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Everything you need to navigate recruiting.
Industry
Investment Banking
A comprehensive guide to the investment banking industry — what it is, types of banks and groups, the hierarchy, key firms, UT organizations, and a full prep plan with resources.
Investment banks are intermediaries that connect companies needing capital with investors willing to provide it. They advise on the largest financial transactions in the world — M&A deals, IPOs, debt offerings, and restructurings — and are compensated through fees, not by putting their own capital at risk.
Three Major Purposes
💰
Raise Capital — Capital Markets (ECM, DCM): help companies issue equity or debt to fund operations and growth
🤝
M&A Advisory — Help companies buy and sell other businesses, advising on valuation, deal structure, and negotiations
🔧
Restructuring — Help distressed companies continue operating, renegotiate debt, or dissolve in an orderly way
Buy Side vs. Sell Side
📈
Sell Side (IB) — Creates, promotes, and sells securities. Investment banks, brokers, and dealers fall here. Compensated through advisory fees and underwriting spreads.
🏦
Buy Side — Purchases securities to manage money and generate returns. Includes Private Equity, Hedge Funds, Mutual Funds, and VC. Many IB analysts exit to the buy side after 2 years.
Example Transactions
Goldman Sachs advised SpaceX on its $750M equity financing round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Morgan Stanley advised Adobe on its $20B acquisition of Figma.
Types of Banks
Bulge Bracket
Goldman Sachs · J.P. Morgan · Morgan Stanley · Bank of America · Barclays · Citi
Full-service banks with a balance sheet — provide both financing and advisory. Most well-known outside of finance. As a summer analyst you are placed into a product or coverage group.
Elite Boutique
Evercore · Moelis · Lazard · Qatalyst · Greenhill · Rothschild & Co
Smaller, leaner deal teams with no balance sheet — advisory only (M&A and Restructuring). Interviews are more technical. Compensation is typically higher than bulge brackets.
Middle Market & Regional
William Blair · Baird · Houlihan Lokey · Piper Sandler · Raymond James · Stephens
Focus on mid-market deals. Strong training grounds, less competition to break in, and solid exit opportunities.
Types of Groups
Product Groups
Industry-Agnostic
Work across all industries on specific transaction types. Deep expertise in one type of deal rather than one sector.
M&A · Equity Capital Markets (ECM) · Debt Capital Markets (DCM) · Leveraged Finance (LevFin) · Restructuring · Shareholder Activism
Coverage Groups
Industry-Specific
Focused on one industry — managing client relationships and bringing in deal flow for product groups to execute.
Financial Institutions · TMT · Financial Sponsors · Healthcare · Consumer & Retail · Industrials · Energy & Power · Real Estate · Metals & Mining
The Hierarchy
Summer Analyst → Analyst
Builds financial models, valuations, and pitch materials for active and potential deals. The engine of execution — work product flows up from here. Mistakes trickle up; accountability rests with the senior member.
Associate
Supervises analysts and ensures accuracy in financial models and presentations. Typically MBA hires or promoted analysts. Bridge between junior and senior bankers.
VP → Director → MD
VPs manage deal execution and coordinate between senior and junior bankers. Directors and MDs lead client relationships, source deals, and drive firm revenue. The MD is ultimately accountable for everything.
Getting involved in the right organizations gives you community, exposure, and recruiting signals that matter. Apply to WSFM and IBA sophomore fall.
Essential Prep Materials
Primary Technical Resource
Breaking Into Wall Street (BIWS)
The gold standard for IB technical prep. Work through the guides in order starting with Accounting — it's the foundation everything else builds on. Mock after each guide.
Access Guides →
🎯
Mock Interviews
Complete a mock after finishing each guide. Don't hesitate, just go for it, don't be afraid to make mistakes and don't wait until you feel ready.
📋
WSFM & IBA — Apply Sophomore Fall
Wall Street Finance Mentorship and Investment Banking Alliance are the two most important programs for IB recruiting at UT. Applications open sophomore fall — do not miss them.
BIWS Prep Timeline
May Week 2
Core Concepts Guide
May Week 3
Accounting — drill this hard, it's the foundation
May Week 4
Begin Enterprise Value / Equity Value Guide
June Week 1
Finish EV/EqV & Begin Valuation Guide
June Week 2
Finish Valuation & Begin DCF Guide
June Week 3
Finish DCF & Begin M&A Guide
June Week 4
Finish M&A & Begin LBO Guide
July Week 1
Finish LBO & Begin Cumulative Review
Industry
Consulting
A comprehensive guide to the consulting industry — firm tiers, case interview types, behavioral prep, networking, and recruiting timelines. Key resources and a proposed prep timeline are at the bottom of the page.
Consultants are problem-solvers for hire. They help companies make smarter, faster, and better decisions — analyzing data, designing solutions, and guiding implementation. Every project is different: new industries, new challenges, new teams.
Why Companies Hire Consultants
📈
Company is performing well and wants to continue growing
🔄
Company is struggling and needs to reverse course
🚀
Company wants to do something new and needs outside expertise
Practice Areas
Finance & Performance Management
Process & Innovation
Talent & Organization Strategy
Supply Chain Management
M&A Advisory
Operations Strategy
IT System Development
Change Management
Climate & Sustainability
Private Equity Due Diligence
Firm Tiers
MBB
McKinsey · BCG · Bain
Most prestigious, highest competition, global reach. Generalist strategy focus with broad exit opportunities.
Tier 2
Kearney · Oliver Wyman · LEK · Alvarez & Marsal · Roland Berger · Accenture
Strong firms with specialized expertise or regional strength.
Big 4
Deloitte · PwC Strategy& · EY Parthenon · KPMG
Consulting arms of the Big 4 accounting firms. Strong in implementation, technology, and operations. Great entry points.
Types of Case Interviews
Interviewee-Led
BCG · Bain · Oliver Wyman · Most T2
You drive the interview. You ask for data, propose frameworks, and direct next steps. Requires strong structure and initiative.
"In order to address this issue, I think we should look at X first."
Interviewer-Led
McKinsey
The interviewer guides the case and asks specific questions for you to answer. Less open-ended — requires sharp, focused responses.
