Hey everyone! I’m currently a second year student at a top business school and getting ready to apply for investment banking positions. I would really appreciate any thoughts on my resume and overall approach. I’m coming from Canada so I’m an international student which makes me a bit nervous about the whole process. I haven’t been super involved in finance clubs at school which is another concern. Right now I’m spending my summer going through financial modeling basics and starting to reach out to alumni in the industry. Has anyone been through similar recruitment cycles? What should I focus on to make myself competitive? Any advice on how to stand out would be awesome. Thanks so much for any help you can give me!
As an international student, you need to be strategic here. Don’t see your background as a hurdle—it’s actually a unique perspective you bring to the table. Show you’re committed to the US market through concrete actions: attend industry conferences, stay current on recent deals, and clearly explain why you want to work in investment banking here. Financial modeling is a solid start, but also analyze transactions in industries you’re actually passionate about. Definitely connect with career services at your school, especially anyone who handles immigration stuff—understanding visa sponsorship is crucial. Start by targeting mid-market firms and boutique banks since they’re usually more flexible with international candidates. Your prestigious school is a huge advantage, but combine that with solid market knowledge and cultural fit to really strengthen your application.
lol everyone’s sugarcoating this but IB recruiting is pure numbers and you’re behind. Missing finance clubs hurts way more than people admit, especially as an international. Yeah, your top school helps, but so does everyone else’s. Skip more financial modeling - everyone does that. Focus on nailing why you actually want 100-hour weeks. Most people bomb that question. And quit overthinking the Canadian thing - nobody cares where you’re from if you can’t handle a DCF under pressure.
networking is key! being international is tough but not impossible - i’ve seen canadians break into us banking. since you missed finance clubs, cold emailing alumni is super important. reach out to recent grads on linkedin; they’re often more willing to chat than md’s. also, don’t just focus on modeling; brush up on your technicals - you’ll get grilled on valuations during interviews.
Timeline’s actually working in your favor - IB recruiting starts in August/September, so you’ve got time to prep properly. Everyone’s talking about networking and technicals, but here’s what they’re missing: use your Canadian background as an advantage. Tons of US banks have major Canadian operations or do cross-border deals. Goldman, Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital - they’re all big in Toronto. Research which firms are active there, then show you know both markets during interviews. Don’t just focus on bulge brackets either. Regional banks with international exposure often give better training and more face-time. Your summer modeling experience is great, but also learn about recent Canadian IPOs and M&A deals. Shows you actually understand North American capital markets, not just one side of the border.
Don’t stress about the finance club thing - I know tons of people who landed IB offers without being treasurer of whatever investment society. What really helped me was nailing my story about why I want banking, especially as an international student. They always ask that. Since you’re doing modeling this summer, brush up on current big deals so you can talk markets intelligently in interviews. Practicing case studies with classmates was huge for me - technical skills matter, but smoothly walking through deal scenarios is what sets you apart. Good luck!
Your top school background is already a huge advantage! Focus on crafting compelling deal stories during networking calls - bankers love discussing recent transactions. Practice explaining your international perspective as a strength, not weakness!