Career Advice for an Investment Banker

Investment bankers work with their clients or company to build their portfolio of financial assets. They analyse financial products and assess the market conditions to advise and complete stock purchases and other funds. Investment bankers implement economic models to achieve their client's financial aims.

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How to Become an Investment Banker

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Investment Banker

Should you wish to work as an Investment Banker you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Investment Banker

  • 2 or 3 A levels
  • Degree in maths, accountancy, finance or related
  • Diploma or Certificate recognised by the Financial Conduct Authority

Key Responsibilities for an Investment Banker

  • Reviewing financial information and monitoring market trends
  • Researching new financial products
  • Completing trades to increase client equity
  • Designing and implementing economic models
  • Overseeing client portfolios and managing trades
  • Supervising private equity transactions
  • Supporting clients through the expansion of their personal and corporate enterprise
  • Examining risk and providing advice on financial plans
  • Identifying potential investors
  • Conducting transactions in compliance with financial institution regulations

What to expect as an Investment Banker

Investment bankers maintain and expand their client financial assets. They create and implement economic plans to broaden financial portfolios and capital. Investment bankers can work with banks to assist their customers or may work for a business to expand their corporate enterprise. To be successful as an investment banker, you will need excellent analytical skills and superb knowledge of the financial industry.

Recommended Investment Banker Jobs

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How to get Investment Banker Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Investment Banker job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Investment Banker application. If you have not held an Investment Banker position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Investment Banker role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Investment Banker CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Investment Banker application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Investment Banker in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Investment Banker 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Investment Banker and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Investment Banker experience.

How to get Investment Banker Experience

What does it take to be an Investment Banker? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Investment Banker jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Investment Banker through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Investment Banker Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Investment Banker part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Investment Banker or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Investment Banker freelance work

If you have impressive Investment Banker qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.