Investment Banking Career Questions – Is It Really For You

The finance industry is one of the largest sectors inmarket
mostleaders. Depending on the industry and location,
developed economies and as such offers manytransactions can also be industry changing events
opportunities tosuch as
build an exciting and rewarding career. One areaprivatisations of state controlled entities.As an
whichinvestment banker there is always the opportunity to
attracts much attention is investment banking. It's a
highmeet and interact with senior people. Not only is this
profile part of the industry because of the types ofan
business that it specialises in - arranging stockopportunity to better understand how top people in
marketa given
listings, mega-bond offerings and takeovers forindustry think and operate, it can present
businessesopportunities at
seeking financing and expansion. It is also one of themany points along the career path. On top of
mostprivate sector
lucrative areas in finance, commanding six figurecontacts, there may also be interaction with senior
salariesgovernment officials, especially in countries where
for first year. Accordingly, investment banking is athe
magnetstate maintains a high level of investment an
for those seeking high flying careers. This article,industry.
partThese all important connections can prove useful.For
one of a three part series explores the investmentthose that are attracted to leadership and
bankingresponsibility, investment banks do not disappoint.
industry including the good, the bad and the ugly.PartThe
one discusses some of the advantages andrapid pace of the industry means that those
attractions ofprogressing
working in investment banking.It's in the money! Ofthrough the ranks can be given significant levels of
course one of the top attractions forresponsibility. It is quite normal for those in their
many is the potential money that comes attachedmid-thirties to be responsible for entire business
to jobs inunits.
the industry. The industry demands a lot from theInvestment banking is a big plus for those that like
peopleto be
that work in it both in ability and commitment. Toboss, although it must be noted that there are many
attractlevels
top talent, the industry rolls out large pay packets.of management within the larger banks.Finally, a
Bulgecareer as an investment banker can offer the
bracket firms such as Goldman Sachs, Morganopportunity for extensive travel, whether it is
Stanley andbetween
Merrill Lynch can pay more than six figures forcities within the country or as is more and more
b-schoolcommon,
grads. On top of that, there are sign-on andacross international borders. As bankers progress
year-endthrough VP
bonuses that can double, triple or generate evenand Managing Director levels, there is the
higherrequirement to
multiples of base salary. At senior levels thespend more time cultivating and developing client
compensationrelationships. Often this is done in different cities and
reaches even higher levels of the stratosphere -
managingdifferent global locations. It can be exciting as well as
directors can expect as much as mid-seven figures
in goodenlightening to experience the different cultures and
years.Another allure is the fast paced action onplaces
offer. There'slocated outside of your doorstep.And there it is
never a dull moment as an investment banker. Thesome of the main attractions for signing up
workas an investment banker - money, travel, action,
involved in arranging share sales, bond offerings,prestige,
acquisitions and sales of entire businesses is fastleadership and high level connections. Listed together
pacedthese
and complex where details and variables can changealmost sound like a cliché for the original role
rapidlyof James
with movements in the markets. This presents aBond and perhaps explains why many ambitious
hugegraduates are
challenge for those delivering the goods and ensuresso interested in pursuing investment banking
thatcareers.In part two, the flipside is discussed. Yes,
life is almost always moving quickly.The prestigethere is a
factor can also be attractive to some. Thedownside. Find out the negatives of life as an
nature of the business often involves working withinvestment
majorbanker "Investment Banking Questions II - is it for
public and private sector organisations, particularly atyou?"Want to be an investment banker? Getting in
thecan be almost impossible even if you've got top
leading investment banks. Deals can include initialgrades and the background to match. You really need
publicto ace the interview.
offerings of major industry players and soon-to-be