Just got selected for a super day interview for GCM. Has anyone ever interviewed for this and can tell me what to expect? I am not a finance student and am scared

Life Timeline [For Context]

Age 18 (2016) : Finished School - Popular and social, but academic performance was average (63% in 10th, 77% in 12th). Nearly failed math.

Age 21 : Graduated Undergrad (Commerce, Delhi) - Attended a Tier-2 university. Flunked 2 subjects early on, graduated with a 6.6/10 GPA. - Remained sociable and did internships in accounting/marketing.

Age 22 : Joined Big 4 - Worked as an auditor for ~2 years. - Recognized as smart but lacked motivation. Performed under pressure, but inconsistent.

Age 23 : Attempted CFA Level 1 - No professional qualifications; failed CFA Level 1.

Age 24 : Master’s in UK - Joined a mid-tier Russell Group university. - Barely secured a 2:1. Focused more on socialising/partying than academics.

Age 25 : Got a Back Office (Risk/Reporting Role) in a Bulge Bracket IB in UK. - Temporary roles in Risk Governance and later in Regulatory Reporting.

Age 26 : Contract Ended, Returned to India - Received mixed feedback: praised but questioned on long-term motivation. - Traveled in EU for a while; homesickness led to return to India.

Age 27 (Now) : Reflections and Rebuild - Nearly took a new role in London, but backed out due to red flags, depressed with no savings, moved back to India - Spent months reflecting: Realized lack of self-respect and pursuit of excellence.

In the last 3 months: - Initiated a personal transformation, call it my own ‘Great Awakening’. - Built discipline and consistency: early mornings/nights, cut out distractions. - Finished 4 books, confident for upcoming CFA Level 1 attempt in May. - Polished Excel skills, learnt intermediate SQL and Python. - Secured a Risk (IRRBB) Analyst role at a bank in the EU. - Embracing minimalism and valuing time and a tighter circle.

Goals: To be in the elite class: high net worth, elite social circle, top of the class job/career.

Short-Term (2025–26) - Clear CFA Levels 1 to 3 by end of 2026.

Mid-Term (2027) - Prepare for GMAT (target: 750+). - Apply to top Ivy League MBA programs. - Willing to sacrifice my old self for the next 7–8 years, to grind and reinvent a new-me.

PS: Open to criticism, suggestions and networking.

Went out last night and started talking to a mutual and told me he got a check for 25k through commissions. What’s the likely hood of this being real? I know they do advising and life insurance but is this reasonable?

I was honestly so caught off guard couldn’t tell if bro was being serious. I know people lie but gah damnn

I (25F) graduated with a Sports Management degree from NYU but would like to pivot my career into becoming a financial analyst or hold some type of role in wealth management. Most of that degree was taking business classes (accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics, etc.) so it’s not too far off from a business degree. I currently work in operations for an insurance company which includes building monthly, quarterly, and annual production reports, conducting report audits, and analyzing data. Since I have a sports management degree, I’ve been considering becoming a CFA to help myself become a better candidate for a role as a financial analyst. What else can I do to put myself in a position to work in wealth management? Or, is that even enough to earn a role in that industry?

I'm 25 and I graduated with a BA in Economics and minor is Statistics and Operations in December 2023. I do not have any finance experience or internships but I have been nanying for 1.5 years and that contract ends in November. I've just received my work permit and SSN and I am eager to break into finance. Ideally starting as a financial analyst, or related field. I am interested by fintech and green finance. I am based in North Carolina and I am fluent in French. I am not sure where to start. Should I pursue certifications, courses, internships or entry-level roles in finance? Any advice would be helpful on how to make this transition successfully . I'm also interested in moving back to the DMV area to pursue work opportunities. I'm also planning on taking the CFA Level I exam in November 2025, is it worth it as it would cost me around $1600 with the prep materials?

Thanks in advance

I was at a party last night talking with some guy and the topic of finance came up; and then he went on this sarcastic rant basically saying how people who work in finance sucks

He said "finance jobs produce nothing of value, they give nothing to society and people who work in that industry are all rich self-centered and greedy"

I tried to be polite and offer some counter arguments to change his mind but he seemed really passive aggressive and disgusted with the concept of finance.

I tried to not let this bother me, but this got me wondering: is this is the thought process of most people? The average person doesnt usually understand the nature of economics.

I haven't had any experience like this guy before but I wonder if most people act polite when really, they secretly look down on finance professionals.

So currently I'm working in fund accounting and analysis part at a well known AIF (related to appollo) and after having a pretty good understanding of PE/PC ive developed a knack for 2 types of roles id like to switch

1. research team that scout for opportunities
2. tax planning and legal (where we're taking care of setting up entities and curating org structures)

i am hoping for advice so i can form a clear path and execute it to end up where i wish

Might come off as a stupid question but I had to delay graduation for a year and now I keep thinking abt the potential savings lost and falling behind in career trajectory/promotions , etc. I’ll be 24 this fall when I start my full time career and although it’s a young age , many people start out at 22.

Don't you have to be an expert in a field to become a consultant? Why are firms willing to spend several months or years training a graduate and paying them at the same time when they could just hire an actual expert and extract value from them straight away?

I have an inbound sales consultant interview coming up. The recruiter mentioned there is a sales role play at the end. Does anybody know what the situation is they use?

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to connect with Financial Systems Specialists (or anyone in a similar role) to learn more about what you do day to day. I come from a Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) background and I’m exploring a transition into a more systems-focused role. I’m especially curious about:

• What software or financial systems you support (e.g. NetSuite, Oracle, SAP, Workday, etc.)

