A path to investment banking is not as easy as it may seem. As an investment banker, you need to have excitement for deals and high-stakes negotiations. The field of investment banking is a competitive one and if you are a high-achiever who has no issue working for long hours, then leave no time to get into this lucrative field.
As an investment banker, master the field of Math and polish your reading and writing skills. Love for numbers should be extreme, else you won’t be able to make it. A great interest in deals will make you a good investment banking professional.
Let’s introduce you to the Investment Banking Career Path-
Investment Banking Analyst
The responsibilities of an investment banking analyst include taking charge of Excel and PowerPoint work, writing emails, making phone calls and administrative tasks such as tracking buyers and sellers, managing the data room and deal documents, and responding to requests from clients and potential clients. The position of an analyst is given to the junior employees and is meant for graduate students. You need to gear up yourself for the hectic work schedules as an analyst in investment banking.
Investment Banking Associate
Unlike analyst, associate assigns the work, supervises it, and on a few days’ work on Excel sheets and PowerPoint. The roles and responsibilities of an associate are to attend meetings and interact with the clients. An associate serves as a link between a junior and a senior. The associate also is an entry-level position wherein you will find yourself handling a few roles of an analyst. You will be given areas of transactions which will help you prepare for the senior roles.
Vice President
The position of Vice President is the most senior banker position and their responsibilities include monitoring the work of junior bankers, i.e. analysts and associates, and making sure that they deliver what the top management wants. You will be expected to interact with the clients and get new business. Since this is the senior level, you will have to work with the standalone spirit to build relationships and be accountable for the work done.
Director
In most of the banks, you will find Directors being titled as Senior Vice Presidents or Executive Directors or Principals. The role of a director is a mixed one. Sometimes he will be expected to handle the role of a VP and on a few days, he will be possessing the role of an MD. A mix of the role will include developing relationships and winning clients, execution work and project management. Gear up as a director as you will handling bigger responsibilities
Managing Director
Managing Director is the King as all the above-mentioned positions are answerable to him. They spend their time winning clients, meeting companies, developing relationships, and get involved in negotiations. Everyone else will try to please you in the company. When you reach this level, you are likely to win other high-level jobs at companies or possibly even in private equity or other buy-side roles.
In this market full of competition, getting a job is not easy till you have an investment banking certification that proves your mettle in the field of investment banking. Certifications hold the potentiality to demonstrate your skills to the employers so that you are able to get the best job as an investment banking professional. Get certified with the best credentialing bodies including Investment Banking Council of America, IMARTICUS, Corporate Finance Institute, New York Institute of Finance, and IBP Institute. The certification will help you build a solid foundation in investment banking so that your mind is boosted with the dose of learning. Get certified to make a career in this big field!
