @ Investment Banking Firm in California

Hi Ivy,

Thank you for assigning me my interview prep mentor. He was awesome and I was able to nail down a job at a firm thanks to the prep I got and the mentorship received from him. He was focused on my success and not on how much time was left on the clock. He gave me some great tips that were bank specific and I was able to make the connections with my interviewer because of that.

Overall, a very satisfied customer.

Thank you! Michael A - January 2016 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Summer Associate @ Jefferies in San Francisco

Response from mentor: "Happy to help - I happened to know one of the interviewers so I put in a word for him because I thought he deserved it.

I wanted to write to thank you for the WSO mentorship program. I had a great session with my mentor and thought provided me with great feedback and helped land a summer analyst position at my #1 firm. Thanks again for providing the mentorship program, it was great to connect with someone in the IB industry who was willing to help me out and give honest advice!-- Luke A. - January 2016 - Goal: Investment Banking - Result: Summer Analyst @ Goldman Sachs in Philadelphia

I was able to get an offer at a HF! Thanks for your help - your services were very helpful, especially Wall Street Mentors.-- Ryo L. - June 2016 - Equity Research Analyst @ BB in Tokyo - Goal: Hedge Fund Result: TBD