HOW CAN A 2.2 GRADUATE GET AN INVESTMENT BANKING JOB?
Good day sir.
My name is Williams, a Computer science graduate from the University of Port Harcourt, currently rounding up my service year. I came across a post you made some years ago and I believe you will be in a position to give me experienced counselling.
I have had a strong passion for investment banking since my undergraduate days (if the passion had been some years earlier, I wouldn’t have studied Computer Science) but I consider the fact that I made a 2.2 and my supposedly incompatible background as barriers. Please I would like to know if this holds true.
I know you have left the industry, but from the time you spent there, and the contacts you must have had, and still have, what qualities/certifications can/should I possess to make me stand out despite my result, or is it a futile effort for me?
I was also of the opinion that I should send cold calling applications, since in all my years following the industry, a lot of these firms have hardly ever published their vacancies, yet you mentioned that they employ almost every other week. Do you know anybody I can address a cover letter to? As I know no one in any of these Investment banks and I believe I would err to send an impersonal cover letter.
Thank you for your time taken to read this mail. It isn’t so much about the salary as I would want to break into the industry: I would not mind to work for a meagre salary to gain the intricacies and the first hand understanding of what they do.
Thanks and God bless
***
Dear Williams,
I made the post you referred to in 2008, but unfortunately, today, post economic meltdown, the weekly recruitment doesn’t hold true again. They recruit now based on need…and the need may not surface in months. There is some lull now.
I have seen a couple of younger ones – even ardent readers of this portal – get job in some of these indigenous IB firms in recent time, but most of them have one thing in common: minimum of 2.1, plus professional qualification, especially ICAN or ACCA.
The only friend that got IB firm in a decent firm in recent did not get it until she completed her ICAN exams. While the course you studied does not matter, grade matters. With 2.2 only, it will be a tough one, but 2.2 plus professional exam lifts your chance even though it’s still not a sure banker.
My advice: go and register for either CIS (Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers) exams of ICAN (Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria) exams, or ACCA as an alternative to the former. Any of these brightens your chance.
On application submission, it’s still a tough one because most of them have policy of taking 2.1 graduates only, or in few cases of 2.2, with professional qualifications. But there is no harm in trying, so you can start by surfing LinkedIn and corporate websites of these companies and circulating your CV with powerful cover letter. Maybe, just maybe, someone may want to hear from you.
All the contacts I personally have do not entertain 2.2 alone, so I may not be able to help.
You may also want to see these related cases we treated in the past:
A SECOND CLASS LOWER GRADUATE’S PATH TO BECOMING AN INVESTMENT BANKER
With my 2:2, how can I break into investment banking industry?
All the best.
Jarus
PS: To our IB readers, anyone that can assist the gentleman to drop his CV in his firm or elsewhere should please reach me via jarushub@gmail.com
JARUSHUB
THE BRIDGE TO YOUR CAREER POTENTIALS
hello what are the chances of a 2-2 chemical engineering graduate working in most indigenous oil and gas servicing firms???
Hi sir,am a reader of ur blog and i enjoy ur courage and zeal keep the goodwork going.my question is that do all course of studies have their member bodies like the accountant wich is ICA and others.if each has where to belong to,then which bodies am i to register with,though am 100level INDUSTRIAL PHYSICS?