<p>Any thoughts outside of the typical investment banking and consulting to differentiate you at top B Schools?</p>
<p>There are 4 types that I can think of.</p>
<p>1) Large, fortune 500 manufacturing companies like Ford or GM.
2) Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer or Johnson and Johnson
3) Cutting edge IT companies like Intel, Cisco, Microsoft or Sun.
4) Biotech companies like Amgen or Medtronic.</p>
<p>The Donald's job. That is the ultimate job. Trump job LOL. If you land your helicopter onto your yacht, then you know you are pretty damn successful. I can just imagine looking at a heli and seeing "Vorell" across the tail. A guy can dream can't he?</p>
<p>OK, but what type of job within those companies?</p>
<p>Most large companies have developmental/rotational programs for recent college graduates. Like Ford Motors has a program called the FCG (Ford College Graduate) program. That program is made up of three 18 months assignments in different divisions within the company. Those assignments could be in Marketing, Engineering, Design, Human Resources etc... depending on the person's major and interests. Obviously, it is harder for an English or Economics major to get a job than it is for a Computer Science, Engineering or Business major to get a job, but it is always possible if ytou attend a top university, get a high GPA and most of all...plan well ahead of time by engaging in summer internships etc.... </p>
<p>Unlike large manufacturing-type companies, IBs and MCs will take all sorts of majors and mold them to their own image...so long as they come out of elite universities.</p>
<p>Alexandre,</p>
<p>Could you please elaborate on why is it hard to get a job for Economics major?</p>
<p>CEO, let me start by saying I was a double major (Economics and Mathematics). There are two reasons why it is harder for Econm majors to get jobs than it is for Business or Engineering majors:</p>
<p>1) Business and Engineering are usually more hands on and practical fields, which usually makes it easier for their students to find jobs since those candidates are seen as more likely to "hit the ground running". There aren't many job opportunities in industry for undergraduate Econ majors. There are far more opportunities for Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Engineering and Computer Science majors.</p>
<p>2) The career centers at the schools of Engineering and Business are usually more focused and effective than those in the college of Arts and Sciences. </p>
<p>This said, Economics is possibly the best major to get into Law school or MBA programs, so do not give up on Enconomics if it is indeed a major you are considering.</p>
<p>Furthermore, if you go to an elite university, it doesn't really matter what you major in, especially if you intend to go into IB or CM... so long as you plan well.</p>
<p>I am actually majoring in Economics with a minor in Math. My future plans are getting an MBA from a decent school, however I would first want to get a job to get the necessary experience, in order to do well in the graduate school. So, if there not much jobs offered for Economics majors, which is the best major to get into top MBA schools, which in turn require you to have a solid experience in the business field... (!?!) Any advice on where would be the best place for me to look for a job after graduating?</p>
<p>P.S. I am an international student... that makes it even harder.</p>
<p>We have much in common. I am international too. I graduated with a 3.4 GPA from Michigan with a double major in Economics and Math. I got two offers from Investment Banks (Lehman Brothers in London and Goldman Sachs in NYC). I prefered Europe, so I chose Lehman Brothers. Ironically, 18 months into my program at Lehman's, my boss accepted an offer from Golman Sachs in London and took me with her. I spent 2 more years in the IB field but realized I was not happy doing that kind of work. So I applied to graduate programs (MBA programs for the most part, but also Cornell's school of Industrial and Labor Relations). I ended up getting into Kellogg, Columbia and Cornell' MILR program. I decided to go into Human Resources, so I picked Cornell's MILR program. </p>
<p>In short, if you go to an elite university, maintain a high GPA and plan well, you will have many opportunities.</p>
<p>Alexandre, quick question not related to consulting:</p>
<p>How is Claremont McKenna and Pomona viewed by the ibanks nowadays? Any ideas? Thanks.</p>
<p>To the OP:</p>
<p>Look at PE (private equity), hedge funds, or real estate groups. They are generally tougher than IB or MC but these offers are not to be rejected. Top firms/shops: Citadel Investment Group, SAC capital (no website), or the Blackstone Group. Many ibanks also have PE shops sometimes referred to as merchant banks and sometimes as affiliated shops.</p>
<p>Another very elusive job is investment management, the buy side btw. These guys are usually clients of the ibanks. Most ibanks have buy side oppurtunities, and there are many small investmnt management groups out there. Do a search on your own. </p>
<p>Try to go to the message boards at vault.com or the businessweek forums. Good luck.</p>
<p>Alexandre, </p>
<p>Where are you from? While attending UMichigan, what kind of extracurricular activities were you involved in? Aside from your GPA and majors, what else do you think made you stand out in the pool of highly qualified students in getting an IB job? I hope I am not asking too much.. :) Thank you.</p>
<p>I am 100% Lebanese but I hold a dual citizenship (French and Lebanese).</p>
<p>In terms of ECs, I pretty much did what I always did. Tennis, writing, golf etc... </p>
<p>One of the things that made me stand out were my languages. I speak Arabic, French and Spanish fluently. Of course, I am also fluent in English. I had lived in several countries accross three continents. All this international exposure helped. </p>
