Exploring investment banking opportunities

There is no denying that the investment banking sector has been assigned a key role in our current economic malaise. Policies pursued by major banks have been blamed for triggering off the crisis and the stability of leading financial houses has been undermined.

Despite serious losses and damage to their good reputation investment banks retain their pull to young men and women looking for a career that can bring them high salaries and the fast-paced executive lifestyle they find appealing.

To those studying for banking and finance related degrees investment banking opportunities have lost none of their glamour. They see beyond the challenges of the economic crisis to see how investment banks are going to remain a vital element in ensuring the smooth working of the free market economy and hence a sound employment choice.

Investment banks provide their commercial, government and institutional clients with a rich range of financial services, for example, advisory work, assistance with capital raising, fund management and dealings in foreign currency.

Such a varied clientele and workload generate many different investment banking opportunities with wide scope for the individual to find an area of activity best suited to their qualifications and interests.

Although a bachelor or masters degree in investment banking or finance are frequently listed as requirements for entry level positions, investment banking opportunities are still available for those without university qualifications.

For example, in the United Kingdom there are still sometimes clerical openings available for 18 year old school leavers with good Advanced (“A”) level grades. From such a junior position, with a strong work-ethic and abilities to quickly learn on the job, the new entrant can work their way up to a prestigious senior executive position.

Entrants to the profession with graduate degrees commence their careers at a more senior level and their chances for advancement and rapidity of promotion are greater, but it is still possible for a banker who starts in a clerical role to rise to a higher position than the graduate trainee if they perform better and show greater potential.

The competition for jobs in investment banking should not be underestimated. In the United States it is estimated that there are approximately 20,000 entry level positions available each year but they may be as many as 200,000 candidates pursuing these job openings.

In addition to having relevant qualifications and the appropriate personality to thrive in the investment bank environment, perseverance in investigating and making contact with potential employers is often the key factor in finding your first job.