how to become an investment banker

Career as a Investment Banker

About Investment Banker

Investment Bankers are individuals who help companies, organizations and clients manage and grow their financial assets. They help companies make sound decisions when it comes to investing their assets with the motive of increasing the value of their investments. Investment Bankers are expected to have a good knowledge of market trading activities and profitable securities. Based on this knowledge, they can guide a client towards making better decisions when it comes to investing their money in the market through activities such as purchasing stock or securities. Apart from this, Investment Bankers also work as mediators or brokers between two parties and are often responsible for setting up deals or facilitating mergers and acquisitions.

A career in Investment Banking can be said to be one of the most exciting and challenging in the finance-related field. Since a number of factors can contribute to the rise and fall of markets, the field also requires professionals to be updated and work on their feet. Investment Bankers are professionals with high financial aptitude and good knowledge of the market. Hence, they are often at the centre of the action in major deals between corporations. However, helping small clients increase their financial portfolio and make good profitable decisions when it comes to investing their money also comes under the purview of an Investment Banker. Investment Bankers can only provide guidance, the final decision to invest remains in the hands of the client.

Eligibility to become Investment Banker

To become an Investment Banker in India, it is not mandatory to take up any particular course or stream. Any person who has a good understanding of financial assets and investing can potentially become an Investment Banker. Having said that, the field of Investment Banking is highly competitive and having completed a professional programme in a related stream does make a student an ideal candidate for a job.

The following courses are helpful for a candidate to get into entry-level positions in the field:

• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) Hons.

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)  in Finance / Economics

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Programme

CFA is a programme dedicated to training professionals in the field of investment and finances and is one of the best ways to go into this field. Many top recruiting companies hire Investment Banking professionals who have completed a CFA course.

With undergraduate-level qualifications, a professional can get entry into the industry and gain some valuable experience. After 2 - 3 years of experience, it becomes essential for a candidate to go for a postgraduate-level course such as MBA Finance to grow in the field.

Types of Job Roles Investment Banker

Since experience counts supreme in the field of investment banking, the job roles of a candidate in this industry are very structured and hierarchical. Before being given a permanent position in the industry, candidates are required to intern in an investment banking firm. The experience earned is very valuable not only at the intern-level but also at the senior level positions as well. Given below are some of the that an Investment Banker can take up.

• Analyst / Junior Analyst: Entry-level position that requires a candidate to have 1 - 2 years of experience in the field. Graduates are mostly hired for this role. The job requires a candidate to perform basic duties such as creating presentations, analysing basic financial data etc.

• Associate / Senior Analyst: After 3 - 4 years of experience, candidates may be promoted to the roles of Associate or Senior Analyst. Associates usually are responsible for pitching ideas, which helps in finding investors and getting clients on board. An MBA degree is beneficial for any candidate who wishes to take up an associate-level position in the field.

• Leadership Roles: With further experience in the field, Investment Bankers can take up leading roles such as Vice Presidents, Managing Director etc. in Investment Banking firms. These are well-paid positions but require candidates to have a thorough knowledge and experience in the field.

Employment Sector/Industry for Investment Banker

Investment Banking professionals can look for career opportunities in several regions of the market. Depending upon the skill and interests of a candidate, they can either choose a specific domain or work in multiple domains, depending upon the requirement of their industry or firm. Some of the major sectors of employment for an Investment Banker include:

• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

• Sales and Trading

• Capital Markets

• Private Equity etc.

Top Recruiting Companies for Investment Bankers

Given below are the top recruiters for Investment Banking professionals in India:

• Goldman Sachs

• Citigroup

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch

• Morgan Stanley

• JP Morgan

• HSBC

• Wells Fargo

• Accenture

• Citi

Planning to choose Investment Banker as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Investment Banker

Investment Banking is one of the most demanding fields in the world. It requires extreme levels of dedication but does offer good benefits in terms of pay. Mostly the individuals who are motivated for making it big and earning high salaries are attracted towards this field.

Category	Salary
Entry-level Position	INR 3.5 LPA i.e INR 20,000 - INR 25,000 Per Month
Experienced Professionals	INR 20 LPA - INR 50 LPA
Average Salary	INR 10 LPA

hile the salary at entry-level positions in Investment Banking can be said to be a bit low when one considers the extreme work environments, the salary grows rapidly, especially for an MBA-holding graduate. It is very important for any professional in this field to keep moving up the ladder and be attracted to the high-paying job positions in order to succeed in this field.

Books & Study Material to Become Investment Banker

Candidates preparing for the fields of investment banking can get into related undergraduate-level courses by utilising their school-level study materials and books. Experienced Investment Bankers who are looking for admission to an MBA programme, however, will have to refer to the books related to MBA entrance exam preparation. The best books recommended for such candidates will depend on their college and the entrance exam accepted.

While MBA entrance exam preparation does not require a candidate to study any topics or material related to Investment Banking, colleges may test a candidate's aptitude in the field in their selection processes. Therefore, it is recommended for MBA aspirants as well to have a good knowledge of this sector. Some of the best Investment Banking books can be found given below.

Book	Writer	Publisher
Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts and Mergers & Acquisitions	Joshua Rosenbaum, Joshua Pearl	Wiley
The Best Book On Investment Banking Careers	Donna Khalife	Hyperlink
The Man Who Solved the Market	Gregory Zuckerman	Penguin
Middle Market M & A	Kenneth H. Marks, Robert T. Slee, Christian W. Blees, Michael R. Nall	Wiley
Financial Modeling and Valuation	Paul Pignataro	Wiley

Pros of becoming a Investment Banker

• It is one of the highest-paying sectors in India. Successful Investment Bankers are able to provide an extravagant lifestyle for themselves and their family.

• Candidates who are able to overcome the initial hurdles are generally able to earn good salaries in this field.

• Investment Banking is a challenging and evolving field. Even veterans in this field come face-to-face with new challenges every now and then.

• It allows a candidate to apply and sharpen their professional skills and provides first-hand knowledge of markets.

• For a promising candidate having sound analytical and numerical abilities, the field promises unlimited and rapid growth.

Cons of becoming a Investment Banker

• It is an extremely demanding and stressful job that cannot be said to be for everyone.

• There is no work-life balance in the field since the job requires candidates to be on alert at all times of the day.

• It is a high-risk field since the jobs and growth of candidates are majorly dependent on markets, which can crash.

• Investment Banking professionals are often diagnosed with health issues related to stress or overworking.

• Automation and AI are causing a reduction in job availability in the sector.

Top Colleges to pursue career as Investment Banker

Paths for Being Investment Banker

how to become an investment banker

Source: https://www.collegedekho.com/careers/investment-banker

Posted by: coonsnaturawrove.blogspot.com

Share this post