| The finance industry is one of the largest | | | | |
| sectors in most | | | | leaders. Depending on the industry and |
| | | | location, |
| developed economies and as such offers many | | | | |
| opportunities to | | | | transactions can also be industry changing |
| | | | events such as |
| build an exciting and rewarding career. One | | | | |
| area which | | | | privatisations of state controlled |
| | | | entities.As an investment banker there is |
| attracts much attention is investment | | | | always the opportunity to |
| banking. It's a high | | | | |
| | | | meet and interact with senior people. Not |
| profile part of the industry because of the | | | | only is this an |
| types of | | | | |
| | | | opportunity to better understand how top |
| business that it specialises in - arranging | | | | people in a given |
| stock market | | | | |
| | | | industry think and operate, it can present |
| listings, mega-bond offerings and takeovers | | | | opportunities at |
| for businesses | | | | |
| | | | many points along the career path. On top of |
| seeking financing and expansion. It is also | | | | private sector |
| one of the most | | | | |
| | | | contacts, there may also be interaction with |
| lucrative areas in finance, commanding six | | | | senior |
| figure salaries | | | | |
| | | | government officials, especially in |
| for first year. Accordingly, investment | | | | countries where the |
| banking is a magnet | | | | |
| | | | state maintains a high level of investment |
| for those seeking high flying careers. This | | | | an industry. |
| article, part | | | | |
| | | | These all important connections can prove |
| one of a three part series explores the | | | | useful.For those that are attracted to |
| investment banking | | | | leadership and |
| | | | |
| industry including the good, the bad and the | | | | responsibility, investment banks do not |
| ugly.Part one discusses some of the | | | | disappoint. The |
| advantages and attractions of | | | | |
| | | | rapid pace of the industry means that those |
| working in investment banking.It's in the | | | | progressing |
| money! Of course one of the top attractions | | | | |
| for | | | | through the ranks can be given significant |
| | | | levels of |
| many is the potential money that comes | | | | |
| attached to jobs in | | | | responsibility. It is quite normal for those |
| | | | in their |
| the industry. The industry demands a lot | | | | |
| from the people | | | | mid-thirties to be responsible for entire |
| | | | business units. |
| that work in it both in ability and | | | | |
| commitment. To attract | | | | Investment banking is a big plus for those |
| | | | that like to be |
| top talent, the industry rolls out large pay | | | | |
| packets. Bulge | | | | boss, although it must be noted that there |
| | | | are many levels |
| bracket firms such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan | | | | |
| Stanley and | | | | of management within the larger |
| | | | banks.Finally, a career as an investment |
| Merrill Lynch can pay more than six figures | | | | banker can offer the |
| for b-school | | | | |
| | | | opportunity for extensive travel, whether it |
| grads. On top of that, there are sign-on and | | | | is between |
| year-end | | | | |
| | | | cities within the country or as is more and |
| bonuses that can double, triple or generate | | | | more common, |
| even higher | | | | |
| | | | across international borders. As bankers |
| multiples of base salary. At senior levels | | | | progress through VP |
| the compensation | | | | |
| | | | and Managing Director levels, there is the |
| reaches even higher levels of the | | | | requirement to |
| stratosphere - managing | | | | |
| | | | spend more time cultivating and developing |
| directors can expect as much as mid-seven | | | | client |
| figures in good | | | | |
| | | | relationships. Often this is done in |
| years.Another allure is the fast paced | | | | different cities and |
| action on offer. There's | | | | |
| | | | different global locations. It can be |
| never a dull moment as an investment banker. | | | | exciting as well as |
| The work | | | | |
| | | | enlightening to experience the different |
| involved in arranging share sales, bond | | | | cultures and places |
| offerings, | | | | |
| | | | located outside of your doorstep.And there |
| acquisitions and sales of entire businesses | | | | it is some of the main attractions for |
| is fast paced | | | | signing up |
| | | | |
| and complex where details and variables can | | | | as an investment banker - money, travel, |
| change rapidly | | | | action, prestige, |
| | | | |
| with movements in the markets. This presents | | | | leadership and high level connections. |
| a huge | | | | Listed together these |
| | | | |
| challenge for those delivering the goods and | | | | almost sound like a cliché for the |
| ensures that | | | | original role of James |
| | | | |
| life is almost always moving quickly.The | | | | Bond and perhaps explains why many ambitious |
| prestige factor can also be attractive to | | | | graduates are |
| some. The | | | | |
| | | | so interested in pursuing investment banking |
| nature of the business often involves | | | | careers.In part two, the flipside is |
| working with major | | | | discussed. Yes, there is a |
| | | | |
| public and private sector organisations, | | | | downside. Find out the negatives of life as |
| particularly at the | | | | an investment |
| | | | |
| leading investment banks. Deals can include | | | | banker "Investment Banking Questions II - is |
| initial public | | | | it for you?"Want to be an investment banker? |
| | | | Getting in can be almost impossible even if |
| offerings of major industry players and | | | | you've got top grades and the background to |
| soon-to-be market | | | | match. You really need to ace the interview. |