Corporate Finance/Consulting as an Entry Level Grad (Chicago, Lake Forest: job market, law school)

[wallstreet1986]

Hi everyone--

I'm currently a college senior finishing up at Lake Forest College on the North Shore. I'm a Business major and looking at different career opportunities, which I admittedly started a little late in the game. I have also been applying to law schools but am more realistically looking to get into business consulting or working in the finance department of a corporation.

I would like to ask people if they could recommend ways of going about the process -- I'd imagine its a little late in the game for some companies who would already have filled their entry level analyst classes but I believe that its always a good idea to put your name out there. I plan on attending a couple job fairs in Chicago over the next month and will be trying to pull some of the connections that I have through the school in that capacity.

Do any post-undergrad opportunities exist in the field of private equity? I have worked as an intern with a small investment bank here in the suburbs and also oversaw the capital solicitation process for my school's Business Plan Competition. To a prospective employer I would most likely sell them on my analytical and creative ability, financial knowledge and skillset, and comprehensive underground background involving two years of physics and advanced math.

I realize while its a difficult process there are different ways for anyone to enjoy a successful outcome. Feel free to contribute with your own experiences/advice of looking around in the Chicago job market.

[M TYPE X]

When I was a senior at the University of Michigan, all the choice Chicago firms were looking to hire new grads in the Fall, not the spring.

[yamasho]

Yea, its seems as if you are a bit late. However, there are still alot of ways to obtain wanted positions. Mainly look to your schools career services to see who will be on campus to recruit directly. If you are interested in I-banking those positions are more than likely 100% filled. Seeing that they are usually 80% with the class before the fall begins due to the analyst class mostly being summer analysts the preceeding year.

I currently attend Michigan State University and will be moving to Chicago in May, after graduation, to work in the field of finance. I know that our analyst class was filled in early December. (before the end of the Fall Semester)

Good luck w/ everything man...

[M TYPE X]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

When I was a senior at the University of Michigan, all the choice Chicago firms were looking to hire new grads in the Fall, not the spring.

I got a "snob" rep rating on this post for stating the facts. Cute. Go Blue!