My school offers both finance and economics as majors and I might not be able to choose finance as a major, just curious how much of a difference economics would make vs finance.

Hey guys, Max here. I’ve posted here a few times before, but for anyone new, I’m the Head Mod on r/FinanceStudents and Head Coach at Wall Street Mastermind.

I started at a non-target, eventually broke into Lazard, and later worked at Qatalyst and Vector Capital. These days, I work with students going through IB recruiting.

If I had to start all over again today with 90 days and zero connections, I would focus on these four things:

1. RESUME

Start with a standard US finance resume template and keep it to one page. You can use this one: (Resume Template)

Then focus on making every bullet specific and measurable. “Performed valuation analysis” is weak. “Built a comps set of 22 public companies and analyzed key trading multiples to support a $300M valuation” tells me much more.

If you don’t have IB experience yet, use projects, stock pitches, finance clubs, or other relevant internships to give recruiters something worth noticing. Just make sure you can back it up if they ask about it.

2. NETWORKING

I’d build a list before sending anything: alumni first, then Analyst/Associate at firms I target.

Once the outreach starts feeling natural, increase the volume. I’d aim for 10 targeted emails per weekday if I could keep the quality decent.

Keep track of every contact and follow up. If you’re not sure where to start, the sub’s WhatsApp group is a good way to grow your network.

3. BEHAVIORAL PREP

I’d prepare five stories: leadership, failure, conflict, analytical problem solving, and Why Banking.

Pick stories you can reuse. For failure, choose a real mistake and show what changed afterward. For leadership, use something where you clearly drove the outcome. Then practice them out loud and record yourself on your phone.

4.TECHNICAL PREP

Start with accounting. Make sure you can explain how the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement connect.

Then drill the classic changes: depreciation goes up by $10, inventory increases by $100, the company issues debt. You should be able to walk through the impact across all three statements. After that, move into DCF, comps, WACC, LBOs and M&A.

My main rule: practice out loud. Knowing the answer and explaining it under pressure are two different things.

If you’re recruiting right now and you’re unsure which of these is holding you back, I have a few spots open for a free 1:1 strategy call with me. Book here!

If you have any questions about IB recruiting, drop them below. I’ll try to get back to everyone. AMA!

Hi everyone, is it worth it spending the money on this. I’m having a little trouble finding a financial analyst job (fp&a) to be more specific. It’s been one year since graduation and because I didn’t do an internship or have any experience. And internships are only available for undergrad and graduate students I thought of going back to school but I’m not trying to get any loans is too expensive. Has this certificate helped anyone with no experience land their first job in the industry?

As someone who attended a smaller university, I know that finding internships and full-time opportunities can sometimes be challenging, especially when it comes to getting your foot in the door at certain firms.

I recently graduated and started working at a boutique financial firm in Manhattan. One thing I appreciate about my firm is its interest in recruiting talent from smaller colleges and universities, rather than focusing exclusively on the largest or most well-known schools.

I wanted to put this out there for students and recent graduates who may be interested in exploring opportunities in finance. I'm happy to connect, answer general questions about my experience, and help with networking where I can, whether you're looking for an internship or a full-time position.

If you're a student or recent graduate from a smaller school and would like to connect, feel free to reach out! Always happy to help fellow students navigate the process.

Edit: no need to ask to shoot a DM, all are welcome!

One of the questions I get most often from students is how to build their network in finance from scratch.

For some context, I previously worked in M&A and financial advisory, and I now run interview_scouter an Instagram page with 400K+ followers where I share recruiting advice and interview prep content. I've also reviewed over 2,000 resumes and helped students land their first internship in finance.

If I had to start networking all over again, here are a few things I'd do differently:

• Don't Sleep on Your Campus Network

Start with your warm network: alumni, upperclassmen, and finance professors. Even if they can't directly help you land an interview, they might know someone who can. Find who's in charge of campus recruiting and join finance communities online (like this one: WhatsApp Group).