"Let's look at the company's financials first. What do you notice?"
Types of Cases
- Focuses on either declining revenues or increasing costs
- Revenue = Price × Quantity — always start by isolating which driver is the problem
- Costs = fixed, variable, and upfront — bucket them before diagnosing
- Most common case type — master this one first
- Estimate the revenue or number of sales in a market — always clarify which one upfront
- Memorize common reference points: US population (~330M), avg household size (~2.5), etc.
Two Approaches
- Top-Down: Start large (total population), refine and segment down
- Bottom-Up: Start small (individual unit), build up to aggregate market
- A company is launching a new or existing product into a different market or customer segment
- Key questions: Is the market attractive? Does the company have the capability? What does success look like?
- Consider: market size, competition, customer needs, cost to enter, and timeline
- Determine whether a merger or acquisition is worthwhile — assess pros and cons
- Evaluate: strategic fit, financial impact, synergies, integration risk, and competitive response
- Always consider what happens if the deal does NOT happen — the counterfactual matters
Common Weaknesses & How to Fix Them
Frameworking
Speed-run the framework and clarifying questions portion with a partner. Compare structures. Read Hacking the Case Interview cover to cover.
Exhibits & Data
Practice reading exhibits in isolation — pull your own insight before reading the case context. Pay attention to all units, footnotes, and axis labels.
Mental Math
Familiarize yourself with mental math shortcuts and common formulas. Practice zeros. Use Zetamac for timed drills — consistency over speed.
Brainstorming
Read the news, industry trends, and firm-published case studies regularly. Broad business awareness is the only way to build this muscle.
Behavioral Interview Prep
Structure
- Introduce yourself — name, year, major/minor
- Define your personal brand — this becomes the theme of your whole interview
- What motivates you? Learning, impact, stepping outside your comfort zone
- Outline your experiences — treat this as a table of contents
- Describe how experiences connect to your brand (2 at UT, 1 outside of school)
- Highlight qualities relevant to consulting — problem solving, critical thinking, leadership
Tips
- Write this out word for word — then internalize it so it doesn't sound rehearsed
- Run it by every upperclassman you know, there is always room to improve
- Include something unique or a small joke — make them remember you
- This is your first impression — it has to be tight
Content
- Have 2–3 reasons — they should show you're well-researched AND genuinely passionate
- Avoid generic answers ("I like problem solving") — connect each reason back to you specifically
- Your reasons should be defensible — be ready to elaborate on each one
What Good Looks Like
Tie your reasons to personal experiences. For example: if you've traveled extensively, connect that curiosity about new environments to the variety consulting offers. Make it yours — not a template.
Content
- Have 2–3 reasons — at least one must be unique to the firm
- Namedrop: mention specific people you spoke with and what you bonded over
- Reference specific events you attended at that firm
- Bonus: include office-specific knowledge if you're targeting a specific city
Structure Example
- Practice: Spoke to someone in [practice], learned it combines [your interests]
- People: Met these people at [firm event], saw genuine camaraderie
- Impact: Reference a specific type of work or client the firm is known for
Common Questions
- A time you showed leadership
- A time you worked in a team as a member (not leader)
- A bad team experience
- A time you disagreed with someone
- An obstacle you overcame
- A time you took initiative or made an impact
- An ambiguous situation you navigated
STAR Framework
- Situation: Brief context — don't spend too long here
- Task: What you were responsible for
- Action: What you specifically did — be detailed
- Result: What was the impact? What did you learn? What did you take away?
Spend the majority of your time on Action and Result. The situation is context — the action is who you are.
Consulting-Specific Networking Tips
General Rules
- Don't reach out to more than 2 people at the same firm simultaneously
- Never send the exact same email to multiple people
- Start networking early — sophomore fall is the right time
- Don't be afraid to follow up
Firm Email Formats
- McKinsey: first_last@mckinsey.com
- BCG: last.first@bcg.com
- Bain: first.last@bain.com
- Deloitte: first.last@deloitte.com
- EY Parthenon: first.last@parthenon.ey.com
- Oliver Wyman: first.last@oliverwyman.com
- Accenture: first.last@accenture.com
After You Get an Interview
- Tell everyone you've networked with that you got an interview — they may be able to help case you
- Ask your contacts to do a mock case with you
- Send a thank you after every call — mention specifics, keep it genuine
- Don't be afraid to reach back out months later just to catch up
Essential Prep Materials
📗
Hacking the Case Interview Prep Book
The single most important resource for consulting prep. Takes a couple of hours to get through properly — don't rush it. Read it carefully and take notes.
Access Book →
📂
DSP Casebook Library
A collection of casebooks for practice. Work through these after completing Hacking the Case Interview.
Access Casebooks →
🎥
Victor Cheng — Case Interview Workshop (YouTube)
Full video playlist walking through case interview structure, frameworks, and live practice. One of the best free resources available.
Watch Playlist →
🎥
YouTube — Mock Case Interviews
Watching real cases is one of the fastest ways to understand structure and communication style before you start practicing yourself.
Watch Example Case →
📚
Management Consulted — Case Library
Available for free as a UT student. Covers drills for frameworks, exhibits, and mental math. Use alongside your casebook practice.
Access via UT Login →
🔢
Zetamac
Free timed mental math drills. Practice regularly in the weeks leading up to interviews.
Open Zetamac →
Proposed Prep Timeline — Summer 2027 Internship
A month-by-month action plan for members targeting a 2027 consulting internship.
May — Aug 2026
Foundation
- Read Hacking the Case Interview (takes a couple of hours, don't rush)
- Watch Victor Cheng's YouTube workshop playlist
- Watch mock case interview videos to understand the format
Sep — Dec 2026
Build
- Start practicing cases — find a casing partner
- Begin firm research: MBB differences, practice areas, culture
- Work on resume and Tell Me About Yourself
Jan — Mar 2027
Accelerate
- Apply to MCA (historically opens in January)
- Ramp up networking — reach out to target firms, attend info sessions
- Significantly increase casing volume
- Lock in behavioral stories and Why Consulting / Why X Firm
- Book mocks with brothers who've been through the process
Mar 2027 Onwards
Apply & Interview
- Submit applications — move fast when deadlines drop
- Continue casing through the process, not just before it
- Follow up with everyone you've networked with
Industry
Product Management
A comprehensive guide to PM — what the role is, types of PM work, the product roadmap process, interview prep, UT organizations, and key resources.
