Investment Banking Questions

[7jai]

.....

[UrbanPoet]

ah... the perils of being an arts/humanities grad.
ITs good that your looking @ job options way before you graduate.

[alysomji]

Anyone here with an investment banking background or knows a thing or two on it? Being the "marketing/communications" student I am, it would be definetely hard to readjust myself to enter the Investment Banking Career.

But if a communications student (BA in Communications) decides to pursue this lucrative career, what steps would you recommend to take to get to that career? What degrees/certificates/education/experience would you recommend?


Thanks guys :)

Get a degree in finance or applied maths for starters

[UrbanPoet]

Get a degree in finance or applied maths for starters

well.. you gotta lookin @ his situation. hes probably in the 4th year about to complete his program...
I bet with some diligence and researching 7jai can get his foot in the door and try to work his way up to a position he would like... as long as he starts early.

I believe theres a certificate in investment banking @ ryerson. Im sure you could take an accelerated diploma in many aspects of business @ a college if you have a university degree.

[crowdpuller]

Looking at your degree, it seems a bit hard, you'd have to understand that all IBanking firms can get people with commerce, econ, math based degrees with high marks before they look for communications.

Not trying to lower your confidence. Worst comes to worst, apply! all they could do is say NO.

If you have some really high kickass marks like above 85%+ average in school, some great experience that they can relate too, or participated in competitions - I'd say you have a chance.

Else work in industry/consulting for few years, get an MBA and then move?

[jazzyc4t]

It will be extremely difficult for you to break into an i-bank, especially in Toronto/Canada with your qualifications. Unlike the US, where they have extensive training programs for fresh grads (where you'll see kids from the ivies with degrees in art histry working at a BB), Canadian i-banks are looking for people with quantitative backgrounds like commerce/maths/engineering/economics because in most cases they are looking for people to hit the ground running.

Unless your dad is a MD at a i-bank, it looks like you are going to have to complete a BCom or MBA and finish near the top of the class to land some interviews. Furthermore, the competition for i-banking positions is fiercely competitive. There are alot of BComs/BBAs with straight A's that dont get in.

[tombyman]

Hello Guys,

I have just started doing my mba part time at rotman and already have my bachelors of engineering and masters in engineering in canada with more than 4 yrs canadian experience.

Any suggestions how I can get my foot in the door of ibanking as an analyst?

Thanks.

[StarvinStudent]

Any suggestions for a recent grad (graduated last May) with a BSc in Computer Science and a BComm in Finance that is currently enrolled in CFA level 1 with 3 years of oil and gas (IT) experience getting into I banking?

[TheGoods07]

It's going to be really hard since you don't have the background that they usually look at: finance, econ, commercec, etc. What year are you in? Get experience in finance anyway you can. Check your career centre for any co-op/intership positions available for the summer. Another thing you can try is calling the companies and asking to the summer recruiters. If you are looking to get into the top companies it is going to be hard without some serious connections just to get a interview.

[torontonian123456]

Hello Guys,

I have just started doing my mba part time at rotman and already have my bachelors of engineering and masters in engineering in canada with more than 4 yrs canadian experience.

Any suggestions how I can get my foot in the door of ibanking as an analyst?

Thanks.

hi buddy, whats your background.....i am planning to get into Rotman with the same combination (M.eng, P.Eng in Canada). I am looking to get into business school to gain business skills.

[tombyman]

Hey torontonian123456,

Email me at tombyman@hotmail.com with more info on yourself then we can talk. I can tell you all about my application and what you need to do to get in.

[jazzyc4t]

Hello Guys,

I have just started doing my mba part time at rotman and already have my bachelors of engineering and masters in engineering in canada with more than 4 yrs canadian experience.

Any suggestions how I can get my foot in the door of ibanking as an analyst?

Thanks.

If you are working on a MBA, you would be looking to break into an i-bank at the associate level, I have never seen a MBA Analyst. Realistically, at your age with a MBA, you dont want to be pulling analyst hours of 15-17 hour days. Associates will usually do around 12-15 hr days... so its a bit more stomachable.

[march9]

What are some ways to become an analyst?

I imagine 70-80 hours a week to be "fun", I wouldn't do something like that all my life but I want to experience that kind of life style while I am still young. I dont know I just think i-banking is very challenging and I like challenges.

I am doing an engineering degree. What paths should I choose after I obtain my BASc to break into i-banking?

I am checking out several MFE(Master of Financial Engineering)programs in US, as no such programs exist in Canada.My mark is probably not competitive for the top schools though.

[flyinggonzo]

If you are working on a MBA, you would be looking to break into an i-bank at the associate level, I have never seen a MBA Analyst. Realistically, at your age with a MBA, you dont want to be pulling analyst hours of 15-17 hour days. Associates will usually do around 12-15 hr days... so its a bit more stomachable.

If you have a MBA, but no or negligible work experience, we'll hire you as an analyst if we like you. However, as the vast majority of mba graduates will come in as an Associate, the decision tree becomes - we'll hire you as an analyst if we like you, or not at all... Yet another reason not to get your MBA too early - just because some b-schools are lowering their standards doesn't mean the employers will buy it.