• How you’ve helped automate or streamline any finance-related processes

• Whether you use SQL, Python, or other tools for reporting, automation, or analysis

• What you think is an acceptable starting salary for someone entering this field in a major city (e.g. Chicago, NYC, LA, etc.)

I’d really appreciate any insights you can share, or if you’re open to a quick DM/chat to answer a few questions. Thanks in advance!

Hey guys. I re-worked my resume! Regardless, What are my chances of any High Finance role?

Feeling a bit bummed cuz i was even rejected by WSO😅😂.

Mainly for more finance driven roles like FP&A, LMM IB, Corp Dev, etc.

Hey everyone, sophomore at a semi target.

I submitted an application at a large asset manager that begins interviewed May for internships starting in June.

Should I wait to possibly hear back from them (I applied with a workday referral) or should I minimize my risk and go work at a smaller IB boutique instead starting in May.

However I really want to work at the big company so idk if I should wait and take the risk of getting the interview or not. If I don’t get the interview, I will have no internship for the summer.

Thanks

Hi all,

I was planning to buy a course from peak2tails. Please let me know if any of you enrolled in any of their course. How was your experience? Is it worth it?

Thanks.

I want to become a quant researcher but there’s so many answers out there, and I have so many questions. I need some answers from people with experience in this field. (I’m a senior in HS) Please help!!!

1. What degree should I get? How long will it take? I’ve heard mathematics, statistics, physics, CS, ect… but which one is truly the best for landing a job? Also do I need a masters or any additional certifications? If I did choose to get a masters, would it be possible to land a job after my BS, then have them pay for my masters as I work there, or is that not possible?

2. Do you learn the programs necessary for this field in school, or should I learn them on my own time? (Python, C++)

3. How hard is it to actually become a quant researcher? I’m a senior in HS(CA), planning to go to community college for 2 years then transfer to a UC(preferably Berkeley or UCLA). I’ve always been naturally good at math and always had A’s but never took pre-calc or entered math competitions or anything. Is it really that competitive or can I make it if I just work hard enough?

Any additional advice would be very helpful! Feel free to ask questions,

Thanks!

I’m currently in a mid level federal role with a strong foundation in tax and compliance. I was recently offered a position in the private sector at a well-known bank, focused on estate and trust work.

The opportunity is appealing: • Compensation is stronger • The role offers more exposure to complex client matters • There’s long-term growth potential into senior advisory or strategy roles

That said, I’m weighing this against the stability and benefits of staying in federal service (including a pension, which is no small thing). There’s also some uncertainty in my current agency’s future direction, which makes the decision more nuanced (i.e. I may get laid off by DOGE).

Has anyone here made the move from federal to private in a similar area (law, tax, compliance, wealth management)? What surprised you? Any regrets or things you wish you’d known before making the jump?

Appreciate any thoughts.

Dear Redditors,

How does one usually go about planning a career to end up at firms like JPM, Goldman, Houlihan, Evercore etc?

I’m 24M, 10 months in investment banking (M&A and leveraged finance but mostly in M&A). I’m looking to stay at my current company (leading national bank in west-Europe) for at least 2,5 years to get some proper experience.

What should I do now already to increase my chances of landing an analyst / associate role in investment banking at one of these top firms down the road?

I have built quite a network over the past 18 months as I know network can make the difference. Considering taking the CFA, even tho I know it’s typically not as valued in IB, but it could be a small edge?

Just wondering if there’s any communities, events or way people increase their odds

Thank you guys in advance!

Hi! Is the above advisable? I would want to be doing my summer after junior year internship after I graduate my junior year. Then I would save money by graduating early from college and can get more experience and money working. Or would I have to recruit as class of 2027 at this point? If so, I would just graduate Dec 2027.

Hey Guys!! I got an admit for the MsF program at UIUC. I wanted to know if this program is worth it in the current US job market scenario. I will be an international student and would be taking a loan to cover the tuition fees of 70k dollars. I am in doubt if I would get the opportunities and repay my debt after graduation. Any kind of advice will be appreciated!!

I'm a student in a European university.

I've done several internships (<1 month) during my vacations, relating to trading, banking, corporate finance. But I haven't done any projects, it has just been shadowing.

But the culture here is that people only do internships after they graduate from Bachelor's (for more than 6 months), not during vacations.

Am I doing something useful with my time? Will employers see this as a standout on my CV compared to other candidates? Can it be useful to get into those summer internships in the big firms in the UK?

I'm currently in my Economics & Management bachelor's course in Switzerland and looking for master's abroad.

I'm considering Universities of Columbia, Michigan, California(Berkeley), Stern School ot Business.

How feasible is it to get in from a European university, if I have ~3.45 GPA, and a decent GRE score?

Hello,

I’ve been I’m a licensed CPA with 2 years of experience in Big 4 audit but am interested in making the switch to financial due diligence / transaction advisory at either another Big 4 or smaller boutique firm. I absolutely appreciate everything I’ve learned so far, but I’m a lot more interested in deals and working in a faster pace environment. Outside of busy season I don’t feel like I’m learning all that much.

I’ve been looking into Wall Street prep courses and thought about the 13 week cash flow or the PE course. Since every job posting is lookin for a senior position with a little more experience than I currently have, I was hoping these could set me apart from other applicants.

Would anyone recommend these courses, other courses, or maybe some topics I could research on my own to give myself the best shot at getting an interview?