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Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
04 Feb 2009, 21:24
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I'm not going to go too much into my personal experience more than I have already just because it really won't add more value. I'm happy to speak one off with people if you have very specific questions, but below are some answers to some other questions.
Which banks came on campus, and which did you have to source yourself?
Every top bank came on campus, plus almost every major boutique. The top banks are ones such as GS, JPM, MS, UBS, CS, and others. The top boutiques vary, but they are mainly Greenhill, Jefferies, and several others. If they are in NY they tend to recruit at Columbia. If you are in other areas outside of the northeast, you will most likely have different boutiques but the same big banks. There are no shortage of banks recruiting on campus, just fewer offers.
I'd be curious to understand who you ended up interviewing with during first rounds? How many banks?
No need to answer personally. It will correlate with the amount of unwavering effort you put in. Yes, there is an element of randomness, but getting on closed lists and getting offers reflect tremendous determination and preparation.
How did your efforts during the fall translate to success in getting on closed lists?
Seems to have worked, not really much more to say that has not already been said.
Did you see many differences between how the firms recruit?
Yes for most. If you really take the time to earnestly get to know the recruiters you can tell the differences between firms, but just going to informationals and events is not going to cut it. You need to go above and beyond (see my earlier post).
Who did you interview with during Super Saturdays?
Most of them DO NOT do this, but I can't reveal more than that. Prepare for supers as you would for any other interivew.
Were you looking for a specific product or group, and did that affect how you targeted firms?
Target specific groups that you apply your previous experience to, but that goes for group specifc programs. Rotational programs you should talk about your general IB interest.
Also, how does selecting or interviewing for a specific office work? Say I want to be at MS in SF or CS in LA, for example.
Most firms tend to place you regionally. NY for northeastern schools, Chicago for midwest schools, etc. However, you are not barred for putting in your preference. In my program this summer, there will be students from all around the country. I recommend going for the one that recruits at your school because those are the bankers you will get to know the best. It would have been hard for me to meet bankers in SF being in NY. If you want to work internationally, there are usually UK, Asia, and other trips throughout the year, which I recommend.
Personally, I would love to work in TMT or Energy capital markets or as a M&A generalist. Did you find you needed to specifiy that far or could you be a little more generalist than that?
If the program is group specific then you want to give a preference but you should be able to explain why. Just liking energy is not enough. Also, if you are a career switcher, you might want to leverage what you know from your previous experience instead of trying to switch careers and industry verticals. For example, if you worked in tech before bschool, TMT would be great for you, but if you consulted for industrials then industrials would be more transferable.
If the program is rotational then talk about why you are interested in a variety of coverages and products.
Thanks again for all of your help. If some of that information is too personal, then I can understand you choosing not to share that information.
There were some questions regarding career switchers. I do not think career switchers were at a disadvantage. I'll say it once and I'll say it again, it's directly related to the effort. However, that effort will entail more work than a prior banker. Pick up the basic Vault Guide to Investment Banking, it's a decent place to start. Read the WSJ, FT, and the Economist. You want to know about the deals going on, such as Pfizer and Wyeth and the potential Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Finance novels are good, too, such as Barbarians at the Gate, The Accidental Investment Banker, etc. Good coversation material. These will just give you more insight into the world of IB, but don't let them turn you off from IB. Also, starting learning finance and accounting. Follow these tips and you will hit the ground running and then some.
This might not be how you want to spend your free time before school, but it will be worth it in the end. Just think: you suck it up and study over the summer; you suck it up and recruit day and night while getting good grades and feeling exhausted at all times; you suck it up and prepare for interviews when you think you cannot prepare any more than you already have; and, finally, you get offers and you have finally arrived at what people in this world kill to be...an investment banker (I say this with all seriousness). 9-12 months of hard work is a small price to pay for that.
Which banks came on campus, and which did you have to source yourself?
Every top bank came on campus, plus almost every major boutique. The top banks are ones such as GS, JPM, MS, UBS, CS, and others. The top boutiques vary, but they are mainly Greenhill, Jefferies, and several others. If they are in NY they tend to recruit at Columbia. If you are in other areas outside of the northeast, you will most likely have different boutiques but the same big banks. There are no shortage of banks recruiting on campus, just fewer offers.
I'd be curious to understand who you ended up interviewing with during first rounds? How many banks?
No need to answer personally. It will correlate with the amount of unwavering effort you put in. Yes, there is an element of randomness, but getting on closed lists and getting offers reflect tremendous determination and preparation.
How did your efforts during the fall translate to success in getting on closed lists?
Seems to have worked, not really much more to say that has not already been said.
Did you see many differences between how the firms recruit?
Yes for most. If you really take the time to earnestly get to know the recruiters you can tell the differences between firms, but just going to informationals and events is not going to cut it. You need to go above and beyond (see my earlier post).
Who did you interview with during Super Saturdays?
Most of them DO NOT do this, but I can't reveal more than that. Prepare for supers as you would for any other interivew.
Were you looking for a specific product or group, and did that affect how you targeted firms?
Target specific groups that you apply your previous experience to, but that goes for group specifc programs. Rotational programs you should talk about your general IB interest.
Also, how does selecting or interviewing for a specific office work? Say I want to be at MS in SF or CS in LA, for example.
Most firms tend to place you regionally. NY for northeastern schools, Chicago for midwest schools, etc. However, you are not barred for putting in your preference. In my program this summer, there will be students from all around the country. I recommend going for the one that recruits at your school because those are the bankers you will get to know the best. It would have been hard for me to meet bankers in SF being in NY. If you want to work internationally, there are usually UK, Asia, and other trips throughout the year, which I recommend.
Personally, I would love to work in TMT or Energy capital markets or as a M&A generalist. Did you find you needed to specifiy that far or could you be a little more generalist than that?
If the program is group specific then you want to give a preference but you should be able to explain why. Just liking energy is not enough. Also, if you are a career switcher, you might want to leverage what you know from your previous experience instead of trying to switch careers and industry verticals. For example, if you worked in tech before bschool, TMT would be great for you, but if you consulted for industrials then industrials would be more transferable.
If the program is rotational then talk about why you are interested in a variety of coverages and products.
Thanks again for all of your help. If some of that information is too personal, then I can understand you choosing not to share that information.
There were some questions regarding career switchers. I do not think career switchers were at a disadvantage. I'll say it once and I'll say it again, it's directly related to the effort. However, that effort will entail more work than a prior banker. Pick up the basic Vault Guide to Investment Banking, it's a decent place to start. Read the WSJ, FT, and the Economist. You want to know about the deals going on, such as Pfizer and Wyeth and the potential Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Finance novels are good, too, such as Barbarians at the Gate, The Accidental Investment Banker, etc. Good coversation material. These will just give you more insight into the world of IB, but don't let them turn you off from IB. Also, starting learning finance and accounting. Follow these tips and you will hit the ground running and then some.
This might not be how you want to spend your free time before school, but it will be worth it in the end. Just think: you suck it up and study over the summer; you suck it up and recruit day and night while getting good grades and feeling exhausted at all times; you suck it up and prepare for interviews when you think you cannot prepare any more than you already have; and, finally, you get offers and you have finally arrived at what people in this world kill to be...an investment banker (I say this with all seriousness). 9-12 months of hard work is a small price to pay for that.
05 Feb 2009, 17:21
Kudos
Bookmarks
Great information dj!
Do you feel that Booth and Kellogg students will be more likely to end up in the Chicago office by choice or by force?
Do you feel that Booth and Kellogg students will be more likely to end up in the Chicago office by choice or by force?
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