From TS to IB/M&A/PE with considerations

Good evening!

I began my career on a challenging note, having faced difficulties during my high school years. This shadowed my early years, but today's circumstances are quite different.

Following a period of struggles, I embarked on a bachelor's in Economics at a middle-tier university. My motivation led to academic success, and eventually, an exchange program at a highly esteemed university (NUS). During this time, fields like IB, M&A, and PE were not on my radar, so I didn't pursue any internships - a decision I now realize was a major mistake. At this university, I pushed myself to excel academically, achieved a competitive GMAT score of 700+, and engaged in extracurriculars to enhance my CV. Some sort of a miracle occurred, and I landed at XXX, considered to be the best business school in EMEA according to a famous newspaper.

My time there was transformative. I was introduced to the dynamic world of deal-making and developed a passion for it. However, given my unique journey and the current economic conditions, breaking into M&A proved challenging. Fortunately, I secured a position in M&A Transaction Services at a Big4. I just started. With both an undergraduate and postgraduate degree and this first professional experience, I find myself at a crossroads.

Being a recent graduate, I'm in a challenging spot: I'm past the stage where internships are typical, yet I may not have the breadth of experience that some graduate programs seek. It is hard to land an internship without some sort of internship agreement from a university. Of course, I'm applying to famous boutiques (such as PJT partners, PWP, Rothschild, and William Blair to name a few), and to famous BB (you guys know them). But not only. I understand really well that a person like me is not going to secure the next Investment Banking Analyst position at Morgan StanleyI am realistic about my prospects, but still exploring every avenue.

For those who have navigated a similar path, I'd appreciate insights on bridging the gap from TS to M&A/PE without traditional internship experience. Here are some strategies I'm considering:

  • There are entities that provide internship agreements, though the legitimacy of some is debatable. I'm unsure how potential employers would view this approach.
  • I'm open to opportunities beyond my current location and am exploring various financial hubs (London, Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Hong Kong, Singapore …).
  • Networking is on my agenda, though fruitful connections have been sparse thus far.

Thank you for reading me.

 

Soluta fugit ut molestias velit ut aperiam delectus autem. Necessitatibus et laboriosam amet. Ea tempora in a et ipsa. Quia sed omnis laboriosam aut architecto aut accusamus. Aspernatur non nulla tempora doloribus.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 18 98.3%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 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 (20) $385
  • 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...”