<p>I had a couple of internships with large financial institutions, dealing with Equities, Fixed Income Securities and F/X. So I had shown interest in the field while still a student.</p>
<p>Obviously, double majoring in Ecnomics and Math from a IB hunting ground and maintaing a relatively high GPA didn't hurt. </p>
<p>Finally, knowing about the actual IB industry helped. You need to read up on the business.</p>
<p>We have so much in common. I play tennis too; I speak 4 languages and hoping to learn the 5th (Spanish). I had also lived in many cities (9 different secondary schools attended :) ), including two states in the United States (FL and now in NY). I am also planning to participate in a study abroad program. I was an intern after my freshman year with the World Bank (I am a sophomore now) and hoping to get an internship with a financial institution this coming summer. However, I definitely lack knowledge about IB industry, but it's adjustable -- I can fix that. Was there any specific clubs, organizations you were a member of? I am from Uzbekistan, by the way. Nice meeting you Alexandre :)</p>
<p>You do not have to be an expert in Finance. Basic Economics and strong quantitive skills will be more than you require. Your internship at the World Bank will help. Keep up those internships. </p>
<p>IBs really only look for a keen mind that can learn quickly and that doesn't mind working 12-14 hours a day...sometimes including weekends! A global outlook really helps. If you are Uzbek, I assume you know how to speak Russian. Russian is one of the red hot languages these days. It will serve you well. </p>
<p>I did not belong to any clubs. I hate belonging to any clubs! LOL </p>
<p>One thing I would add is that classes I regretted not taking were classes in basic accounting, financial accounting and finance. Three or four classes in those subjects would have made things a little easier.</p>
<p>Thank you! I will definitely take into consideration taking basic accounting classes and etc. Yeah you guessed it right in regards of Russian. Although I am Uzbek, Russian was the first language I learned to speak. I also speak Tajik (Farsi)... I don't know if this language will serve me in any way, and my own language Uzbek. </p>
<p>Well, working hard is all about me. I am not afraid of that. My major concern is my future diploma from the second tier University. I go to the SUNY, at Buffalo. </p>
<p>Any advice on how to look for internships as an International student? While at school, what kind of authorization needed for a non-major internships? I would assume, interning in financial institutions would require OPT (since I am not majoring in Business), but I would like to keep those 12 months of work authorization for later, perhaps might be handy after graduating from the University. Or should I use them now?</p>
<p>Just a quick question, does IB = Investment banking or international business? And what is CM?</p>
<p>IB=Investment Banking
MC (not CM)=Management Consulting</p>
<p>Examples: IB=Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, Lazard
MC=McKinsey, Accenture, Boston Consulting, Bain and Company</p>
<p>Farsi will serve you well...maybe not today, but certainly in a few years. But Russian is hot in the here and now. </p>
<p>Do not concern yourself too much with not being in a tier one school. SUNYs are highly respected in NY and that's where all IBs are headquartered. You can be sure many alums from the SUNY system have high ranking positions in the top IBs and as such, you can be sure that they will respect your degree. You just have to maintain as high a GPA as possible and you have to be persistant and plan well in advance. </p>
<p>I disagree with your concern about Investment Banking being a "non-major internship". An Econ major can make an argument for working in an IB. After all, you have courses like Financial Economics and Monetary Economics which deal with the theoretical aspects of IB. So go speak to professors and see which ones will support you. Porfessors are usually very open to suggestion...open minded chaps! hehe Tell them that you got your experience in the non-profit sector (World Bank) and that you would like to get some experience in the private sector (Investment Banks). </p>
<p>Anyway CEO, keep us posted on your progress.</p>
<p>Alexandre, I was wondering what major can get a person into an IB company?</p>
<p>Also, I'm wondering if you could critique my chances (<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=5910%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=5910</a>), b/c I'm not exactly sure which colleges are reaches/matches/safeties. Thanks.</p>
<p>Cash'd, you have solid credentials. Economics/Business are very good majors for future Investment Bankers, as is Mathematics. But quite a few of my friends at Michigan majored in English, Foreign Languages, History, Political Science, Biology and Psychology and they too got jobs with top Investment Banks. So there is not rhyme or reason. Get into the best schools you can, maintain a high GPA and plan ahead...and you should be able to land a good job at an Investment Bank. </p>
<p>Your list of universities is made up of major IB hunting grounds. Wharton, Chicago, Michigan, Cal, NYU and Georgetown have amazing connections to Wall Street. You have a decent shot at all of those schools. With the exception of Chicago, they all offer Business and Economics, so it is really up to you which way you want to go. And even if Chicago does not have a business program for undergrads, its Econ program is so amazing, Investment Banks recruit there heavily.</p>
<p>In short, like so many things in life, there is a multitude of ways to accomplish the goal.</p>