How to Get Started in Investment Banking After MBA? Start Planning From Day One
How to Get Started in Investment Banking After MBA? Start Planning From Day One
Blog Article
If you’ve just started your MBA or are planning to begin soon and your goal is to break into investment banking, congratulations — you’re thinking ahead. And in banking, timing is everything.
Investment banking is one of the most competitive industries for MBA graduates. But with the right planning, skills, and mindset, you can position yourself to land that dream associate role. So let’s get straight to it: How to get started in investment banking after MBA? Here’s your roadmap, starting from Day One.
Step 1: Understand the Recruiting Timeline
This surprises many incoming students: investment banking recruiting starts almost immediately.
- Bulge bracket and elite boutique banks begin on-campus presentations within the first few weeks.
- Coffee chats and networking ramp up in the first semester.
- Summer internship interviews often begin by January or February.
That means if you're serious about IB, your preparation needs to begin the moment your MBA starts — or even before.
Step 2: Know What Investment Banking Is — And Isn’t
Before diving into the how, ask yourself why. Why do you want to go into investment banking?
Don’t say “money” — even if that’s a factor.
Great reasons include:
- A passion for deals, mergers, and corporate finance.
- Exposure to a wide range of industries and business models.
- The opportunity to work on high-impact transactions early in your career.
Banking isn’t for everyone. The hours are long. The pace is intense. But the learning curve is steep, and the rewards — professional and financial — can be huge.
Understanding the lifestyle and expectations is a critical early step in how to get started in investment banking after MBA.
Step 3: Choose the Right MBA Track and Courses
If your school offers a finance or investment banking track, enroll. These often include:
- Corporate finance
- Financial modeling
- Accounting for managers
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Capital markets
Electives are your chance to demonstrate interest and build the technical foundation you’ll need for interviews and internships.
Bonus tip: many schools offer Wall Street-style bootcamps — take full advantage.
Step 4: Join Finance Clubs and Investment Banking Groups
Every top MBA program has student-run finance and investment banking clubs. These are goldmines for:
- Access to modeling workshops and technical interview prep.
- Peer-led mock interviews.
- Exclusive networking events with alumni and recruiters.
- Study guides and insider tips from second-years.
Finance clubs also often manage resume books that get sent directly to banks. That means visibility with recruiters — if your resume is polished and targeted.
Step 5: Start Networking Strategically
Networking isn’t optional in IB — it’s how most hiring decisions happen. Here's how to start smart:
- Attend every information session and bank presentation.
- Use LinkedIn and alumni directories to reach out to associates and VPs.
- Ask for informational interviews — 15-20 minute calls to learn about their path and firm.
- Send thoughtful follow-ups and keep in touch.
By the time interviews start, your name should already be known by multiple bankers — ideally the ones who will be reviewing your application.
Step 6: Master Technical Interviews
Investment banking interviews are tough. You need to be rock-solid on technicals, even if you didn’t come from a finance background.
Topics you must know:
- Three financial statements and how they link
- DCF valuation and WACC
- Comparable company and precedent transaction analysis
- LBO models (yes, even for associate roles)
- Accounting fundamentals (goodwill, deferred taxes, etc.)
Use resources like:
- Wall Street Oasis guides
- BIWS (Breaking Into Wall Street)
- Vault or MBA club prep books
Practice with peers until you can explain everything out loud — clearly, and under pressure.
Step 7: Polish Your Behavioral Game
Don’t underestimate the behavioral interview. Banks want to hire people who can work under pressure, get along with tough teams, and manage clients.
Prepare stories for:
- A time you showed leadership
- A time you made a mistake and recovered
- A time you worked in a high-stress situation
- Why you want to work in investment banking
Make your stories tight, relevant, and results-oriented. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to stay structured.
Step 8: Land the Summer Internship and Deliver Results
The summer internship is the golden ticket. Around 80-90% of full-time investment banking roles go to summer interns who receive return offers.
To win one:
- Apply early and widely — target bulge brackets, boutiques, and regional firms.
- Prep extensively — both technicals and behavioral.
- Use your network for referrals where possible.
Once you’re in:
- Be reliable and responsive.
- Triple-check everything you submit.
- Show energy and eagerness to learn — even at 2 a.m.
Make yourself the intern the team can’t live without.
Step 9: Get the Offer — or Pivot Strategically
If you get the return offer, congratulations — you’re in!
If not, don’t panic. You can still:
- Interview off-cycle with boutiques or regional banks.
- Apply for corporate finance or Big 4 advisory roles as stepping stones.
- Continue networking and position yourself for lateral hiring.
Persistence, professionalism, and polish will take you far — even if your path isn’t 100% linear.
Final Thoughts
So, how to get started in investment banking after MBA? Start early. Work smart. Network like a pro. And above all, be relentless.
Know the game and play it early
Build your technical and behavioral muscle
Make networking a daily habit
Crush the internship
stay resilient, no matter what
Investment banking may be one of the most competitive career tracks — but if you’re prepared, it’s absolutely within reach. Report this page