Hi everyone! I’m a business administration student with a finance concentration who transferred from another school. I’m trying to figure out whether to pursue investment banking or consulting internships, and I have some questions that are making me feel pretty stressed out. My background includes working as an assistant loan officer at a residential real estate company, plus I managed staff at a resort for two years. I also did some tutoring work while at community college. Here’s what I’m wondering about: - Does it matter when I reach out to people for networking? Should I time it close to application deadlines? - Given my work history, would consulting be a better fit than investment banking for my resume? - How long after applying do companies usually schedule interviews? - Are internship interviews different from full-time position interviews in these fields? - Is it realistic to prepare for both paths, or should I pick one and focus entirely on that? - What can I do this summer to improve my chances since I have some free time? I’m feeling really overwhelmed and behind compared to other students. Any advice would be helpful because I want to work hard but need some direction on the best approach.
your loan officer background beats most finance majors with just textbook knowledge. for summer prep, hit up financial modeling tutorials and basic case prep - plenty of free resources online. companies typically interview 2-4 weeks after you apply, though it varies. don’t stress about being behind - your real-world experience will make you stand out way more than other students in interviews.
The overwhelm you’re feeling is totally normal - these fields are quite competitive. Don’t view your diverse background as a weakness. Your experience as a loan officer demonstrates your quantitative skills and ability to manage client relationships, which are valuable in both investment banking and consulting. Additionally, managing staff at a resort indicates your leadership capabilities, a quality that many candidates lack.
When it comes to networking, focus on building genuine relationships rather than timing your outreach around application deadlines. As for preparing for both career paths, while the technical skills differ, the essential competencies like analytical thinking, communication, and industry knowledge are highly relevant in both fields.
This summer, focus on mastering financial modeling and understanding case interview frameworks. Set up informational interviews with professionals in both industries to gain insight into their daily responsibilities and career trajectories. Remember, internship interviews are typically less technical than full-time interviews, but they still place a strong emphasis on cultural fit and motivation. Your unique experiences can be a significant advantage if communicated effectively.
Don’t stress about picking one path yet. I applied to both IB and consulting junior year and it worked fine - the prep overlaps anyway. Your resort management experience will be huge for consulting cases since you’ve handled real operational problems. Reach out to alumni 2-3 months before apps open, not when everyone’s scrambling at deadlines. First rounds usually take 2-3 weeks to hear back. You’re not behind - your actual work experience beats kids with just classroom theory.
Your background sounds amazing! That loan officer experience gives you real finance skills most students don’t have. Start networking NOW - summer’s perfect timing before fall recruiting kicks off. Both paths are totally doable with your experience!