WSO Weekly Wrap-up

May 17, 2025


Hey WSO Monkey,

I’m super pumped because we just launched our mock interview grading system inside WSO Academy. Our students now get graded across 10 different sub-categories and receive hard data and feedback on their performances as they improve mock to mock. If you haven’t checked us out yet, you can learn more about WSO Academy here.

-Patrick

Top Discussions

  1. Q&A: Former BB ER VP - "I led or co-led multiple IPO initiations during the pandemic-era tech surge, and later covered the emergence of generative AI (GenAI) and its impact on business models, valuations, and institutional sentiment. Sitting at the intersection of tech, capital markets, and investor expectations gave me a front-row seat to how innovation is priced in — and what drives conviction on the Street. I've since stepped away from the sell-side but remain closely plugged into tech investing. I'm here to answer questions, offer insights, and help those looking to build or level up their careers in ER or broader finance roles..."

  2. How Come Lawyers Don’t Hate Their Lives as Much as Bankers Do? - "But if you go to Law School, you’re a lawyer. There isn’t really that much other flexibility. You can complain all you want, but it’s pointless because you’re still a lawyer and you’ve invested all your time and energy in your early 20s to get through law school and pass the Bar. On the other hand, IB is relatively easy to land - no specific degree required, no grad school required, no difficult bar-like exams (the Series exams are a joke). And once you get there, most have the expectation of exiting already, so of course there’s going to be more complaints because this is a job that many people don’t want to do in the first place and there is a clear way out..."

  3. 9 Hidden Perks of Your Amazon Prime Membership - “Consider maximizing your Amazon Prime membership. Beyond free shipping, explore lesser-known perks like complimentary music/podcasts, access to lightning deals, and Whole Foods discounts. Ensure you're getting the most out of your membership with help from our deal experts. Discover 9 Prime benefits you should be using.“

Nail Your Next Interview with WSO Academy

Feeling nervous about interviews? Don’t worry—WSO Academy has you covered with mock interviews led by real finance professionals. These aren’t just any mentors; they’re actual bankers, private equity associates, and other finance pros who literally conduct these interviews as part of their day jobs.

✅ Practice with the Pros
Get 25 hours of real-time feedback from experienced mentors who’ve been on the other side of the interview table. Their insights are laser-focused on what hiring managers want to see.

✅ Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Each mock interview comes with detailed scoring across behaviorals, technicals, and overall performance. See exactly where you stand and what you need to improve.

✅ Turn Mistakes Into Mastery
WSO Academy is your testing ground to stumble, learn, and perfect your interview game—without risking real opportunities. Practice with us to be polished, professional, and perfect with them.

💬 Real Testimonial:

Don’t wing your interviews—ace them.

Top Discussions (contd.)

  1. I Did It. Open to Any Questions About Recruiting for Anything - "Lfg boys, 1000s of networking emails, 100s of calls, so many final rounds and so many rejections and I finally got the offer at an HF. I’m a sophomore requiring sponsorship so I recruited from pretty much every single role from IB M&A to IB RX to RX consulting to PE to HF L/S to Credit investing for the summer of 2026. So please, wso really helped me during my recruiting process, I’m happy to answer literally whatever questions people have, about any bank, any firm on the buy side and sell side that I know of..."

  2. What Gifts / Gestures Do You Get for Significantly More Senior Mentors to Show Appreciation? - "The best return of value you can provide is one that it sounds like you're already giving: undying appreciation and loyalty. Make him proud by always being the best you can be and don't get yourself in the news for anything stupid. I would also second the card+wine suggestion for any situation. However, if this guy is THAT important to you and you think you are important to him (only you could judge this) then you could get something more memorable and meaningful..."

  3. Are Certifications Like CFA, CA, FRM Actually Worth It Anymore? - "I'm going to give it to you straight. It opened some doors, but my MBA opened up a lot more doors. CFA Program was a great education, but as far as actual ROI...I'm like 50/50 sometimes on if the work was worth it. Not trying to be a downer but giving it to you straight. If you go into ER, or higher levels of WM, you might get volun-told for it, but it's just not really a thing in IB. I'm glad I have it. It certainly doesn't hurt you. I did learn a lot. If I ever won the lottery or some crypto shitcoin made me rich, I'd know how to manage my money a lot better than a bunch of wealth managers at my firm. The education was solid, but as far as opening career doors, it opened some, just not as many as I expected if I'm being honest..."

  4. On Cycle 2025 Kickoff - "On Cycle kicking off on Monday. Good luck all and god save this industry. The number of funds participating is at an all time low this year."

New Podcasts Coming in Hot 🔥

  • Brown to Morgan Stanley Research | Chat with Nicholas | WSO Academy

  • Trinity to Boutique IB | Chat with Tudor | WSO Academy

Hot Jobs 💼

Venture Capital Associate (Life Sciences, Boston based) - "The team is seeking an Investment Associate to join as a generalist across their three sector focuses (biotech, digital health/tech, and tools/diagnostics) in Boston metro with an ASAP or Summer 2025 start date..."

Full-time Investment Associate - "A Silicon Valley based long/short equity hedge fund specializing in artificial intelligence (AI). It exclusively invests in AI and AI-related public technology companies..."

Equity Research Analyst - "Buy-side research analyst opportunity with a family office. The analyst will work with the direct investment team and report to the Portfolio Manager. The team employs a fundamentally driven investment process and an owner’s mentality...."

Research Associate (Equity Small Mid Cap) - New York, NY - "This position will support the Small/Mid-Cap Equity research team and initially be responsible for covering multiple sectors in support of current team members."

On Deck - Training 🎓

All in Eastern Standard Time

Stay Strong,
Patrick Curtis
CEO and Founder, WallStreetOasis.com

WSO Mobile App: iOS | Android

PS - We're also always looking to add resume reviewers and WSO Mentors to our team. Set your own pay (from $40/hr to up to $400/hr) to increase or decrease mentee flow. To submit an application, go here.

PPS - Think you have an interesting story? Want to share it with our podcast listeners? Hit reply and let me know!




* PE Interview Bootcamp includes lifetime access to the PE Interview Course
** FMV Bootcamp includes lifetime access to the Elite Modeling Package
*** IB Interview Bootcamp includes lifetime access to the IB Interview Course