A Product Manager is the connective tissue between engineering, design, and business. PMs define what gets built and why — they own the product vision, prioritize the roadmap, and are accountable for outcomes without having direct authority over anyone who builds it. Every major product you use every day was shaped by a PM.
Should You Do PM?
🔀
You like working cross-functionally across teams with different expertise
🏗️
Building a product end-to-end excites you — from idea to shipped feature
🎯
You enjoy creative problem solving and making decisions with incomplete information
🚀
You're drawn to entrepreneurship and want high ownership over outcomes
Types of PM Roles
- Shapes the product's strategic direction and aligns it with business goals
- Involves market analysis, prioritization, and strategic decision-making
- Most common PM role at large tech and non-tech companies
- Creates marketing strategies to promote the product, translating features into compelling messages
- Leverages deep knowledge of audience needs to successfully launch the product to market
- Bridges technical and business aspects, focusing on product architecture and feasibility
- Requires technical expertise — often works closely with engineering on API, infrastructure, or platform products
- Effective communication across both technical and non-technical stakeholders is essential
- Ensures timely execution of tasks within scope and budget
- Coordinates resources and communicates project progress to stakeholders
- More execution-focused than strategy-focused — adjacent to but distinct from core PM work
The Product Roadmap — How Products Get Built
Every product follows a version of this process. BeReal is a great example of how each step translates to real decisions.
1. Define Your Strategy
Establish the product's purpose and direction. BeReal's strategy focused on authenticity in social media — creating an app that encourages real, unfiltered moments rather than curated content.
2. Understand Your Audience
Conduct user research to understand pain points. BeReal's team studied why people disliked the fakeness of social media, which shaped every design decision that followed.
3. Manage and Review Ideas
Evaluate concepts against your strategy. BeReal assessed random photo prompts, time limits, and no-filters — deciding which ideas best served authentic sharing.
4. Define Requirements & Features
Translate ideas into clear product specs. For BeReal: a daily notification, a two-minute posting window, and dual-camera functionality to capture both perspectives.
5. Organize Into Releases
Prioritize and sequence features. BeReal shipped core functionality first, then added refinements — retake limits, friend tagging — in later releases based on user behavior.
6. Adapt and Expand
Iterate based on real data. As user feedback revealed new behaviors, BeReal improved notifications, tested group features, and expanded server capacity to handle rapid growth.
Types of Interview Questions
- How would you prioritize resources when you have two important things to do but can't do both?
- How do you decide what and what not to build?
- What is a product you use every day and why? How would you improve it?
- How would you improve the functionality 10x of what it is now?
- How would you increase adoption of Google's Fiber to the Home product?
- What is the key to a good user interface?
- How do you know if a product is well designed?
- What features would the customer need? What questions would you ask to determine that?
- How many people are currently online in Europe?
- How many windows are in New York City?
- How many iPads are sold in the USA every year?
- How much money is spent in the USA per year on gas?
- How would you go about finding out the number of red cars in China?
- If you want to build the world's most popular mobile messaging product, how would you estimate the network bandwidth needed in a year?
- _____ metrics are down. How would you go about determining the root cause?
- Our engineering teams use X methodologies. What is your opinion of them? Have you used them before?
- What is the importance of engineers as stakeholders? How do you integrate them into the overall product vision?
- Can you provide an example where a technical solution your team designed became a commercial product?
- How do you ensure that market-oriented teams fully understand technical challenges?
- When are Bayesian methods more appropriate than AI techniques for predictive analytics?
- Tell me about a challenging issue or challenge you took on.
- Tell me about how you interact with customers and users.
- Talk about how you overcame product failures, challenges, or poor feedback.
- Tell me about a time you had to influence someone without direct authority.
- Tell me about a mistake you made and how you handled it.
- One executive says Feature A is more important and another says Feature B. How do you choose?
- Tell me about a time you used data to make a decision.
How to Land a PM Internship
Build Signal
Join orgs, build side projects, and work in adjacent roles — project manager, business analyst — to develop relevant experience before your first PM role.
Network & Get Referrals
Attend company events, show genuine interest, and get referrals. PM is a relationship-driven path — referrals move resumes to the top of the pile.
Prep Your Interviews
Practice product, analytical, and behavioral questions. Use Exponent (free for UT students) for mock interviews and structured frameworks.
Apply Early & Often
Apply ASAP when roles open — PM internships fill fast. Turn on LinkedIn job alerts and track APM programs (Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Walmart, Intuit, Salesforce) separately as they have their own timelines.
Company Email Formats
Use these when cold outreaching to PMs for networking. Guess the format, verify on LinkedIn.
Google
jsmith@google.com
first_initial + last
Microsoft
john.smith@microsoft.com
first.last
Amazon
smithj@amazon.com
last + first_initial
Meta
JohnSmith@meta.com
first + last
Visa
JSmith@visa.com
first_initial + last
Intuit
John_Smith@intuit.com
first_last
Capital One
john.smith@capitalone.com
first.last
Oracle
john.smith@oracle.com
first.last
Interview Prep
🎯
Exponent — Mock PM Interviews
The best platform for PM interview practice — product sense, estimation, and behavioral mocks with structured feedback. Free for all UT students.
Access via UT →
📚
Management Consulted — Case Library
Useful for analytical and estimation questions. Free for UT students via the same login as consulting.
Access via UT Login →
Recruiting
📋
APM Season
Tracks APM program openings, deadlines, and application statuses across all major tech companies in one place.
Open APM Season →
📋
APM List
Comprehensive list of APM and RPM programs with details on eligibility, compensation, and timeline.
Open APM List →
🔗
Product Haven
PM-focused community and resource hub — job postings, advice, and industry content.
Follow on LinkedIn →
Recommended Books
📖
Cracking the PM Interview
The go-to book for PM interview prep — covers product design, estimation, strategy, and behavioral questions in depth.
