I've helped hundreds of kids land Wall Street jobs. Here's how I train them.

Xavier Sztejnberg, a finance professor at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas Austin, has been instrumental in helping hundreds of students secure internships and jobs on Wall Street over the past decade. He founded Wall Street for McCombs, a leadership training program, in 2016. The program has grown significantly, with around 150 students landing internships at over 50 banks for the summer of 2027, out of nearly 500 applicants.

The admissions process for the program is rigorous, with students applying during their sophomore year and receiving only 75 spots. Applicants draft resumes, write essays, and undergo two rounds of behavioral and technical interviews. The training program focuses on three key areas: formal technical training, one-on-one coaching, and mentorship from the alumni board. Sztejnberg views the program as a leadership initiative rather than an internship training club.

The timeline for interviews has shifted to start earlier, usually in November of sophomore year, to keep up with the competition. UT Austin students are encouraged to participate in freshman-year investment banking clubs to build foundational skills. Once accepted, students focus on landing the internship and securing the return offer. The program emphasizes fundamental technical skills, even with the advent of AI, as they remain crucial for success in the field.

The alumni base is highly engaged, with alumni taking on a mission to hire more Longhorns. They coach students through the process and aim to strengthen UT's presence at their firms. Competition from other schools has increased, forcing the program to step up its game and optimize for cultural fit with investment banks. UT students are known for their humility and collaboration, qualities highly valued by banks.

The program boasts a nearly 100% return-offer rate, with strong relationships established with firms. UT students' success creates a positive feedback loop, attracting more students to UT and further solidifying their placement prospects.