The 3 Things That Actually Get You an IB Offer (It's Not Your GPA)
I've seen hundreds of students go through IB recruiting. The ones who land offers at top banks almost never have the "best" resumes on paper. Here's what actually separates them:
1. They network like it's their job.
Most students send 2-3 cold emails and give up. The students who break in send 50+. They don't ask for referrals — they ask smart questions about deal flow, team culture, and the analyst experience. By the time interviews roll around, bankers already know their name.
2. They can actually walk through a DCF without freezing.
Knowing the theory isn't enough. You need to explain enterprise value vs. equity value like you're talking to a friend. The students who get offers practice technicals out loud every single day for months. Not reading — talking.
3. They have a real "why IB" story.
"I want to work on interesting deals" isn't a story. The best candidates connect their actual experiences — a family business, a class project, an internship — to why they're drawn to advisory work. It feels authentic because it is.
If you're recruiting right now, focus on those three things. Everything else is noise.