Welcome to the IDB (I Deserve Better). Join the 1,000+ commerce graduates who are discovering smarter career paths, building in-demand skills.
For the past two years, I have been mentoring commerce graduates and helping them navigate their career paths. As a B.Com (Hons) graduate myself, I understand how confusing it can be to decide what skills to learn and where to focus your efforts. Everyone needs a guide or at least someone to show them the best options. That’s exactly what IDB does—it provides career clarity, helps you develop in-demand skills, and prepares you for high-paying jobs. Because, let’s face it, who doesn’t love earning well?
My career journey -
2014-2017 - B.com Hons (Delhi University)
2017-2019 - EY (Audit Associate)
2019-2021 - MBA, IIM and CFA L2
2021-2022 - Deloitte (Consultant -Valuations)
2022-present - Investment Banking Analyst at Bulge Bracket IB firm!
The late Charlie Munger liked to say that: To be a good investor, fish where the fish are. To be a great investor, fish where no one else even thinks to go. It’s not just the stock market—this applies to every domain.
If you’re a commerce student, you’re fighting for the same job that 3 crore other students are vying for. How do you set yourself apart? Learn capabilities that even MBA or CFA holders don’t always have. You may say it’s impossible, or that only Tier 1 colleges land these high-paying jobs. It’s only true if you decide to believe it.
I’ve seen people mastering financial modeling, valuations, and freelancing at $80/hour—working from home. I’ve met AVPs and VPs who graduated from Tier 3 colleges, hold no MBA, and still landed in investment banking, earning 70 LPA.
How did they do it?
They chose paths that most grads dismiss as “impossible.” They built real skills, started early (even if they only knew the basics), kept moving up by switching companies, and never stopped learning.
Crucial skills include financial modeling, business analysis, valuations, and a recognized certification (just to get past shortlists). You can pursue CFA, CA, or even an MBA (though, as mentioned in the previous post, an MBA outside the top 20 may not offer a strong ROI).
Remember: None of these courses fully teach you the end product skills. You’ll have to hustle and learn on your own. How?
- Start small with financial modeling and valuation.
- Pick a different company each week.
- Spend 15 minutes reading about it (news, website, presentations, YouTube).
- Look at its financials and note trends in revenue, margins, profit growth.
- You’ll be amazed by your progress in 3-4 months.
- As with anything else, consistency rules.
- Begin small, but begin now.
Battling Self-Doubts
Everyone has doubts—no one is inherently “right” or “wrong.” I’ve seen people convinced they aren’t the smartest in the room, so they avoid certain assignments or courses.
Look at the S&P 500. This year it went past 6,000, up 29% year-on-year, even though the world’s largest bank, JPMorgan, predicted 4,200. They have some of the brightest minds and the best data, yet still got it off.
Sometimes, trusting your own instincts and analysis beats blindly following consensus. Even if you’re not the most brilliant in the room, hard work (and a bit of luck) can push you far ahead.
Is This a Roadblock or a New Beginning?
Hard times often define our lives. The worst year to do an MBA? Probably 2020, when COVID hit and hiring froze. No one knew how anything would unfold—classes, internships, jobs.
I was in the middle of my second MBA year. By May, I was completely lost. I was supposed to be in Hyderabad, interning at a top analytics firm, but it got canceled. No one knew how to host interns during COVID.
I had two choices:
- Complain about luck. Ask the college or placement committee for an internship—most likely in sales, since I couldn’t demand a finance or analytics role.
- Or, I could work my tail off, reach out to people, and convince them I could be of use. But nobody wanted an intern at the height of the pandemic. Companies were busy transitioning to remote work and rethinking priorities.
What did I do?
I learned financial modeling, business analysis, Python, R—basically everything I was curious about. I applied to 200+ internships, networked on LinkedIn, and showcased my work there. Eventually, I landed two opportunities—Tata Steel and Crisil (how, I will discuss in some other post).
I chose Crisil and got to work on their flagship research paper, a pandemic modeling study—the first of its kind since 1918. Recently, it was recognized as one of the best research papers of the last five years.
When the pressure is on, the only way out is through. Do the work, keep showing up, and let the magic happen. If you’re doubting yourself, remember: you’ve got it. Just do the work.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re aiming for a high-paying finance role, stop wasting time. Learn financial modeling, valuation, the stock market, and business analysis. Keep an eye on market trends. How to start?
- There are countless free online resources. I’ve shared a comprehensive roadmap here.
- The only downside to free resources is you might invest 20% more time to piece everything together.
Looking for a detailed roadmap by role, structured to fit a modest budget? Stay tuned.
“Time is the only currency you spend without ever knowing your balance. Use it wisely.”