Nsentra wrote:
Not many people mentioned investment management? How come?
Investment management is the kinder, gentler cousin of IB, but easyb is 100% correct that it's an incredibly difficult field to break into. The pay is at least as good and can be better than IB, and the hours are shorter. You also have more control over your life. Not a shock that these jobs are in high demand.
I believe there are 3 realistic ways of getting into investment management.
1. Come in with experience at a bulge bracket bank and do well at a top 10-15 school.
2. Get an MBA from a top 10-15 school, join a top IB for 2-3 years and try to make the move after that (the way that easyb described)
3. Get a degree from an ultra-elite and do a lot of legwork and networking.
It's a rarity for people not at the ultra-elites to get into the field, unless it is based on relevant, elite level work experience. The jobs are just too much in demand.