Recent grad student seeking career advice

I am a senior in finance at a college in the states. I am in a desperate situation that some of the people here may understand. My dream is to get into investment banking. What I’ve done all gear toward a job in IB. I myself had interviews quite a lot with both BB and boutique here but never find any luck. Can’t really understand what I lack. I have a decent profile in that I have a good GPA, good enough experience, and passed level I. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to break into the industry. Anyone knows any head-ups in Singapore?

call numi consulting

what school do you go to? do you have prior internship experience?

Thanks for the plug Igor!

kimbui, check out my website – there are some useful links to articles you ought to peruse. Some good tactical advice on how to break into the biz, whether it’s in Singapore, the U.S., or outer space.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting

Yeah kid, if you’re not in an Ivy and didn’t intern at GS/MS/KKR, just forget it. Saw your ballsack off and find a job pushing a broom around a fast food joint.

I’ll tell you what your problem is. It is no one’s dream to get into IB and IB folks can see through this BS and your real dream is to make boat loads of money.

Bankers know this but they don’t want to hear someone say it’s their dream to be an Investment Banker. Have a strong answer and try not to sound like a tool.

Straight Troof

IB is the profession that the Board of Directors reaches out to when they have a critical strategic issue concerning financing, mergers, acquisitions, and other ownership dilemmas. You’re not selling a product, you’re offering your superiour intellectual capital to the top execs of the company.

Some people make cars, some people build towers, all investment bankers make money; and they get paid very well for doing so.

Read Monkey Business, Liar’s Poker, and Damn It Feels Good to Be a Banker if you want a candid insight into the IB space. While the hard quant valuation and pitch book making is a skill you need to know, the other side of the table is the people skills to stand working 80+ hours/week with the same assholes as a deal is wrapping up. Be sure to demonstrate your ability to drive a team, generate results, and GET SHT DONE! IB is not a space for people who meant to do it, but then wanted to watch a Beavis and Butthead marathon instead.

^This. Be honest, you just want a lucrative career…come up with a good reason for wanting to be in IB, not that it’s your dream or your passion…because it’s not. Say you want to make companies better by providing the service to make synergies a reality or you want valuation experience…something, not “its my dream”.

Employers are tired of hearing the word “passion”. They want to know what you can do to bring in some $$.

I go to Brigham Young University in Utah and had a couple of internship experiences in Utah and Vietnam

Thanks guys for the advice. In my interivew, I never say that it’s my dream to be in the industry. Everybody knows it’s BS. Of course no one is happy to work 100+ hours/week. I’m in for the exit opps. Now, I’ve read a lot of sources on how to break into the field. Coming from a non-target, I’ve done the necessary to score interviews, but I just can’t crack the interview code.

I go to Brigham Young University in Utah and had internships exp in Utah and Vietnam

well said +1