Break Into Wall Street «DIRECT ›»

Wall Street interviews assess two distinct things: can you do the math, and can they stand sitting next to you for 80 hours a week? Behavioral Preparation

Focus on results, not tasks. Use the Action-Context-Result framework. Instead of writing "Responsible for financial modeling," write "Constructed 3-statement DCF model for a $500M tech acquisition, improving valuation accuracy by 15%." The Cover Letter Strategy break into wall street

Use metrics to demonstrate impact. Instead of "helped with valuation," use "built a DCF model to value a potential $50M acquisition." Wall Street interviews assess two distinct things: can

Starting your career at a smaller, regional investment bank allows you to build deal experience. After 12 to 24 months of solid performance, you can attempt to "lateral" move into a larger middle-market or bulge-bracket firm. Connect your background to the core skills required:

Connect your background to the core skills required: analytical rigor, attention to detail, and quantitative ability.

Your academic background dictates the amount of friction you will face during the application process. Target Schools

: If you aren't at a school where firms actively recruit, networking becomes your only lifeline. You need internal advocates who can pull your resume out of the "black hole" of online applications. Technical Literacy