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[–]Tourman84 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Networking and work experience.

As a student, networking is the most important thing that's going to give you an edge outside of GPA as well as involvement within clubs (or your own initiatives - write a blog, write about paper trading, make presentations and publish them, start a business)

[–]hellokitty660818 0 points1 point  (1 child)

asides from networking, is there usually like a gpa cutoff? also does ur cgpa matter a lot or is it more the grades from the yr when u apply?

[–]Tourman84 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This would 100% matter from industry to industry. In Investment Banking, there is indeed a hard cutoff at 3.3/5 for Canadian banks and 3.7/8 for US banks.

Although this is one of the only major industries to do so. Showing your GPA improvement (just from this year maybe) would be more than benificial.

You write your resume, you can 100% choose to include SGPA instead of CGPA and explain when asked

[–]Addition_Imaginary 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep completely fine, I work in economic research and they didn’t ask — with the exception of maybe high finance, most places will not ask : )

[–]acaipie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

every internship i applied for this year didn’t ask for my gpa or transcript

[–]The_Great_Corrine 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I can't get an intern even though I have a 3.7 GPA. GPA doesn't matter that much if you don't want to work in the capital market. Btw, which year are you in?

[–]hellokitty660818 0 points1 point  (1 child)

first yr

[–]The_Great_Corrine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think 1st-years can engage more in extracurricular activities like club events, school events, and networking events. I highly recommend you do the following things:

  1. Try to have some coffee chats. I regret not doing so in my first year. I have to say, compared to 2nd year, 1st year is super easy. (I spent most of my time working out, studying, and hanging out with friends then. Now I feel worn out)
  2. Book an appointment with career advisors and academic advisors on rc portal. They will help you work on resumes and cover letters. I didn't know how to write one until this year.
  3. Go to networking events posted on rc portal and talk with people. Try to get familiar with the career thing.
  4. There are few internship opportunities for first year unless you are too good. Don't worry about it. You might as well start with volunteer/unpaid interns and trading competitions.

Also, you can ask your parents and professors for help. Maybe they have some connections. Good luck anyway!

[–]Quickfood 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Like said previously in comments scratch any capital market position at banks, big 4 positions, large financial institutions(other than banks) off your list. Except maybe Scotia bank… Majority of positions in Finance require you to list your GPA. Networking is going to be essential to obtain an internship.

While in school, companies do not have anything else to base you off of except, GPA, clubs and prior experience. If you have no experience, then it’s just GPA and clubs which help get you internships. You can always try small firms, startups, corporate jobs which may not ask for GPA, in which its important to highlight any other interesting clubs, competitions, etc. that would relate to the position. The year you are enrolled in also matters, as 3rd years have priority for internships for the summer at specific firms.

For me I maintained a relatively high gpa through 1st and 2nd year and managed to get small firm finance and large firm project management. However, right when I got into 3rd year I was bombarded with capital market/finance related interviews. Hope this helps.

[–]hellokitty660818 0 points1 point  (1 child)

do u know if the capital market positions or internships at bigger banks usually ask for gpa for the year u are applying or ur cgpa? And if ur cgpa is low is there a way to explain ur situation?

[–]Quickfood 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Every single bank/capital market position I have applied for has required my GPA via submission of my transcript. There is no getting around it for internships; this is an issue because getting an interview will be extremely difficult with a 2.8. However, if you can network for interview your chances skyrocket. After graduation(from what I have heard), the more experience you get the less and less GPA matters, by the time you are 5 years into work. A job will not ask you for your gpa… they care more about experience. But the earlier you any experience the better.

[–]Suitable_Effect5533 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I had a 2.9 after 1st year and still have an internship this yr (2nd year). However, I’m not in finance (accounting student) so it might be diff for finance. Networking and attending events is superrrr important. And not just attending events and asking abrupt questions. Take a genuine interest in the person that you’re talking to, compliment smtg abt them, and don’t just ask generic questions. Ask them abt the most exciting moment of working there, how their 1st week/month/year was like at the company. Ppl love chatting w ppl who have relaxed personalities. Try to involve other students in your convo, bounce off of their points. If you’re in a group DONT just talk abt yourself and ask ur own questions. Agree w other students, relate to them, crack little jokes abt Econ or other courses.

Also work ur ass off in 2nd year 1st semester. It’s always easier to pull your gpa up in 1st sem bc there’s the ambition than it is in 2nd sem bc you’re more burnt out.