I’m Zell, who won six figures for Morgan Stanley before graduating. What the process is like and why you need to refresh the incredibly important parts of your resume.

• University of Chicago student Sarah Thomas secured a role at Morgan Stanley before graduating.

• She said networking, the Campus Finance Club and the often overlooked resume section will help her land the role.

• Gen Z continues to be drawn to a Wall Street career despite their long hours and high demands.

This essay is based on a conversation with 22-year-old Sarah Thomas, a 2025 graduate of the University of Chicago and an emerging investment bank analyst at Morgan Stanley. Business Insider RecentThe road to Wall Street“The series highlighted how financial careers continue to attract younger talent despite the industry’s long hours and demanding entry-level roles. Entry-level bankers earn normal money. Approximately $110,000 per yearno bonuses are included. This interview has been compiled for length and clarity.

When I had to start preparing for the interview, I barely decided on banking as my career choice.

My experience was similar to most stories I’ve heard The world of banks: The recruitment process begins early.

Before submitting my internship application, I spoke with about five people from each major bank (mainly connected to me by recent Uchicago alumni and university career advancement programs). cold LinkedIn Messaging It didn’t go very well for me. These referrals are often necessary to be interviewed.

Most banks interviewed multiple rounds, including my personality and technical skills, my two-hour call. ”Super Day. “The whole process lasted about two weeks. Then, by the spring of my sophomore year, I was finished. Morgan Stanley, And I knew my full-time job would be set up as long as I was receiving a return offer. I had my previous internship Bain Capital and Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based company.

Only other Career Trajectory I thought I was in university and academia. I studied economics and considered taking part in economics research, but I realized that this is not the case for me. I work better in a fast-paced finance environment. In my free time at school, I tried Focus on the club And I joined a venture capital fund on campus because it was an internship that brought me closer to a startup or entrepreneurial spirit. I was also involved in campus groups for women and minorities interested in finance and investment. These opportunities have really helped me build my industry chops.

I tell the university students who want to land Wall Street or Silicon Valley jobs: It will be decisive. parable Investment Bank Or, consulting is not your lifelong passion. Plan to commit earlier than you’re late to your career path. That way, give the most time to prepare for the interview, network, and really get along. And for the application process, students need to be aware of what they have placed on them resume – Recruiters pay much attention to the “Skills and Interests” section at the bottom. If you’ve never climbed a mountain, don’t say you’re a mountaineer. Of course, your credentials are important, but we found recruiters to be most interested in meeting balanced people.