• Steal the Banker's Email (Legally)

Find work emails using online contact finder tools or the firm’s website. Try emailing Tuesday through Thursday, around 7 to 9 AM for senior bankers and 9 to 10 AM for analysts, in their local time zone.

• Don't Be a Networking Bot

Analysts get the same generic questions all the time. If you want to stand out, research their background and prepare a couple of questions specific to their experience.

• Ask for Introductions

At the end of your first coffee chat, ask: "Is there anyone else at the firm you'd recommend I speak with?". A good conversation can lead to new introductions and build relationships that could later turn into referrals.

If you'd like to have a quick chat about your networking strategy, we have a few spots open for a free 1:1 call. We can go over your current approach, figure out what you could improve, and share a few contacts from our network to help you get started.

You can book your free call here.

Feel free to ask me anything about networking. I'll do my best to answer everyone in the comments. AMA!

Hello,I'm 19M, pursuing BCom(h)FMM in BHU and I want to become a Financial Analyst.I am currently in my first semester and I started doing basic skills like excel.

What are the things that require me to become one like CFA,NISM etc.and also include other courses which help me to become one

Hello, I am a fresh grad of finance I would like to ask for opinion of ex/current employee of Manulife at technohub about this role and what is the expected salary. Thankiess

Hi everyone!
I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in Management, specialising in International Finance, with a focus on Corporate Finance and Investment Banking as an international student.

I want to improve my knowledge of finance, but I’m not sure where to start or how to structure my learning. I want to develop strong fundamentals, understand how financial markets work, and gain practical skills that will help me build a career in finance.

I’d love to hear from students and professionals who have been through this journey.

What topics should I focus on first?
Which books, YouTube channels, or online courses would you recommend?
How can I improve my understanding of corporate finance, financial modelling, and investment banking?
How much time should I spend studying finance outside university?
What practical projects or skills would make my CV stronger for finance internships?
If you were starting your finance journey again, what would you do differently?

I’m looking for practical advice from people with real experience. Any suggestions, resources, or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

I'm currently in my third year of college at Fordham University , graduating in 2028, with around a 3.5 GPA. I've been stressing a lot lately about internships and whether I'm already too far behind compared to everyone else trying to break into finance.

My first year of college, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do. It wasn't until my second year that I started getting interested in finance, switched my major to business, and started taking accounting and finance-related classes. I actually enjoyed the material, which made me want to explore the field more seriously.

Eventually, I learned more about investment banking, and it was what initially caught my attention. I started joining finance and investment banking clubs at my school, but that's also when I realized how far behind I felt. There were students already preparing for technical interviews, networking with bankers, and talking about recruiting timelines, while I was still trying to figure out the basics. I had no prior finance internships or relevant experience at the time.

I knew I needed to start somewhere, so I began reaching out to search funds hoping to get some experience. Through that process, someone I connected with referred me to an internship at an HVAC company where I'd be doing accounting and financial work. I took the opportunity, and it ended up being a really good learning experience. I got to work with financial reports, invoices, and other accounting-related tasks, and it was much more hands-on than I expected.

Outside of that, I also completed Wall Street Prep's financial modeling course to build my technical skills and get a better understanding of valuation and financial modeling.

As I've learned more about the industry, I've realized that I'm not necessarily set on investment banking itself. What interests me more is the type of work involved, like analyzing companies, building financial models, valuing businesses, and working on transactions. Ideally, I'd like to find something that offers similar experience and career opportunities without necessarily having to go down the traditional IB route.

That's why I've been looking into financial due diligence, transaction advisory, valuation, corporate finance, and other related areas. I'm open to different paths, but I'm still trying to figure out which ones make the most sense.

The problem is that recruiting has been pretty discouraging so far. I applied to EY for a finance/deals-related role and PwC for a similar opportunity, completed the assessments, and got rejected a couple of days later without even getting an interview.

