Non-paid work experience for 16-year-old (UK) in investment banking?

Question

As I have found out through checking investment banks' websites, all (as far as I know) are unwilling to take anyone with less than an undergraduate for work experience, due to the damnding nature of the job. I'm only 16, having taken a GCSE in Graphic Products (acheiving an A*) and will hopefully obtain another 9 more A*s. However, I have little to show at the moment other then an impressive CV - does anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

Have patience, my good sir. You have the rest of your life to work.

The best thing you can do is prepare yourself for "The Bigtime". Investment banking is a very demanding job and requires plenty of experience and education to even get in the door. Investment banking is more than just a job with a good salary... you have to earn that salary as an advisor to companies when they are raising capital. You must personally add value to managements teams - including some with the best and brightest people in the world - that have been doing business for decades.

So harness your raw ambition and harvest it into real knowledge and power. You are lucky in that you know what you want early in life. All too often people just bumble along and get to where they are by accident.

Getting hired is not as easy as a walk in the park. You will need to beat thousands of other applicants. Here are some tips to get you notice above the rest of the crowd:

1) Continue to get good grades.
2) Attend reputable university & graduate with good grades and applicable major. The fact is, yes, you will need an undergraduate degree to even get in the door. Don't get impatient that the investment bankers are knocking down your door at 16. Just make sure they are when you are 21.
3) Put yourself in a position of leadership - at your church, social or school clubs
4) Polish up your communication skills - join Toastmasters, write essays for practice, join debate teams.
5) Do more charity.
6) Do more networking once you are in university.