Dear fellow primates, I have been lurking at this forum for quite some time already and I want to express my thanks to all your posts that have given me so much valuable information about everything related to careers in finance. I have been making searches on the particular subject but didn't find any matching posts so I finally decided to start a thread of my own.
My stats:
24 years old european
Master of Music (equivalent to first class honors) from quite famous european music university
CFA Level 2 candidate
Starting UK top target MFE/MFIN in 2017
My story:
I Have been playing a particular classical music instrument from when I was 4 years old and I have been playing professionally since my early childhood (that means getting paid for it). Currently I am playing full time at a quite famous european opera house for the season 16/17. Following this career path for the rest of my life doesn't interest me. Through a contact I was able to secure a Summer Analyst placement at a tiny Mayfair M&A Investment Bank in summer 2017. I think it has more business in the US but only one MD in Europe. From what I have understood they specialize in tech startups from all over the world. Like indicated above, I will start studying at a top target MFE/MFIN in the UK in 2017 so I am aiming for SA placements in BBIBD in 2018.
Are there any fellow instrument playing monkeys on this forum that have brought their skills to a high level? It would be interesting to hear how you where perceived in applications for finance jobs, particularly BB IBD. Did you make it into a top firm? Did your classical music backroud help you perform better in your jobs. I would also be interested in hearing your take on how I should present my self in the best possible way in a SA interview. How should I talk to the interviewers about my earlier career so that they don't think of me as a failed musician (as this is clearly not the case!)? Do interviewers in IB understand how incredibly difficult it is to achieve what I did in classical music? Since my early childhood I have been hyper competitive so I am obviously aiming for the top banks (GS/MS/JPM) as well. Are these Tier 1 places mainly looking for 21-22yo guys fresh out of Oxbridge/LSE undergrad? Is there space for somebody like me who is a bit older but has something exceptional and completely different in his CV in addition to going to the same target schools.
I would love to hear your take on my situation and prospects. Please feel free to ask me anything!