📖
Decode and Conquer
Frameworks for answering product design and strategy questions. Great companion to Cracking the PM Interview.
📖
Swipe to Unlock
Non-technical primer on how tech products and business models work. Excellent background reading before interviews.
📖
The Design of Everyday Things
The foundational book on user-centered design. Builds the product intuition interviewers are looking for when they ask how you'd improve a product.
UT PM Organizations
Texas Product Engineering Organization
Industry
Accounting
An overview of the accounting industry — what it is, where it leads, and how to break in from UT.
Accounting is the process of recording, analyzing, summarizing, and classifying financial transactions of a business or organization. Accountants deal with compliance, strategy, and risk management.
Career Paths
Internal Auditing
External Auditing
Tax Consulting
Business Advisory
Management Consulting
Forensic Accounting
Investment Banking
Corporate Accounting
Wealth Management
Financial Analysis
Government Accounting
Restructuring
Industry Tracks
Audit
Verify the accuracy of financial statements and ensure compliance with accounting standards.
Tax
Advise on tax strategy, compliance, and planning for individuals and corporations.
Advisory
Provide strategic guidance on transactions, risk, technology, and business transformation.
Key Skills
These skills matter — but you'll learn most of them on the job and through varied experiences.
Where to Work
Big Four
Deloitte
PwC
EY
KPMG
Other Notable Firms
BDO
Grant Thornton
Crowe
A&M
Weaver
CohnReznick
RSM
Moss Adams
Dixon Hughes Goodman
Recruiting Timeline
- Recruiting begins in the spring
- Application and interview process
- Each firm designates a night to host recruiting events
- Offers typically given out by March for the following year
- Recruiting can begin at any time
- Application and interview process
- More 1-on-1 contact with recruiters
- Great entry point for freshmen and sophomores
- Network early and often
- Build a strong, clean resume
- Prepare for behavioral interviews
IMPA at UT Austin
Expectations
- Applications open in late spring for students who have taken ACC 311 and 312
- Must receive at least a B+ and A- in required courses
- Program begins the fall after application and lasts 3 years
Benefits
- Dedicated time to study for the CPA exam
- 90% pass rate for all CPA exams
- Financially accessible program
Industry
Commercial Real Estate
An overview of CRE — what it is, how deals work, career paths, and how to break in from UT.
The goal of CRE is simple: buy or develop a property, make improvements, then sell for profit or hold for recurring revenue. Most careers in this space focus on property valuation and risk-return assessment. Higher risk of time and capital invested = higher return demanded.
5 Major Property Types
Multifamily
Leased to individuals for residential use. 3 month to 1 year leases.
Industrial / Retail / Office
Leased to businesses for commercial use. 1 to 10 year leases.
Hotel
Leased to individuals for residential or commercial use. Nightly leases.
Investment Strategies
Higher risk = higher return demanded
Core
Best quality building in the best market. Lowest risk, lowest returns.
Core +
Quality buildings with minor improvements. Low to moderate risk.
Value-Add
Buildings with major improvements needed. Moderate to high risk.
Opportunistic
Ground-up developments. Highest risk, highest returns.
Key Players
Sellers / Buyers
Private Equity, Investment Management, REITs
- Private Equity Firms — Short-term strategy, closed-ended funds (Blackstone, Ares, KKR)
- Investment Management — Varied strategy, open-ended funds (PGIM, Barings, CBRE IM)
- REITs — Long-term specialized strategy, publicly traded (Regency Centers)
Advisors / Brokers
Advise on leasing, sales, and financing
- Sell-Side Broker — Markets the property for highest sale price (CBRE)
- Buy-Side Broker — Connects buyer to deals, negotiates sale (JLL)
- Earn a % commission of the sale price at close
Debt Financing
Fund the acquisition or development
- Debt Funds — Most expensive, for riskier assets (Blackstone, Ares, KKR)
- Banks / Insurance — Middle-ground financing (PGIM, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan)
- Agency Financing — Low-risk apartment/residential debt (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac)
How CRE Deals Transact
1
Motivated Seller
Seller has met expected returns or fund is expiring. Buyer is looking to expand and sources deals by risk profile.
→
2
Brokers Engaged
Seller contacts a sell-side broker to market the property. Buyer engages a buy-side broker to find and negotiate deals.
→
3
Bidding & Negotiation
Sell-side selects the best prospective buyer after bidding. Both brokers earn a % commission of the final sale price.
→
4
Financing & Tenants
Buyer sources debt financing through a lender and tenants through leasing agents. Brokers earn commission on both.
- Acquire land, design buildings, oversee construction
- Manage budgets, zoning, and risk
- Sell or lease the finished project
- Highly entrepreneurial and hands-on
Hines · Trammell Crow · Greystar
- Buy, sell, and manage portfolios of properties
- Track performance (NOI, cap rate, IRR)
- Decide when to refinance or sell
Key question: Which CRE firms should we fund that match our risk/return profile?
Blackstone · Starwood · PGIM · Ares
- Provide loans to finance acquisitions or development
- Structure debt and equity deals
- Assess risk and return
Key question: How much should we lend and at what interest to be compensated for our risk?
Blackstone · Wells Fargo · Citi · J.P. Morgan
- Connect buyers and sellers or tenants and landlords
- Negotiate lease terms and property sales
- Advise clients on market trends
- Income variability — commission-based
Key question: How much is this property truly worth today?
CBRE · JLL · Cushman & Wakefield
Why Commercial Real Estate?
No two deals are the same — every person and business needs space, and relationships are everything.
Highly Differentiated Deals
Every transaction is unique — different asset types, locations, structures, and players.
Visible, People-Focused Impact
You can drive past buildings you worked on. The work is tangible and community-facing.
Relationship-Driven Culture
CRE is a relationship business. Who you know and how you build trust matters enormously.
Entrepreneurial Value Creation
Especially in development — you build things from nothing and create lasting value.
Fast-Paced Environment
Deals move quickly, markets shift, and no two days look the same.
Enduring Asset Class
Real estate has existed as long as civilization. It's not going anywhere — and it grows with the economy.
