The Non-Target Playbook: Build Your Resume, Network & Create Opportunities
Not sure what you should be doing freshman or sophomore year to give yourself a real shot at investment banking? This is the package I wish I had at Baruch College. I didn't come from a traditional Wall Street pipeline. When I started at Baruch, I didn't have a built-in network in finance or a clear roadmap for how to eventually reach investment banking. I learned pretty quickly that coming from a non-target meant I had to be intentional about creating opportunities. I stacked classes so I could intern during the school year, started with whatever relevant experience I could get, networked constantly, and gradually worked my way into increasingly competitive internships and roles, eventually going from Baruch to Citigroup, J.P. Morgan M&A, and private equity. This package is for students who know they're interested in finance but are still asking: What should I actually be doing right now to give myself the best shot? We'll build a practical game plan around your specific starting point and not a generic checklist designed for someone at a target school. Let's get to work!
What's included
My approach is pretty straightforward: I want to understand where you are today, where you’re trying to get to, and what’s actually standing in the way. I don’t believe in giving everyone the same recruiting playbook. Before we meet, I encourage you to send me your resume and a little context on your goals, recruiting status, and what you’re struggling with so I can come prepared and we can make the most of our time. During our sessions, I’ll be candid and practical. If I think you resume needs work, your story isn’t convincing, you’re spending too much time on the wrong things, or an interview answer isn’t landing, I’ll tell you but we’ll also work through exactly how to improve it. I also want these conversations to feel comfortable and down to earth. I’ve been the non-target student trying to figure out all this out myself, so there are no bad questions and you don’t need to show up knowing all the finance jargon. My goal isn’t to overwhelm m you with information. It’s to help you focus on the few things that matter most, leave each session with clear next steps, and become more confident navigating the process on your own. I’m also happy to be an open book about my own experiences and what worked vs. didn’t work for me along the journey!
- Session 1 - Where Are You Today? Profile Assessment + Roadmap
- Session 2 - Create More Opportunities (Internships + Networking)
- Session 3 - Position Yourself for IB Recruiting (Resume + Story + Next Steps)
Meet your expert
Andy A.
Non-Target → J.P. Morgan M&A | Helping Non-Targets Break Into IB
I currently work in lower-middle-market private equity after spending ~3.5 years in J.P. Morgan's M&A group in New York and beginning my career at Citigroup. My path into finance was far from traditional. I attended Baruch College (non-target / CUNY) and didn't have the traditional Wall Street recruiting pipeline or a built-in network in the industry. I worked throughout college, intentionally stacking classes onto certain days so I could intern during the school year. Over time, I built experience across several areas of finance before starting full-time at Citigroup, lateraling into J.P. Morgan M&A, and eventually making the jump into private equity. I've personally gone through the undergraduate internship recruiting, summer analyst recruiting, full-time recruiting, lateral investment banking recruiting, and private equity recruiting. During my time at J.P. Morgan, I also heavily participated in internship, full-time, and placement recruiting, giving me experience on the interviewer side as well. I've had interviews go well, processes go nowhere, networking emails get ignored, and plenty of moments where I questioned whether I was competitive enough for the next opportunity. I eventually made it into roles that honestly felt pretty far away when I was first starting at Baruch. That's the perspective I bring to coaching. I'm particular interested in helping students from non-target and unconventional backgrounds who feel like they're trying to figure this process out with the same network or resources as everyone else. I'm not here to sell shortcuts or guarantee interviews. I'll be an open book about my own experience, give you candid feedback on where i think you're spending your time well or poorly, and help you build a practical plan around your specific situation. Don't hesitate to reach out!
