The Milk Round (Part II) - Akin

At the start of the Milk round, I looked the part courtesy Moss Brothers sales. But I had to make up my mind about what I wanted to do. I knew for sure I didn’t want to do what I did before the MBA: auditing. But it definitely had to be a career in finance given my strengths and interests. I always had always fancied Investment Banking, but I wasn’t 100% sure. I wasn’t going to tell my interviewers that of course, so going into Milk Round, I had to have a story and stick to it.

I did what most people did, applied to all the banks that presented and hoped for the best. In addition, I applied for an internal finance function at one the big banks. Then when the first two batches of shortlists were released and I was unsuccessful, I panicked and started doing what most people would do, applied to everything, consulting, industry, etc.

Eventually, Helen Green e-mailed me four times. For those of you who haven’t read Part I, that means I got four finance interviews, out of about 11 applications I made. I’d convert one or two, I hoped.

Then I started preparing for the interviews. All my applications to investment banks were for core corporate finance roles, but of the three investment banking first round interviews I got, two were for corporate finance associate positions and one for a markets associate position (if you don’t understand all this terminologies, fret not, I didn’t understand most of them before coming to London). I hadn’t applied for a markets position, but I wasn’t complaining. Interviews were scarce resources, and you had to use them, however.

It’s funny how life works out. I had been preparing all along for corporate finance interviews but I absolutely got hammered in the two corporate finance first round interviews I had. I converted the markets and internal finance interviews into second round interviews, and thankfully converted the internal finance second round interview into an offer.

It would be my only offer. So be it; I had a pretty decent internship, not as well paying as investment banking, but as they say, money isn’t everything. For me, the Milk Round was finally over. I could try to be a student again, after five weeks of classes. I’m still struggling to catch up with exams just three weeks away, but I guess it was worth it. For prospective MBA students, no words can truly communicate the experience but I’ve done my best. Hopefully, you’ll have good experiences with your Milk Rounds.

Comments

[Morris Young]

If a man comes to your front door and says he is conducting a survey And asks you to show him your bum, do not show him your bum. This is a scam. He only wants to see your bum. I wish I had got this yesterday. I feel so stupid and cheap. -The Bum http://www.widgetmate.com

[kenny Oluboyede]

Hi Akin,
I realy love ur expressions.
U made coming to UK especially for schooling easily understood with a good sense of humour.
I am presently on an exchange program in Australia, but my primary interest is an MBA program and from one of the best schools in the world.LBS my first choice.I am preparing to write GMAT test in 4weeks.
Pls can U give me some clues that will help me in my admission process which I believed worked for U .

[auto glass arizona]

Congrats.