Recruiting Timelines
PE Mega-Funds & Banks
Similar recruitment rigor and timeline as investment banking. Start early, network heavily, technical prep required.
Brokerage, REITs & REPE
Typically recruit in Junior Fall. More accessible entry points — smaller firms often recruit year-round.
DSP Brotherhood in CRE
Alumni
Caroline Bryan — Link Logistics
Dhilan Patel — Trammell Crow
Ethan Chen — Hines
Reehan Khimani — Northmarq
Current
Mihir Bhatia — Wells Fargo
Laasya Ganti — KKR
Prabhav Kumbum — Wells Fargo
Maggy Ma — Wells Fargo
On-Campus Resources
🏛️
Texas McCombs Real Estate Center
UT's dedicated CRE resource hub — events, research, and industry connections.
🏢
Undergraduate Real Estate Society (URES)
The primary student org for CRE at UT. Join early, attend speaker events, and network with members who have gone into the field.
📊
McCombs Real Estate Investment Fund Course
Hands-on experience analyzing real deals. Great for building both skills and your story in interviews.
🏆
UT Real Estate Case Competitions
Competitive experience that builds your resume and exposes you to industry professionals as judges.
Certifications & Resources
📘
BIWS Real Estate Guide & Financial Modeling
Same BIWS platform used for IB — they have a dedicated real estate track covering property-level modeling.
📐
A.CRE Financial Modeling Accelerator 3.0
One of the most respected CRE modeling programs. Covers acquisition, development, and fund modeling.
💻
ARGUS Enterprise
Industry-standard software for CRE cash flow modeling. Proficiency here is a genuine differentiator.
Stay Informed
📰
CRE Daily & Trepp Rundown
Email newsletters covering market news, deal activity, and macro trends. Subscribe before your first networking call.
📊
CBRE RE Market Outlook & JLL Market Reports
Firm-published research on macro trends by asset class and city. Read them to sound informed in interviews.
Early Career Programs
Project Destined
Hines Skyline Scholars
Blackstone Future Leaders Program
Industry
Corporate Finance
An overview of corporate finance — what it is, where it can take you, and how to break in.
Corporate finance is about how businesses plan, invest, and finance their operations to grow sustainably and maximize shareholder value.
Why Corporate Finance?
1
Exposure to senior leadership and cross-functional teams
2
Direct impact on strategic business decisions
3
Strong analytical and communication skill development
4
Roles exist across every industry — tech, manufacturing, healthcare, energy
5
Can lead to diverse career paths — CFO track, corporate strategy, consulting, investment banking
Main Focuses
📋 Plan
Budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning to guide business strategy.
📈 Invest
Capital allocation, investment analysis, and evaluating where to deploy resources for growth.
💵 Finance
Managing how the company funds itself — debt, equity, cash flow, and capital structure.
Example Companies
Meta
Apple
Amazon
Google
Microsoft
Capital One
Roche
Genentech
Dell
ExxonMobil
Johnson & Johnson
Boeing
Corporate finance roles exist at virtually every large company — these are just examples.
Career Progression
Financial Analyst
Entry-level / Internship
Analyze budgets, forecasts, and variances. The typical starting point out of undergrad.
FP&A Analyst
Entry-level / Early career
Build financial models, track performance metrics, and present results to management.
Senior Analyst / Finance Manager
3–5 years experience
Lead analysis and financial planning for a business division. Manage junior analysts.
Controller / Director / CFO
10+ years experience
Oversee all financial operations of the company. The top of the corporate finance track.
Recruiting Timeline
Freshman Year
Join finance or business student orgs, attend info sessions. Some companies have freshman year opportunities.
Sophomore Year
Apply for early insight programs, network, learn Excel and financial modeling. Apply for summer internships — typically recruited in the fall. Some junior year opportunities available too.
Junior Fall
Apply for summer internships in corporate finance, accounting, or consulting.
Junior Spring
Interview prep and internships.
Senior Fall
Apply for full-time roles. Most corporate recruiting is August–October.
Post-Grad
Continue skill development — CFA, CPA, financial modeling certifications, analytics tools.
How to Prepare
Build Technical Skills
Excel, financial modeling, accounting fundamentals, Power BI / Tableau.
Master Behavioral Questions
"Tell me about a time when…" and finance-specific scenario questions.
Stay Informed
Follow financial news — Bloomberg, WSJ, CNBC. Know what's happening in the market.
Mock Interviews
Practice with Bros, Alumni, and VPPAs. Repetition is everything.
Industry
Tech
An overview of tech roles, how recruiting works, and what you need to break in.
Software Engineering 👨💻
- Designs, develops, and optimizes software systems
- Focuses on managing infrastructure
- Works with frontend, backend, or full-stack development
- Java, Python, C/C++, Git
Technical Product Management 🔍
- Bridges business and engineering teams for product execution
- Defines technical requirements and manages timelines
- Oversees sprints and feature development
- Jira, Confluence, Figma, SQL, APIs
Product Management 📦
- Owns the product vision, roadmap, and execution strategy
- Works cross-functionally across design, engineering, and business
- Defines what gets built and why — not how
- Figma, JIRA, SQL, analytics tools — see the PM industry page for more
Data / Business Analytics 📊
- Extracts insights from data to support business decisions
- Builds dashboards, reports, and KPI tracking systems
- Translates data into actionable recommendations
- SQL, Tableau, Excel, Python (Pandas)
Data Science 🤖
- Develops machine learning models and predictive algorithms
- Analyzes large datasets to find patterns and signals
- Works at the intersection of statistics, coding, and business problems
- Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn), R, TensorFlow, Jupyter
Business Engineering 💼
- Hybrid of software engineering and business operations
- Optimizes internal tools, workflows, and automation
- Works closely with sales, marketing, and product teams
- SQL, Python, JavaScript, Salesforce, Looker, Tableau
What to Expect
Timeline
Tech recruiting is earlier than most people expect. Large companies (FAANG, Microsoft, etc.) start recruiting in August–September for summer internships. Set alerts, apply early, and don't wait.
