Hi,
I’m from a total non-target (small state school) and don’t have alumni in IB. I’ve been cold-emailing analysts at BBs and boutiques, but I’m not getting much traction. For those who broke in from a similar background, what strategies worked best for you?
Thanks a lot!
Hey!
Coming from a non-target makes the process challenging, but plenty of people have broken in by being strategic and persistent. Since you don’t have a strong alumni base, focus on building genuine relationships with analysts and associates through cold outreach — keep your emails short, respectful, and specific about why you’re reaching out. If response rates are low, broaden your net to include smaller boutiques and regional firms where bankers may be more receptive and where you can build direct deal experience that later translates to a larger platform.
At the same time, make sure your technical preparation is airtight. When someone finally gives you time, you want to leave a strong impression. Being able to confidently walk through valuation, accounting, and market drivers will make you stand out as someone who’s done the work despite coming from a less traditional background. Combine that with persistence in networking and a willingness to start at a smaller shop if needed, and you can absolutely position yourself to transition into a bulge bracket or elite boutique later.
Hello There!
Breaking in from a non-target takes persistence, creative networking, and strong technical preparation. Since alumni support may be limited, focus on reaching out to professionals with similar backgrounds, bankers at boutiques, or those from smaller schools, and keep your outreach concise and personal while following up consistently.
Exploring roles at middle-market or specialized firms can give you a stronger entry point, and pairing even small internships or local advisory work with polished technical skills shows that, despite not having a traditional pipeline, you’ve built your own track record and resilience, which many bankers respect.
Hi,
I’ve seen that breaking in from a non-target is definitely possible. One thing I realized is that having something concrete to point to makes a big difference. This could be a small internship, a project, or even doing your own analysis of a company. It gives you something real to talk about in interviews and shows genuine curiosity. Some people I know also started at smaller firms first and later moved up once they had experience.
It may take a couple of steps, but it is definitely achievable.
