Good plan for career path?

Hi all,

I have generalised a lot here; I am just thinking about my future that's all. just wondering if this is any good?

Get A levels done
Go to university; BSc Economics?
Straight after BSc Economics do an MBA?
Then work as an Analyst at a hedge fund or something like that?
Then go work as Associate?
Then wean my way into the Banking Management or Investment Banking senior posts?

I haven't even started my A levels yet, so this is just a sort of 'life plan'. By the way, I hope to work in New York City because there are a lot of banking opportunities there, more than London. Hopefully US college and then MBA from an American university?


Thank in advance for any help given!

Flaw 1: You won't be able to do an MBA straight after your undergraduate. You'd have to work as an Analyst for three years before commencing an MBA and in banking, that generally isn't really recommended - I mean, what's the point if you can just get promoted to Associate straight away? MBAs are generally for career changers although I could see some value if you want to be seriously senior some day.

Flaw 2: You can't just go work a hedge fund, most start at an IB and then jump over when they have a track-record.

Flaw 3: It's rare someone then works for a hedge fund and jumps back to IB into a more senior role. I mean, why would anyone do that? If you want to be senior at an IB, you usually stay at an IB and get promoted internally or jump between banks.

Flaw 4: What the hell is Banking Management, you mean Investment Management?

Flaw 5: New York is insanely competitive compared to London and networking carries way more value there, and most of what you said doesn't seem to add any weight to the competitive issue or the internships or even starting out, you're just going to jump straight into a hedge fund - it never happens.

Flaw 6: Your career path is never straight, focus on your A Levels, ECs, Leadership, Voluntary Work and Work Experience for now.

Search for Mergers & Inquisitions.

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Thanks for the constructive criticism. Flaw 4 was a mistake; my autocorrect changed it to Banking when it should have been Investment. Sorry.

Yes, I want to go as senior as possible.

Oh okay, getting into an IB is easier than a hedge fund? Wow! I thought the opposite. Yes, my ultimate aim is to work at an IB. How would I get contacts at my age (GCSE age)? I don't have any family connections at all?

Thanks again!

Well, not saying IB is easy, it certainly is not - but a HF is well off the cards without connections and without going through an IB. It's more that the HFs like knowing you've performed well and developed great insights and skills at an IB that you can use for them.

JPM, MS, HSBC, RBS and Nomura all run AS/A Level Programmes. Not sure about GCSE level, but think JPM might do something down in Bournemouth and HSBC I think also run something (it's retail, but it's a start for your age). Network at those events with people your age, junior and senior bankers.

yh mate... it is good to see you are eager - i myself aim to follow a similar path.

forget doing a masters or phd or mba; you will be too old at the end of it - banks favour young people as they are full of energy (for those 100hr week) plus you would have lost 3+ years of work as an analyst that could get you promoted in years

hedge funds as already said, virtually impossible to get into without contacts. I know someone who is heading a mass project for a private equity firm; who told me that get in is hard; regardless of how many contacts you have.

But yes; i am currently doing my a levels (maths, furhter maths, german and economics) do a language as JPM reject pretty much anybody who doesnt have a language a level.

Focus on your university application - get into LSE/Cambridge/UCL/Warwick - the name of the uni will pretty much give you a place in banking - who knows, many students whilst in uni are head hunted for stupid salaries (a friend of mine at warwick dropped out of their 3rd year to pursue a job valued at £127,000 salary)

Oh alright, thanks for that! I didn't know that a language was so necessary! What are your predicted grades for A levels?

Wow, that story! £127k!

4As - if you dont get this forget applying for economics as the top 5 unis will reject you straight away; meaning you will find it harder to get the job at the end of the course. In which case, apply for AandF, at LSE. again, the uni name carries all you need.

I have a week at an lse, ucl and ulu summer school as well; i'd recommend you apply for some.

but yes, the money is lying there ready to be snatched!

How did you get the week at LSE and UCL? Can you give me some links to websites please?


Thanks!

sorry man, my friend told me that her sister did it and so i asked to see both her and her sister, and we filled in the form together. Google debate chamber - i go in august.

yh mate... it is good to see you are eager - i myself aim to follow a similar path.

forget doing a masters or phd or mba; you will be too old at the end of it - banks favour young people as they are full of energy (for those 100hr week) plus you would have lost 3+ years of work as an analyst that could get you promoted in years

hedge funds as already said, virtually impossible to get into without contacts. I know someone who is heading a mass project for a private equity firm; who told me that get in is hard; regardless of how many contacts you have.

But yes; i am currently doing my a levels (maths, furhter maths, german and economics) do a language as JPM reject pretty much anybody who doesnt have a language a level.

Focus on your university application - get into LSE/Cambridge/UCL/Warwick - the name of the uni will pretty much give you a place in banking - who knows, many students whilst in uni are head hunted for stupid salaries (a friend of mine at warwick dropped out of their 3rd year to pursue a job valued at £127,000 salary)

http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/economics-summer-school/ UCL summer school. I'm planning to go this year, so might see you there.

I wouldn't put too much weight on going to a US uni especially for undergrad. They probably wouldn't advance you any further than a British target one and are 10000000000 times the price. However for an MBA that's a different story. Do you have ideas what you're going to pick for A levels and what you're working towards at GCSE?

If you don't mind me asking, what field is he in?

yh mate... it is good to see you are eager - i myself aim to follow a similar path.

forget doing a masters or phd or mba; you will be too old at the end of it - banks favour young people as they are full of energy (for those 100hr week) plus you would have lost 3+ years of work as an analyst that could get you promoted in years

hedge funds as already said, virtually impossible to get into without contacts. I know someone who is heading a mass project for a private equity firm; who told me that get in is hard; regardless of how many contacts you have.

But yes; i am currently doing my a levels (maths, furhter maths, german and economics) do a language as JPM reject pretty much anybody who doesnt have a language a level.

Focus on your university application - get into LSE/Cambridge/UCL/Warwick - the name of the uni will pretty much give you a place in banking - who knows, many students whilst in uni are head hunted for stupid salaries (a friend of mine at warwick dropped out of their 3rd year to pursue a job valued at £127,000 salary)

Hi all,

I have generalised a lot here; I am just thinking about my future that's all. just wondering if this is any good?

Get A levels done
Go to university; BSc Economics?
Straight after BSc Economics do an MBA?
Then work as an Analyst at a hedge fund or something like that?
Then go work as Associate?
Then wean my way into the Banking Management or Investment Banking senior posts?

I haven't even started my A levels yet, so this is just a sort of 'life plan'. By the way, I hope to work in New York City because there are a lot of banking opportunities there, more than London. Hopefully US college and then MBA from an American university?


Thank in advance for any help given!

If you don't mind me asking, what field is he in?

Woah there, slow down horsey. Focus on your Alevels and think of possible work experience avenues you could do.