Application Process
Typically: online application → recruiter screen → technical assessment (LeetCode-style or take-home) → technical interviews → behavioral rounds → offer. SWE roles are heavily technical; PM and analytics roles are more mixed.
Referrals Matter
Tech companies receive thousands of applications. A referral from an employee can move your application out of the pile and directly to a recruiter. Prioritize networking at target companies — connect with UT alumni on LinkedIn and ask for a conversation before asking for a referral.
GitHub & Portfolio
For SWE, data, and TPM roles — a GitHub with real projects speaks louder than a resume bullet. Build things. Document them. Link your GitHub on your resume and LinkedIn.
Interview Prep Resources
💻
LeetCode
The standard for SWE and data technical interviews. Practice data structures and algorithms. Consistency beats cramming.
🏆
HackerRank
Used by many companies for take-home assessments. Good for SQL, Python, and algorithms practice.
📊
Kaggle
For data analytics and data science roles. Build real projects using public datasets — great for your portfolio.
📘
Cracking the Coding Interview
Essential reading for SWE interviews. Covers data structures, algorithms, and system design fundamentals.
🏗️
System Design Interview (Alex Xu)
For more senior or TPM roles. Covers how to design scalable systems — increasingly tested in interviews.
Finding Roles
🔗
Pitt CSC
Community-maintained GitHub list of tech internships and new grad roles updated in real time. One of the best free resources for tracking open roles.
⚡
Simplify
Auto-fills applications across hundreds of companies. Pair with Pitt CSC to apply fast when roles open.
💼
LinkedIn — Turn on Job Alerts
Set alerts for your target roles and companies. Tech roles fill fast — alerts mean you see them the day they post.
⚡
Apply early. Tech recruiting moves fast. When a role opens, apply within days — not weeks.
🤝
Get referred. A referral bypasses the ATS entirely. One good LinkedIn conversation with a UT alum can change your odds significantly.
🏗️
Build things. Projects on GitHub matter. For technical roles, showing beats telling every time.
Get Involved — UT Campus Orgs
Getting involved in tech orgs at UT is one of the best ways to build skills, meet people in the industry, and find recruiting opportunities. Check out HornsLink for a full list.
Convergent
Product@UT
TPEO
TCG
ML/DS Club
Texas Convergent
Luminescence TX
Texas Hackers
Industry
Quant Finance
An overview of quantitative finance — what it is, what roles exist, and how to break in.
Quantitative finance uses mathematics, statistics, and programming to model financial markets, price assets, manage risk, and develop trading strategies. It sits at the intersection of finance, computer science, and applied mathematics — and it rewards deep technical skill above almost everything else.
Common Roles
Quantitative Researcher
Build and test mathematical models to identify trading signals and price assets. Heavy focus on statistics, data analysis, and backtesting strategies.
Quantitative Trader
Execute and manage algorithmic trading strategies in real time. Blend of research and fast decision-making — requires deep market intuition alongside technical skills.
Quantitative Developer (Quant Dev)
Build the infrastructure and tools that researchers and traders use. More engineering-focused — strong coding is the primary requirement.
Risk Quant
Model and monitor financial risk across portfolios. Work closely with risk management teams at banks and asset managers.
Get Involved at UT
University Computational Finance (UCF)
The go-to org at UT for students interested in quant finance. Great for building technical skills, meeting like-minded people, and connecting with professionals in the field.
Key Skills
Linear algebra & calculus
Python (NumPy, Pandas, SciPy)
C++ (for low-latency roles)
Machine learning fundamentals
Stochastic calculus (for advanced roles)
Problem solving under pressure
Quant recruiting is among the most technically rigorous in finance. The interview process tests probability, statistics, brainteasers, coding, and market intuition — often all in the same round.
Where to Work
Jane Street
Citadel
Two Sigma
D.E. Shaw
Renaissance Technologies
Hudson River Trading
Virtu Financial
AQR Capital
Point72
Goldman Sachs (Strats)
JPMorgan (Quant Research)
What to Expect
Timeline
Top quant firms (Jane Street, Citadel, Two Sigma) recruit very early — often starting in August for the following summer. Don't miss the window.
Interview Format
Expect probability puzzles, mental math, statistics questions, coding problems (Python or C++), and logic brainteasers. Multiple rounds, very high bar. Some firms include a take-home project.
Background That Helps
Math, statistics, CS, physics, or engineering majors have a natural edge. Finance-only backgrounds can still break in but will need to build strong technical depth independently.
Key Resources
📗
The Green Book
The go-to guide for quant finance interviews. Covers probability, statistics, brainteasers, and trading concepts used in real interviews at top firms.
Access The Green Book →
💻
LeetCode — Focus on Medium/Hard
Quant dev and researcher roles require strong coding. Drill data structures, algorithms, and dynamic programming.
📊
Kaggle & Personal Projects
Build quantitative projects — backtesting a simple strategy, statistical arbitrage models, or ML on financial data. Visible work matters.
📐
A Primer for the Mathematics of Financial Engineering
For those targeting more advanced quant research roles — covers the mathematical foundations expected at the top firms.
🧮
Math is non-negotiable. Probability and statistics are tested extensively. You need to be comfortable deriving answers from first principles, not just recalling formulas.
⚡
Speed matters. Many quant interviews include mental math under time pressure. Practice calculating quickly and thinking out loud through problems.
🏗️
Build something. A project that demonstrates quantitative thinking — even a simple one — sets you apart. Document it and put it on GitHub.
Workshop
Resume & LinkedIn
A structured guide to building a resume and LinkedIn profile.
What Your Resume Needs to Do
Introduce You
Communicate who you are in 6–10 seconds. Highlight your academic and professional focus and provide context for your experiences.
Showcase Qualifications
Demonstrate relevant skills and competencies. Quantify impact with measurable results and display technical and professional strengths.
Demonstrate Progression
Show increasing responsibility over time. Reflect skill development, growth, and illustrate your commitment and consistency.
Differentiate You
Emphasize unique experiences or strengths. Highlight specialized niches or skills and position yourself competitively against peers.
Provide Talking Points
Offer clear stories for interviews. Anchor conversations around impact and create structured examples for behavioral questions.
