Solid advice needed - how to get back in finance

Guys, hello!

So, I've had personal circumstances (dad was super-ill, I took care if him for 3 years), before that got Econ degree from top UK Uni and did some internships.
During the past 3 yrds I've been doing internships with second tier small consulting firms, but knowing my potential and my stregnth, I just deserve smth much better and am ready to get back to job hunting.
What would you advice to the person in my situation as professionals? What should I ? where should I start?
Should I maybe do CFA1? MSc would be too expensive now. Is it even realistic to get into IBD after such a long break but with existing good BSc diploma from top UK Uni?

Please, advice, I feel desperate and sort of hopeless.

 
Best Response

There are Certified Users and more qualified folks than me that I'm sure will chime in..

IMO, you should be happy with what you have and content with taking the uphill challenge you are faced with. If you have the option to work in consulting, it may not be IB, but it pays a hell of a lot better than other careers out there, plus the work still remains interesting. If I were you, I would stick it out there and wait a year or two out, then leverage your experiences for a FO IB role. The CFA is more geared towards investment mangers so, I'm not sure if that will help for IBD. And, not sure why you feel hopeless ? If you continue to work hard, a year will pass by and before you know it, people will start to notice and the opportunities will come. I'm assuming you are still in your early 20s so you should still be forward-looking and prepared for that right opportunity when it comes along.

I'm personally looking to make the jump from a role I haven't been too happy with. I decided to chime in because I know what you're going through. But, with time you start to realize that it's just a challenge to overcome and there's hope because opportunities come to those whom are patient and willing to work hard for them. I really hopes this helps!

 

thanks a lot for such an extensive response! very much appreciated! but I've just finished another internship and it didn't give me much skills, so I wonder if I can get into off-cycle IB internship or not.. besides that, I volunteered in the UN, did great projects in Cambodia and Burma for kids and built non-profits there with my volunteering team, I speak 5 languages. I just need to know from the bankers' point of view if I can even hope for an off-cycle at IB or not..

p.s. if my consulting internships were really interesting I'd never complain but they're just not exciting at all. Ah, and I'm 26, not that early 20s anymore

 

Twenty-six is still young--you'll be fine! If you have any market/operational experience, I would focus on coverage areas where there may be some overlap. If you know what experience is important for your goals, I would target specific firms that offer that. Your experience sounds really cool, but whether or not banks will look for that kind of background is over my head. But if I was in your shoes, I would reach out to my network, but would only pursue posts once I became certain why I want to do banking and how my background has prepared me for it. It'll be an uphill battle, but you just have to grind for it everyday!

Good luck

 

merci for your input and for taking time! I agree with all you said, focusing on getting the experiences that would add value, and I've tried different non-banking stuff and IB internship in the past - IB is totally my area if I judge based on the intensity of work which I enjoyed and my own personal characteristics. I wish you a very nice day!

 

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