I’m finally done with the recruitment process and landed an internship which after finishing I will work for them full time. I remember when I was in high school and doing college interview prep with some of you (Efour members) which greatly helped. Although I haven’t really been posting too much over the past two years, I have been using Efour as a way to break up the textbook/networking/guides which I had to do to break into a career in investment banking.
I would like to thank the people of Efour, both those people which provided advice and those which gave their time to help with interviewing, as well the current members for creating an amazing space (big shout out to the Efour meme thread - it has never disappointed me).
If anyone would like any help with college prep, interviewing, or careering in finance, feel free to DM me - it would be great to pass along the mentorship with was instrumental to me getting to where I am today. (public HS → state college non-target → private wealth management internship → SEC/FinCen/FINRA/DoJ internship [one day I hope to go back] → IB internship & full time)
Brief Aside (guaranteed to make me look like an ass, but such is life). Over ten weeks in the summer I will earn 15k. Then for full time, it is 10-15k signing bonus, 85-100k base pay, then 40-50k average first year bonus (plus the office has a private gym which is poggers to be). The gig is not in NYC (think Chicago or Charlotte) which means I be able to save and be financial stable. My sister (way smarter than me [Yale educated vs me, a humble himbo from a state school]) only makes around 35k as a researcher at an ivy league university while she gets her graduate education. Seeing her financial struggles has made me so grateful for being in this position.
I’m so glad to be done. Now, I can finally get back into that daily Pokemon grind like I used to
Congratulations are in order. Finishing college is a big accomplishment. All of the typical low-hanging college critiques aside, it is a huge time and energy investment on your part. I hope you make what you learned serve you. Part of what makes Pokemon so interesting is that it is not merely a hobby, but an economic and financial one.
Congrats! IB is tough stuff. Definitely hope you find that good life-work balance. Don’t let the money get to you too much. Yes, that academia pay scale is one of the many things wrong with higher ed in the US today. so much talent working for 50 cents on the dollar at best. It’s rewarding, but it does not reward monetarily.
It’s an incredible opportunity that will change your life, and super competitive so great that you secured the internship
Now the ball is in your court - sounds like it’s still an internship and not yet a ft offer (or is it guaranteed? If so congrats!) so don’t take it for granted and continue to work hard / do excel modelling & PowerPoint practice courses ahead of start date
During my internship summer, I worked super hard (think 4am nights Monday to Friday and most weekends till 12amish too) and a vp commented that it wasn’t necessary to work that hard to get a conversion since historical conversion rates were high. Once my internship was over my bank restructured headcount and they only had one headcount - it made all the difference
Remember to grind hard in your internship to “prove yourself”. Just remember once you land that FT job to do well, but make time to rest and enjoy life. I have always found with finance they live to work, not work to live.
Late to see this but congratulations on your accomplishment! One of the things I regret when I started school is to learn to have a level head when it comes to money and finances. I’m glad I’m learning that now. Good luck and congrats again!