Pass the Screen
Clear ATS and recruiter filters. Quickly communicate job-fit and align your experience with the specific requirements of the role.
Key Rules
01
One page. No exceptions — minimize white space and fill the page intentionally.
02
Quantify everything. Numbers signal impact. Use estimates when exact figures aren't available.
03
Results over responsibilities. Don't describe what you did — describe what happened because of it.
04
Strong verbs only. Lead every bullet with an action verb that signals ownership and impact.
Section Breakdown
What to Include
- Full name (large, prominent)
- School email address
- Phone number
- Professional LinkedIn URL — customize it to your name
Formatting Notes
- Use Times New Roman throughout
- Separate contact details with a bullet point or vertical bar
- Keep the header clean — no photos, no icons
What to Include
- University name, degree, and major/minor — italicized
- Graduation date (month and year)
- GPA and test scores — italicized
- Study abroad or international schools if applicable
Key Notes
- List all majors, minors, and certificates
- Include honors program designations (e.g. BHP, ECE Honors)
- Only include GPA if it strengthens your application
Structure
- Company name — italicized role and location on the same line
- One-line company description in italics beneath
- 3–4 bullet points per role — avoid any one position dominating the page
- Reverse chronological order — most recent first
- Dates right-justified on every line
Writing Strong Bullets
- Lead with a strong action verb — never repeat the same verb twice across your resume
- Include a metric or outcome on every bullet — %, $, volume, time saved. Use $11K not $11,000
- Keep bullets to one line where possible; two lines only when absolutely necessary
- Fill each bullet to the end of the line — avoid trailing white space
- Match verb tense to role status: active tense for current roles, past tense for past ones
What to Include
- Campus organizations with a named role and date range
- Projects — treat them like experience entries with impact bullets
- Volunteer work or non-profits if leadership was involved
What Recruiters Look For
- Connection to professional interests
- Growth in responsibility over time
- Teamwork, initiative, and involvement on campus
- Unique or relatable experiences that differentiate you
- By sophomore year, remove high school entries — exceptions for scholarships or strong standardized test scores
What to Include
- Technical skills (Python, SQL, Excel, Tableau, etc.)
- Relevant certifications (Bloomberg, BCG Bridge, etc.)
- Interests — fill the line out fully; mix personal ones (sports, hobbies, music) with professional ones (industries, book genres). Interviewers often skip behaviorals to talk about something they share with you.
Why It Matters
- Signals technical competency early for ATS screening
- Creates conversation starters in interviews
- Differentiates you beyond core work experience
Formatting & Polish Checklist
Layout & Spacing
- Dates are right-justified on every line
- Bullets fill to the end of the line — no trailing white space
- Bullets are one line each; two lines only if absolutely necessary
- 3–4 bullets per position — no single role dominates the page
Consistency
- Date format is consistent throughout — use months (not seasons) and either always abbreviate or never do
- Dashes are the same character everywhere — use the en dash ( – ) from the McCombs template
- Numbers in the thousands use K ($11K not $11,000)
- Verb tenses match role status: active for current, past tense for completed
- No verb is repeated as a bullet opener across your entire resume
Resume Template
The McCombs BBA template — the standard format used across recruiting at UT. Open it, make a copy, and build from there.
📄
McCombs BBA Resume Template
.docx · Word Document · McCombs Recruit
Open & Download ↗
Why LinkedIn Matters
Recruiters actively search LinkedIn. Your profile is a living resume — optimize it before recruiting season starts.
Profile Checklist
👤
Photo
Use a professional headshot with a clean background.
✏️
Headline
Keep it simple — your current role or major @ your school. Clear and professional is all you need.
📝
About / Summary
3–5 sentences covering who you are, what you've done, and what you're pursuing. Keep it professional but direct — this is your elevator pitch in written form.
💼
Experience
Mirror your resume — same roles, same companies, consistent dates. Add brief descriptions under each role. Gaps or inconsistencies between your resume and LinkedIn will be noticed.
🎓
Education
Include your university, degree, major(s), and graduation year. Add relevant activities, honors, and organizations. This is often what recruiters filter by first.
🔗
Custom URL
Customize your LinkedIn URL to linkedin.com/in/yourname. This makes it cleaner on your resume and easier to share. Takes 30 seconds and looks significantly more professional.
📡
Activity & Connections
Connect with classmates, professionals you've met, and alumni in your target industries. Engage with relevant content. An active profile signals genuine interest and stays visible.
Opportunities
Job Postings
Curated job and internship postings shared by the VPPA team and the broader brotherhood.
How to Use This
1
Browse the list below and find roles that interest you
2
When you find a role, search for the actual job posting on the company's own careers page — don't apply through the listing site itself
3
Apply directly on the company's official website for the best results
This list is a discovery tool — use it to identify roles, then apply through the company's official website.
Additional Postings
Check the Chapter Slack
Brothers regularly share job postings, referral opportunities, and recruiting tips directly in Slack. Make sure you're in the professional development channel to catch everything as it goes live.
Open Slack →
Outreach
Emails & Networking
How to network, what to say, when to send it, and how to follow through — cold emails, networking calls, and thank you emails.
The Right Mindset
Networking is connecting with professionals in your field of interest to gain genuine insight and answer real questions — not just to get interviews. Approach every conversation with curiosity. The people who get referred are the ones who were actually memorable, not just persistent.
How to Network
- Attend firm info sessions — follow up with everyone you meet
- Reach out through your existing network: school orgs, family, LinkedIn
- Build a networking tracker to stay organized
- Set up informational interviews (networking calls)
The Best Case Scenario
A single cold email can become a referral chain. Each conversation, done well, opens the next door.
✉️
Cold Email
You reach out cold to someone at your target firm
→
📞
Networking Call
They agree to a call — you have a great conversation
→
🤝
Referral
They refer you to a colleague — you reach out as referred
→
⭐
Known Candidate
You enter recruiting already known to multiple people at the firm
The 6-Step Process
1
Find a company you're interested in
Start with firms you genuinely want to learn about — not just names on a list.
2
Find employees with similar backgrounds
Look for people who went to UT, were in similar orgs, or studied similar things. Take note of their activities, interests, and career path. Common ground is your opening.
