Breaking into Wall Street

[slayterdown]

With an electrical engineering undergrad and five years of engineering/project management experience, how hard is it break into Investment banking? How much more difficult is it for me compared to someone who already has experience in financial services. Note: I will be graduating from a top 15 school (Stern).

[mbalawyer78]

Minor variation on the same issue. How tough is it for an attorney with a couple years experience in international business transactions and litigation, no finance experience, to break into the i-banking field on the assumption that I graduate from a top 5-10 MBA program?

[oladipoaina]

Hi guys,
i just read your questions about how you are interested in breaking into the financial sector with no finance experience.
Well, it's not as hard as you think. For instance, if you have an extensive experience in engineering, one thing you can do is enter a department that is related to what your experience is....and with time, you get to learn the various financial procedures and processes. That will give you a natural transition. However, you can also do training and cerification exams related to the financial skills you need.
Even as an attorney, you can first work in the legal debt on the financial firm, and then learn from there.

Most importantly, it also takes alot of hard work and committment. You need to buy books, read and learn the latest financial skills. For instance, buy books on financial modelling, capital investments, and all the necessary financial skill set needed.
You might ask your.."how do i know the necessary skills". Well, you can go to internet job boards and search for your interested and ideal job role. Read the foubdational job requirements and skill sets....and work on getting that.
So i hope i helped a bit in your quest.
thanks

Ladi Aina
MBA, eCommerce
Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University
www.bostap.com/ladi (http://www.bostap.com/ladi)