What is the best way to get in on the ground floor of international banking/economics firms? (explanation inside)

February 2, 2007 10:06 AM

What is the best way to get in on the ground floor of international banking/economics firms? (explanation inside)

I graduated college (after returning to school, so I was an older student [29] ) with a degree in economics. I want to get into international banking/financial analyst positions with overseas banks/firms (either that, or research/econ analysis positions with similar firms). I'm in a major international city (Miami) and unfortunately, my university wasn't much help outside of its home city (Orlando). I do have 5 years experience in an investment firm, doing various types of analysis, but I don't like saying I was an analyst, because technically, it's not true.

I don't mind working from the ground up, but I do have a 4-year degree and would like a reasonable salary for an entry level, not having to work my way up through via customer service. I do plan to eventually pursue higher education in my spare time.

What approach(es) would you recommend?

posted by Drylnn to Work & Money (3 answers total)

Your university can't help you outside of Orlando? Why not move to a city where the international banking trade is working out. Look in the New York Times and Barron's for job listings that interest you and also go back to past employers who gave you references and offer them lunch in exchange for advice about what the next move should be. I predict in a year's time you will have left Miami and maybe have a Bloomberg Terminal in front of you and no time for Metafilter at all.
posted by parmanparman at 11:03 AM on February 2, 2007

Well, I'm in Miami now (as of January), and this is a major center for Edge Act banks, so my thought process was that this would be a good place to start out. I can't believe that every job starting out can only be found in NYC. Maybe I'm wrong?
posted by Drylnn at 12:42 PM on February 2, 2007

"International banking" is a pretty vague description - what exactly do you see yourself doing? What skills have you developed in your 5 years in investment management? I'd recommend networking any way that you can - find someone who has the job that you want and find out how they got there. Ask lots of questions of people in the industry that you know from your past experiences, etc.
posted by btkuhn at 1:44 PM on February 2, 2007