​by Girl Banker

Getting an internship is hard, getting one when you don't fit into the standard criteria is even harder. I recently held a talk at Birmingham Business School on strategies for finding a job or internship when the standard programmes won't accept you. I thought I would share a few of the points here with you.

1. Networking

Networking is very important but it becomes critical when you can't get an internship. Recruiters host most of their events at universities so look for events at your university as well as other nearby institutions. Do some serious reading on how to network effectively.

How to Network Yourself into an Investment Bank (part 1)

2. Leverage your friends

This doesn't necessarily fall under networking because when you "network" you try to forge new connections, however, have you looked at your friend lists (and friends of friends) closely? If you haven't been in touch with certain friends for a while look them up on LinkedIn to see what experiences they have recently had that you may not necessarily know about. 

If your friends haven't started working then speak to them about contacts that they may have through family as well as via their own networking efforts.

Don't feel embarrassed to ask for help! Even if you are shooting for banks that you believe won't give you a second look chat to friends about your plans. They may surprise you with the feedback that they give you.

3. Focus on Them Not You

Be guided by the principle that people love themselves. If you haven't already read, How To Make Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie who explains this concept eloquently. If you can make a potential employer look good, they will love you immediately. If you can solve a problem that they have they will want you to come in.

4. Keep In Touch With Your Careers Office

Your careers office is there to help you even after you graduate; connect with them. 

• Check-in regularly for new information. 
• Sign up to all their relevant mailing lists
• Speak to them about your issues

5. Speak To Headhunters

If you have previous RELEVANT experience, they can help. If you don’t, this avenue is not open to you. Here are some headhunters you can start off with: 
GirlBanker.com/Headhunters

6. Look At Associate-level Internships

The requirements to get onto internships for Associates can be more flexible than analyst-level programmes, however, you need to have relevant work experience.

7. Look For Off-cycle Internships

These are harder to find but they will be more accessible to people that don’t fit into standard internships. E.g. the Goldman's returnship. Go to banks’ websites to find them.

8. Go For Smaller Firms

Look at boutiques and small firms, e.g. firms listed number 11 and lower in my book: 
Pages 42-44 in To Become An Investment Banker, Tables 2.2, 2.3, 2.4.

9. Chase Bankers That Are Similar To You

Fact: People like people that are like themselves so seek out:

• Alumni from your school
• Alumni from your university
• People from your country
• People of your race (!)
• People with similar (unique) hobbies
• People that have undertaken challenges that you have, e.g. Ironman Triathlon

10. Don't Forget The Other Stuff

• Grades matter;
• Presentation, i.e. the way you look and come across matters;
• Presentation, i.e. the way your CV/resume or cover letter looks matters. Don't make basic errors especially with grammar and spelling!

Hope this helps!
Heather -> BOOK COACHING

by Girl Banker®

Listen to the iTunes podcast instead.

I'll give you the standard textbook answer and then I'll tell you a little about the variations that I have seen.

All newbie front-office investment bankers in both corporate finance and the capital markets start life off as analysts.

The table below sets out the different career stages in an investment bank; the terminology used in European banks is slightly different to that used in American banks. You may find further differentiation in specific banks, e.g. splitting the VP category into junior VP and senior VP, but broadly speaking the below applies.

'Analyst' is usually a three year stage, 'Associate' is normally a three to four year stage depending on progress and internal politics. 'Associate Director' in a European bank is normally two to three years. 'VP'/'Director' can be as short as two years, or indefinite! Some people never make it to MD. Your emotional quotient (people skills) and your ability to master corporate politics can be critical in making that jump from VP to MD.