What is it about

The captivating pinnacle of the economy

The whole world talks about investment bankers and their bonuses, their responsibility for the financial debacle of recent years, and the decline of ethical principles in the business world. However, when asked what an investment banker actually does, the answer is often quite sparse. It's high time to dispel some prejudices and give life to abstract concepts. What is this profession, referred to as the fascinating crown of banking business? The definition of the discipline doesn't really sound glamorous:

"The main tasks of an investment bank are asset management for clients, trading securities, and assisting companies in raising capital, such as through IPOs."

But beware, behind this lies a creative field with exciting tasks in international financial centers.

Main actors

Who deeply shapes the sector?

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)                                                                                                         Mergers & Acquisitions is considered the pinnacle of investment banking. When companies buy other companies, pursue mergers, or need to restructure, highly complex financial, tax, and human factors come into play. M&A experts select target companies, analyze, and evaluate them. Larger medium-sized companies are also increasingly using the services of investment bankers for their strategic projects.

Asset Management                                                                                                                          When an investment banker is involved in Asset Management, they are responsible for managing large investment portfolios for insurance companies, investment funds, and corporations.

Sales & Trading                                                                                                                                     The typical Trader deals with securities, derivatives, bonds, swaps, futures, and options of all kinds on behalf of the bank or the client. On the other hand, the Sales Manager is responsible for selling financial products.

How to break into...

Prepare diligently, prepare thoroughly, and exhibit intelligence

Of course, networking matters. If you're looking for your first one-week "spring" internship, it can help you. But you're still far from the goal. Get a good education, and then preparation is the key.

We distinguish between technical preparation and fit preparation. Technical: do you know what a DCF is? Can you navigate through the P&L without stumbling too much? If so, that should be a good start. As for fit, we can't stress enough the importance of being logical and illustrating your points with some of your experiences.

It's not rocket science, and we're always surprised by the number of interviews we conduct with candidates who lack these basics!