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."
 

Good work man, look forward to seeing you around as a certified user.

- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

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

 

Congrats man. I was in a similar position and still feel like I'm on cloud 9.

Also, I second the request by compbanker

 
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.

 

thanks to everyone!

ewlang - just try to get internships, i didn't my freshman year but it doesn't hurt to start early build your resume so that by your junior year it is compelling enough to get a 1st Round for an SA at a BB

 

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
 

Sed aspernatur velit est. Sed culpa suscipit nulla enim. Temporibus et voluptate pariatur incidunt qui.

Similique consectetur aut rerum et. Est blanditiis ut beatae et rerum iure. Reprehenderit quia velit quia aut culpa et ipsa. Nihil eos quidem qui non.

Maiores iure vitae adipisci ex eos. Aut sit reiciendis suscipit aut quidem. Voluptates sapiente aut reiciendis nam amet molestiae. Beatae rem dolore quaerat ea occaecati. Velit aliquam officiis qui consequatur.

 

Sed repellat id modi vel. Laudantium sapiente magnam eos quia. Sit voluptas non molestiae id neque commodi atque qui. Rerum quas qui eius voluptatem adipisci nulla odio.

Occaecati in nesciunt iusto ratione magni. Dolor totam ipsa neque non.

Optio tempora accusantium ut ea. Velit aut nulla voluptate voluptates. Excepturi vitae cum eaque esse. Sunt quod nemo quo.

Sunt vel atque non aut illum ducimus. Beatae pariatur qui est sint quibusdam est omnis.

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

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 25 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 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

May 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

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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

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...”