Job Description

What: Investment banker is a person who helps an organization to raise its funds, by doing thorough study of the market trends, risk involved in investments and the prevalent economic conditions. An investment banker provides wide-range of services including endorsing securities, trading of stock and bond, facilitating mergers and acquisitions, maintaining broker-dealer operations and providing financial guidance regarding pricing of securities, issuing and placement of stocks. The job requires detailed research work prior to any investment. Dedication, commitment, hard work, devotion is necessary to excel in this field. A proficient investment banker can fetch high returns to the company. One has to be enthusiastic, passionate, pro-active, quick decision makers and should be able to handle difficult circumstances with ease, to become a good investment banker. A beginner can earn anywhere between Rs20000-Rs30000 per month, in the field of investment banking. With experience, an investment banker can get higher salary package. How: Investment banking is one of the most popular career options among the youth of India, since it is a money-spinning job that provides opportunities to grow. Numerous opportunities are waiting for specialists in this field. Banks are always in need of skilled investment bankers, who can contribute more towards the growth of the organization. With globalization, the scope of investment banking has widened. Courses in the field of investment banking are conducted at under graduate as well as at post graduate levels, in the field of investment banking. Diploma and certificate courses are also offered by some institutes. Minimum qualification for under graduate program in investment banking is 10+2. For post-graduation, one has to be a graduate in the relevant field. Workshops are conducted by many institutions. The course provides detailed overview of work conditions and job requirements of an investment banker. Although a CA is equally qualified for the job, an MBA with specialisation in finance from a good B-school is what companies look at the entry level. A stint at a real job in a big industrial enterprise would also help, especially if you intend to become a so-called industry specialist. It also helps to have at least a notional understanding of the business you are trying to finance, buy, sell, or restructure. Investment banks want employees with a combination of strong analytical and interpersonal skills. Some jobs lean more towards one skill set than another (e.g. brokers need to be mainly sales people). A typical job of an equities analyst requires both analytic and interpersonal skills. Where: By far the most common route into investment banking for someone just finishing an undergraduate degree is to be hired into a bank’s analyst program (for more on life as an analyst, see here). MBAs are generally hired as associates. Analysts and associates work within specialized groups but they may not always have control over the group to which they get assigned (analysts especially). Some of the most common groups found within investment banks are described below, along with the work they do. If you’re a new graduate interested in one of these areas specifically, learn as much as you can about the area that intrigues you so that you’re best positioned to be assigned to that group, but understand that you’ll most likely be looking for a job as an analyst or associate. Institutions: (see below)