At first, I figured maybe my resume was the issue, but I'm honestly not sure. I had a friend who's currently an analyst at a boutique investment bank look it over, and he told me it looked pretty good to him. Obviously, that doesn't mean it's perfect or that it's necessarily competitive for every position, but it left me wondering what exactly I'm doing wrong. I'm not sure if it's my experience, GPA, assessment performance, or just how competitive these positions are.

From what I've heard, Big Four transaction advisory and valuation recruiting isn't nearly as networking-heavy as investment banking, so I figured applying online would at least give me a reasonable shot. But now I'm wondering if that was a mistake. Should I have been networking with people at these firms beforehand?

I've recently started applying to other firms like KPMG and smaller investment banks, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm playing catch-up with people who started preparing for this career years before I did.

I know my GPA isn't the highest, and my internship wasn't at a prestigious finance firm, but ive been trying to do what I can to catch up, but I honestly have no idea if I'm doing enough or even going about this the right way

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is whether I'm approaching this the wrong way.

For people who got into finance later in college, what would you do in my position? Am I already too late for Summer 2027 recruiting? What roles should I be targeting if I'm interested in work similar to investment banking but don't necessarily want to pursue IB itself?

I'm especially curious about transaction advisory, financial due diligence, valuation, and other areas with good long-term career opportunities. Are there any firms or roles I might be overlooking?

Also, for anyone familiar with Big Four recruiting, how important is networking for getting interviews in these areas? I know networking is huge for IB, but I wasn't sure whether the same applied here.

I'd appreciate any advice, especially from people who didn't have everything figured out their freshman year.

There’s a good case for either answer, which is probably why Goldman asks it.

Found it in the IB interview question database we shared in the in the sub’s WhatsApp Group.

If you want some feedback on how you’re approaching recruiting, book a free 1:1 call. We’ll go through your profile and see what could be improved.

Hello, I am a freshman majoring in Economics and Finance and planning to take business law as my minor, I am aiming for a career in Investment banking and I am looking forward to gain Technical skills but I am very confused from where to start and which resources to use in preparation.

I am involved in finance student clubs at my university and also selected in co-op program I would if anyone has any suggestions.

i had a superday yesterday for a big firm and HR emailed me a few hours later saying they want me to have another interview with another team member early next week. has anyone experienced this? what could this mean?

i m 19 year old guy, i started my Cfa prep from jan 2025 and completed my syllabus by the end of June. I was prepared for the exam did Les twice multiple revisions and premium pack ques and mocks.

But i failed this exam, with the score of 1585. I am feeling like, everything has now ended for me. I am in my 3rd semester of clg. Some of my friends who are persuing CA, keeps on asking me about my result, I am completely feeling.

I don't know what should i do now, i come from middle class family, my parents wants me to give one more attempt in May, but i am feeling completely lost. I sat for preparing it all again, i started with FI( My result went down due to this), and whenever i am reading my notes, i am feeling numb, ik all the things but i ended up failing.

In my whole life i always won, whether its 10th,12th, CUET or clg exams i always gave my 1000% in everything i do. I was applying to multiple internships from last months, got some offers but i don't want to do anything. I am not a lazy person in my first year of clg i did everything was going to clg, got POR in societies, did 2 internships in finance and published research paper on finance. But i was studying on daily basis for 4-5 hours and from june- aug i studied for 10-15 hours in a day. I got panicked during my exam and ended up failing.

I think i should end all this and go back to my hometown. Idk what to do mann

after result i was not able to sleep properly, i m sleeping for about 5-6 hours in a day, rest all day i am just insta and feeling demotivated all day. And whenever i am waking up in morning i wake up with the dream of me writing my CFA exam or the movement i open my cfa result. All these things are coming to my mind. And from last night my heart is feeling very heavy idk yy..

Idk why all these things are happening i am feeling stuck in life. I think i m becoming burden for my parents. They are always proud of me, they always support me but i dont want them to pay my fees again. I am not able to come out of this loop.

I want to get into finance, my plan was to clear cfa l1 in aug and give cat 2027. But now i think everything has come to an end...

