Investment Banking Jobs
Investment banking jobs are synonymous to huge paychecks and long hours. People in the investment banking arena must stay awake long enough to monitor the world’s financial markets, particularly during an economic slowdown. Despite the demands and pressure associated with it, the profession promises more-than-decent compensation, and more importantly, enables participation in major financial deals, making it one of the most rewarding and dynamic jobs in banks.
Investment banking jobs involve such financial activities as: securities (stocks and bonds) underwriting, selling, and trading; financial advisory services, specifically advice on mergers and acquisition; and asset management. Companies, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private individuals turn to investment bankers to avail themselves of these services.
What Investment Banking Jobs Entail
The extremely competitive, profit-focused investment banking sphere may seem daunting to newcomers, but it is in fact the perfect launching pad for those determined to learn the workings of corporate finance and acquire analytical skills that will serve them thoughout their investment banking career.
Countless young, driven and energetic financial services professionals are aggressively pursuing careers in investment banking. A great number work at their desks, spending hours on the computer studying financial statements and generating spreadsheets. As financial consultants for corporations, they serve the sellers of securities by buying all the shares or bonds up for sale, then reselling them to investors on the market.
On the other side of the investment banking ring are traders who constantly watch the Bloomberg screen, most of the time juggling two phones, attending to buyers and sellers almost the whole time the market is in session. They closely collaborate with the institutional sales group that sells portions of new stock offerings to major corporations and institutions.
Finally, there are the hardworking, resourceful research analysts who conduct quantitative, economic, and individual company research
Investment Banking Salaries and Requirements
In 2011, investment banking jobs offered starting annual salaries ranging from $100,000 to $130,000 after bonus to bachelor’s degree holders hired for assistant or junior analyst positions. MBA degree earners occupying associate posts, on the other hand, claimed starting annual salaries after bonus ranging from $90,000 to $180,000. However, compensation levels may vary from firm to firm or from region to region. Initially, bonuses can represent 10 to 50 percent of basic salary but can eventually grow to as much as 100 to 300 percent. In recent years, more companies have introduced an equity component into salaries for investment bank jobs.
Jobs in investment banking are ideal for people who thrive in fast-paced, deal-focused environments. Excellent mathematical and analytical skills, maximum risk tolerance, and the willingness to sacrifice personal interests and activities are crucial to success in this profession.
A degree in business is the surest way to a career in investment banking. An MBA or advanced business certification can however translate to higher compensation. Most investment banks and firms favor applicants with relevant work experience, hence, an internship is highly recommended. Also keys to getting hired are industry knowledge and corporate finance experience.
In an effort to attract and serve a broader clientele, banks are opening up positions for applicants who may not be business majors but specialize in related fields or vital industries. Headhunters are also targeting professionals eying a career shift, recruiting them on an ad-hoc basis for investment banking jobs at various levels.
Investment Banking Jobs
