Breaking into IB with an MBA/MSF and no experience

Career Opportunities & Internships Investment Banking
1

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>I’m just about to graduate from a middle tier graduate school with a MBA and a MSF (3.6 GPA), but only have some limited professional experience through a couple of internships. My question is, should I include the MBA degree in my resume? I’ve been told that having an MBA degree with no prior experience might put me in the same pool as other candidates with prior experience or that it may send employers the wrong signal that I’m expecting a much higher pay, but I’m just interested in breaking into I-banking through the traditional path as an analyst. I believe the MSF degree might help me out but does having an MBA really hurt my chances? Is there anything else I could do to make up for my lack of experience?</p>

<p>Thanks for your inputs.</p>

2

<p>You have two masters degrees and never worked after college, But why? Who would do such a thing? Any internships? If not you dun goofed</p>

3

<p>You need an internship that should have been done while in grad school. One does not simply walk into Mordor.</p>

4

<p>Coming from somebody who works for a top IB</p>

<p>No chance…1) the objective of an MBA is to build on what you already know about business and since you have no experience your MBA, in my view, comes with asterisk 2) your two Masters degrees work as supplements not complements which further waters down the quality of them 3) you look like a career student 4) what do you bring to the table that another applicant doesn’t quite frankly I can’t see anything</p>

<p>My advice go out and get your hands dirty in the real world then come back to them in a year. By then you will have something to talk about in an interview.</p>

<p>And by all means no more certificates or degrees.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for your advice.</p>

<p>I recognize what you guys are saying is true but my question still hasn’t been answered.
I’ll already be finishing both degrees this May and my concern now is about how to better market myself in the job market and in the right track for an investment banking career. I’m just 23 and I understand that earning two Masters without experience might come with an asterisk and doesn’t replace its value, but getting experience is precisely what I’m looking for.</p>

6

<p>Also…. I did had 3-4 internships during undergrad and intern last semester as a financial analyst at a financial planning firm, but none of them were banking related.</p>

7

<p>They don’t necessarily have to be banking related, but you would have probably had a better shot with the BA and the MSF coupled with some internship experience when it comes to regional IB recruiting. Here’s the thing - getting an MBA from a middle tier school so early has hurt you more than it will help you. An MBA above all else is a finishing degree - essentially your chance to either break back into something in a higher role or with a better firm, or start something new after building a skill set and experience in a previous role. </p>

<p>To have one from a mid tier school, which is probably not a feeder for IB by any means will 1) keep you from (or make it far more difficult) pursuing a well-ranked MBA later in your career and 2) put you in the associate bucket when you REALLY need to be in the analyst bucket - unfortunately, saying you want an analyst role will not help you either if they see the MBA since they will then think less of you in that you are willing to gloss right over it.</p>

<p>Your best bet is to probably leave off the MBA and fire cold calls, inquiry emails and resume drops all over the place - particularly at regional banks and boutiques for analyst roles. </p>

<p>PM me if you have other questions - I’ll be happy to help.</p>

<p>IBanker</p>

8

<p>Try and get an internship, just start cold calling any level of investment banking firm. Are you able to work for free?</p>