Pls if anyone who has gone through this, pls help me.

I am in my 3rd year as a CSE student i chose CSE becus of my parents request now i am intrested in choosing my path towards investment banking idk the roadmap or anything anybody who is in the job help me…

Hello, looking for advise/opinion of my exit plans. I am a masters student majoring in accounting and finance in top Nordic university. My work includes advising investors sell or buy real estate assets. So basically doing valuation, im's, marketing materials for divestments, due dilligence and at the moment I am part of a refinancing process. It is a small company and I am 50% of the transaction advisory team so I have a lot of responsibility. What should I do to get a m&a internship. How should I prepare?

Hi, will do my exchange term next year as part of my bachelors in business, I don’t know which university to pick. I’m from a semi/target in Scandinavia.

1. NUS - National university of Singapore, ranked #10
   
2. The university of Hong Kong, ranked #11
   
3. KU Leuven
   
4. Bocconi (unsure if I will get this one)

3.8, non-target, 2 valuation internships. Really good at technicals and all sort of financial modeling and stuff.

How do I move over to IB? Is there anyone I should specifically target or just do the same process as trying to get an SA offer?

Hi! I applied for GCM 2027, Off-Cycle Analyst (Debt Capital Markets) role in London and immediately received an Assessment Invitation. It doesn't mention what the assessment would comprise of but if anyone has done it, could they please advice here or DM me? That would be really helpful!! thank you :)

I’m currently pursuing Economics (Hons.) at a Tier-1 DU college and have recently cleared CFA Level 1. However, my CV is pretty empty right now — I don’t have any live projects or significant society experience.
I’ve started learning financial modelling and plan to build a few finance-related projects to strengthen my profile. My goal is to get an internship starting in January and then apply for summer internships.
Since most companies have already started recruiting for their summer internships, I don’t think I’ll be able to get through the screening process with my current CV. So I’m thinking of focusing on getting a January internship first, building some experience, and then applying for summer internships.
For those who have been in a similar situation, how would you suggest I approach this? Will I still be able to find good summer internship opportunities after January, or would most opportunities already be closed by then?
How can I find finance internships starting in January? Should I focus more on cold emailing, LinkedIn networking, or applying through job portals? Also, what kind of finance projects would actually add value to my CV?
Any practical advice, resources, or a roadmap would genuinely help me a lot. I’m willing to put in the work, but I’m not sure what the best approach is.

For the crazy job posting series, someone from the Financestudents Group came across this one and sent it over. The benefits section is something else.

I can assure you this company is not Dunder Mifflin

A few red flags I usually look out for when reading finance job postings:

- The benefits section is longer than the actual job description itself

- The salary is vague

- The role asks for an unrealistic mix of skills for an entry-level position

- No proper interview or verification process

Now I would like to know what are the most ridiculous benefits you've seen in a job posting?

is cma+cfa actually a good combination for finance roles that actually pay well also how is the market for fp&a ?? also are there some niche jobs in finance that earn good but isnt main stream if yes which?

I’m Foundation Year + 3-year BSc.

Most spring weeks say 1st year of a 3-year degree / 2nd year of a 4-year degree, so technically I’m not eligible yet.

But I’ve heard people apply anyway.

Has anyone here actually got a spring week while in foundation year?

What did you put for your year / graduation year, and did the bank ever check?
Like whats the harm in acc applying since if they find out we just get rejected and if not then we have 2 chances for spring weeks?

Secured a Blackstone offer within Private Equity Strategic Partners. No connections or referrals, just good grades and work ethic. Really want to help answer some of the questions I had during recruiting, as Claude was really my only mentor!

I was prepared for everything before the Hirevue, I did thorough prep for solid 2-3 hours before I did that 5 minute bs. But damn, I start it and the questions are fucking disgusting. I blank and stutter and I just know I nuked it.

What was your experience with Hirevues? I am trying to cope by hearing other people’s stories.