3
Find the specific person for that role
Use Hunter.io and LinkedIn X-Ray to find individuals specific to the team or role you're targeting.
4
Find their contact information
Use ContactOut to find professional email addresses. Most firm emails follow a simple format (first.last@firm.com).
5
Draft and send your email — track it
Write a personalized cold email and schedule it to send during business hours in their time zone.
6
Take notes during the call
Log every conversation in a networking tracker — what you discussed, follow-up items, and any referrals mentioned.
A Good Email Will
- Set up a strong first impression
- Help you get what you're asking for
- Pave the way toward an offer
A Bad Email Will
- Create a bad first impression
- Create a roadblock with the firm
- Close doors instead of opening them
What to Include
- First & Last Name
- University & School (e.g. McCombs School of Business)
- Major and graduation date
- Phone number
- LinkedIn URL
Example Format
[Your Full Name]
[University Name], Class of [Year]
[School of Business] | [Major]
[email@utexas.edu] | [(XXX) XXX-XXXX] | LinkedIn
Subject: [Your Name] — Student Reaching Out
Hi [First Name],
[Opening line — something personal and relevant, e.g. reference a recent event, a shared connection, or something you genuinely have in common with them.]
My name is [Your Name] and I am a [year] studying [major] at [university]. I wanted to reach out because I would love to learn more about your experience at [Firm] and [specific aspect — e.g. the team, the culture, the transition from school].
If you have some time [this week / in the coming weeks], I would love the chance to hop on a quick call. Here's my availability: [list 3–4 specific time slots with time zone].
Please let me know what works for you, or feel free to send over your own availability. Looking forward to connecting!
Best,
[Your Name]
💡 Be personable — find genuine common ground
💡 Always mention specific time slots
The Rules
- Only send during business hours — 9 AM to 5 PM in the recipient's time zone
- Use scheduled send if you draft outside business hours
- Best windows: when they arrive, after lunch, and before leaving
Time Zone Reference
- Eastern — UTC-5 (New York, Boston)
- Central — UTC-6 (Chicago, Dallas)
- Mountain — UTC-7 (Denver)
- Pacific — UTC-8 (San Francisco, LA)
The Rules
- Do not follow up more than 3 times total
- Wait 1–2 weeks between each follow-up
- Keep follow-ups short — one or two sentences
- Reference something timely if possible (holiday, news, etc.)
Follow-Up Template
Hi [First Name],
I hope [timely opener — e.g. your week is off to a great start]. I wanted to follow up and see if you'd be available for a quick call in the coming weeks to learn more about your experience at [Firm].
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
[Your Name]
Logistics
- Join 5 minutes early — don't keep them waiting
- Double-check time zones so you don't miss it
- Dress professionally — treat it like a first-round interview
- Clean background, no noise
Preparation
- Research the person — review their LinkedIn, org involvement, and career path
- Know what makes their firm unique
- Prepare questions but don't just read from a list
- Have your resume ready in case they ask
- Have energy and personality — smile, it comes through on a call
- Start upbeat — ask them about their day before jumping in
- If they ask how you are, don't give a generic answer
- Remember they're human — this is a conversation, not an interrogation
- Ask natural follow-up questions to show you're listening
- Don't rattle off questions like you're reading from a list
Use these as a guide — not a script
1
Start by introducing yourself and asking them to do the same
2
Ask firm-specific questions — how do they see [team/role] at the firm?
3
Who has impacted them most at the firm? Mentorship structure?
4
How has their role changed from when they first started?
5
What was their first impression of the firm, and how has it changed?
6
What are they looking forward to? An upcoming break or event is a cheat code — gives you a natural follow-up hook
7
How did they become interested in this industry or role?
8
What does the transition from summer analyst to full-time look like?
Investment Banking
- Learn what makes each firm unique — build your "Why X firm?" answer
- Show that you're a real person, not just a resume
- Ask follow-up questions to show you're listening
- Get to know their interests outside of work
- Gather details about the firm and role beyond what's on Google
- Always follow up within 24 hours
- If the call goes well — ask if there's someone else they'd recommend you reach out to
Consulting
- 1st call: Keep it 70% personal, 30% professional — talk about hobbies, hometowns, interests, goals
- 2nd call: Shift more professional — ask for guidance and mentorship
- 3rd call: Ask about specific roles you're targeting at their firm
- Quality over quantity — build real relationships
- Track every conversation and show your personality
The Rules
- Send within 24 hours — always
- Use for networking calls, interviews, and in-person coffee chats
- Subject line: make it noticeable and clear — e.g. "Thank You — [Your Name]"
- Show that you were actually listening
Structure
- Body: Quick thank you, mention something specific you learned or a professional takeaway
- Sign-off: Reference something personal from the conversation — shows you were present and engaged
Template
Subject: Thank You — [Your Name]
Hi [First Name],
I wanted to thank you for taking the time to speak with me [yesterday / earlier this week]. I really enjoyed learning about [something specific — e.g. the team culture, a project they mentioned, their career path].
[Optional: mention a professional takeaway or something that stood out to you from the conversation.]
[Sign-off line — reference something personal from the conversation. This is what makes you memorable.]
Best,
[Your Name]
🎯
Attention to Detail
Spelling errors, wrong names, and generic emails get ignored — or worse, remembered for the wrong reasons. Proofread everything.
⚖️
Persistent, Not Annoying
Follow up — but respect the limit. Three follow-ups maximum, spaced 1–2 weeks apart. After that, move on.
📈
Effort = Results
Networking is a numbers game with a quality filter. Put in real effort on each outreach and the results will follow.
Chapter
Directories
Active brother and alumni directories for the Beta Kappa chapter.
📂
Active Brother Directory — Coming Soon
🎓
Alumni Directory — Coming Soon
Important
Announcements
Key updates, deadlines, and notices from the VPPA team. Check back regularly.
📌
No announcements right now
Check back here for important updates, deadlines, and notices from the VPPA team. New announcements will appear at the top.
Get in Touch
Contact
Reach out to any of us directly for mocks, questions, or recruiting guidance. For anything VPPA-wide, use the shared inbox below.