<p>I attend a public university in the St. Louis area and I would like to know what people think of AG Edwards as an investment bank. I've read a lot on the business forums here and it seems like in general for one to achieve a job as an analyst at a big investment banks or smaller lucrative boutique banks (like Greenhill) a person would need a prestigious degree from an Ivy League university (or around the same caliber). Now giving the fact that I dont go to an elite school (I think its ranked in the Midwestern masters region of US News), is it possible to get an analyst job at one of the lesser-known investment banks like AG Edwards? </p>
<p>Now this program doesnt look so hard to get into, I am majoring in business administration w/ a specialization in finance and have over a 3.0 GPA. I was thinking about maybe emailing them maybe next year for an internship during the summer since I live in St. Louis. What do you guys think about this? If I do achieve an internship and do well, will this lead the way to a job as an analyst?</p>
<p>see if you're from a school where they're recruiting at, that makes things easier. obviously it's usually easier to get into these lower tier banks but its still not going to be a cakewalk. </p>
<p>if you achieve the internship make sure you work hard and you come off as likeable. what's this mean? don't be a brown noser but try to take on a lot of work and don't take time off. work long hard hours over there.</p>
<p>Yeah they don't recruit at my school, so the first step would be trying to get an interview for an internship (and to be honest I never really had an interview before, I worked before but I kind of got hired right on the spot). Im just going to email them and ask to see if it is possible to get an internship there during the summer. For internships are interviews anything to worry about or are they rather simple compared to an interview for an analyst position? From what it seems like from postings on this board, it doesnt really seem like the work is hard at all (for an internship or even a analyst position), just a lot of busy work.</p>
<p>first, any summer internships have already been given out. but I would try to get into contact with them in the fall and ask about internships then. keep in mind that these things aren't just a casual affair. and internship is real work. your work may be considered 'busy work' because it may not be mentally taxing but it's still pretty important and having to pull all-nighters and keep your focus is no joke. the pitch books that an analyst makes are actually used. banking is a sell-side business, they use those pitch books to try to bring in business which makes them money so things like being accurate are pretty damn important.</p>
<p>interviews are usually pretty thorough but it varies from firm to firm. i would definitely prepare myself for all aspects of it. when you write them an e-mail regarding the internship, make sure you know a lot about the company it's done, deals, etc so you can reference this in the letter to communicate enthusiasm. before the interview make sure you've read over the guide for finance interviews and be up to date on finance news so you can talk to them about current issues/be able to answer if they fire questions back at you.</p>
<p>I wouldn't imagine that much, if you look on their site their requirements isn't really that high compared to the big bracket investment banks (or boutique firms). </p>
<p>Im also doing a specialization in international business with a minor in German. So I also want to end up working in Germany/Austria but if I can get a job at AG Edwards I would probably stay in St. Louis for a couple more years because investment-banking experience would look wonderful on a resume.</p>