WSO Weekly Wrap-up

October 11, 2025

Hey WSO Monkey - just had some amazing placements at JPM, UBS, Rothschild, Millennium, Stifel (and more), all in the last few weeks. If you haven’t checked us out yet, you can learn more about WSO Academy here.

-Patrick

Top Discussions

  1. What Is So Hard About Investment Banking Recruitment? - "Several factors. Firstly, like you said, it is easy. And bc it’s so easy esp now with so many widespread guides and toolkits out there, the barriers to entry historically reserved for a few are now available to everyone. This isn’t a bad thing since it allows a much wider range of candidates but also increases the difficulty. Secondly, reduced demand. The main theme for nearly all firms in the past few years has been do more with less. This sucks both on the internship hunting phase and the return phase bc you can imagine not only the difficulty to get into an internship class but difficulty of getting into one with headcount. This also creates an overflow of overqualified juniors similar to the uk with like 4 FO internships to guarantee breaking in..."

  2. Becoming One Dimensional - "The worst thing about banking is that it makes you a mediocre person as you have no time to do the things that made you brilliant enough to get the job."

  3. Anyone Else Been Unemployed for Almost a Year Too? - "1 year unemployed is definitely a turnoff for most people hiring. I think waiting 1 full year before broadening the search was a mistake. If I were in your shoes and looking to get back to banking, I’d be applying to any IB-adjacent role, spend 1 year there and then try to pivot..."

Excel in Israel This Summer

The Birthright Israel Excel Fellowship is where ambition meets opportunity.

Spend the summer weeks in Tel Aviv as part of an extraordinary cohort of Jewish college students interning at top-tier finance, consulting, tech, other business sectors. Gain hands-on experience, learn from Israel’s innovation leaders, and connect with a powerful professional network that spans the globe.

Outside work, immerse yourself in Israel’s culture, communities, and cutting-edge industries all while building friendships and career connections that will last a lifetime.

The application for Summer 2026 is open now. This is your chance to stand out, step up, and shape your future.

Top Discussions (contd.)

  1. Has Anyone Made the Switch From Public Equities to PE? - "Way more opportunities to make big money early and quickly in your career in publics. PE as a model is something you can benefit from way more doing as a solo/small GP once you have capital to work with and a sophisticated view you can clearly communicate to investors to raise capital (if you need it), which is something you can easily develop as a skill in public markets. PE at an institution is ass until you reach the Principal+ level and the skills you develop as an ASO/VP, while useful, are not so hyper-specialized that I think they're a better value than what you could develop in an actual risk-on seat (or supporting seat)."

  2. FT Recruiting Anxiety - "Was in the same spot, didnt get a return at my MM regional this summer, really didnt click w/ the people and felt like total crap at the end of the summer knowing it was pretty inevitable. Signed ft offer to an objectively better bank in nyc. you really j have to keep going and not let the stress of the situation get to you during interviews. my first two interviews at two different EBs i flunked because the pressure of interviewing w/ no return was making me crazy panicky. thankfully was able to get into a process that only had 4 ppl spd and outperformed those w/ RO..."

  3. Centerview Partners to Face Trial Over Junior Banker’s Long Hours - "Working conditions for junior bankers have become an important issue for Wall Street in recent years as the deal boom during the Covid-19 pandemic led to complaints from fresh college graduates that they were being worked excessively hard by their supervisors, often resulting in 100 or more hour work weeks. Centerview Partners is one of the top New York-based mergers and acquisitions specialists. Court filings and deposition testimony showed Shiber had been criticised by more senior bankers for logging off late at night without seeking permission..."

New Podcasts Coming in Hot 🔥

  • Colby to Associate in Consulting at BCG | Chat with Luis

  • Ohio State to RX Investment Banking at Ducera in NYC

Hot Jobs 💼

Experienced Analyst - "As an Investment Banking Analyst, you’ll work alongside senior-level management and play an integral role in supporting the full lifecycle of transactions. You will be challenged in a fast-paced environment by managing competing priorities and demonstrating initiative. Our culture is focused on creating “entrepreneurial bankers” and we strive to facilitate an environment that fosters professional and personal growth while leading with integrity..."

Finance Expert - "Mercor is hiring seasoned Finance professionals to join an exciting collaboration with a top AI research lab. The role involves contributing to the development and evaluation of advanced AI systems built to mimic real-world workflows across Investment Banking, Private Equity, Asset Management, and Equity Research. You'll help train, test, and calibrate AI agents on complex financial tasks derived from M&A, IPOs, debt offerings, equity research, pitchbook development, and more..."

General Finance Expert - "This role involves contributing to the development and evaluation of advanced AI systems designed to replicate real-world workflows across Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Strategic Finance, Corporate Finance, Treasury, and Budgeting & Forecasting..."

Investment Services Expert - "This role involves contributing to the development and evaluation of advanced AI systems designed to replicate real-world workflows across investment banking, private equity, asset management, and equity research..."

WSO Mentor - "Are you an experienced professional with a background in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, S&T, venture capital, asset management, equity research, quant finance, corporate dev, real estate finance, or top-tier consulting? Passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders? Wall Street Oasis (WSO) is expanding its Mentorship Program, and we're looking for outstanding professionals to join our mentor roster—an elite network supporting students and young professionals as they prepare for high-stakes careers. Whether you’re looking to give back, stay connected to rising talent, or sharpen your coaching skills, this role offers you the chance to make a meaningful impact, remotely and on your schedule..."

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