I have 30 years' experience in Investment Banking and help graduates get a job AMA

Thank you for such a prompt response !

I was considering Lancaster, but the entry requirements are AAB and I feel that I may not stand a chance(with ABB grades) :I
Do you know if there are access schemes or contextual offers made at Lancaster?
Another thing, would sending my application now hinder me from been given options since some people I have told me the courses could be full.

Hi...I am not an Admissions expert so I have to be careful what I say.I believe you would be considered with ABB and I would be happy for you to use my name in support of your application (or to be contacted at that time via Opening City Doors website) given that you have shown your proactiveness by participating in TSR/contacting me.Although courses are filling up I do not believe them to be full / refusing applications.

Hi, so I was considering IB and I just would like some clarification on some stuff:

- Would taking an apprenticeship route be better than joining IB as a graduate?
- Is it true that because the industry is so saturated with people wanting to get into it that jobs have low job security because many are replaceable?

I was reading some articles about how everything is very performance driven and that if you don't hit targets you will be fired in 1-2 years. This kind of put me off IB, is what these articles saying true?

People who are in IB are paid a lot, why is that? What is the cost?

Thanks

Any tips to avoid coming across as over rehearsed and robotic during interviews? This has been my feedback from summer recruitment at both the telephone and F2F stages this year for IBD.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, I have received offers from Loughborough (conditional and reduced at ABB) and Lancaster (unconditional) for finance. I would like an unbiased opinion as to which one of these is more of a 'target' and would be more beneficial for getting into investment banking?

In addition, as I have received an unconditional and reduced offer I would like to know if my A-Levels would matter significantly if I get into the university I want to and graduate with a 1st.

Having said this, I am also awaiting a response from Warwick and am aware that this would, of course, be the best route for me to go down. However, I would rather go to the universities mentioned above and therefore would appreciate you answering my above questions with honesty.

Lastly, how do you think the University of Nottingham is perceived by IB's amongst the universities mentioned above (i.e. more/less of a target)?

Kind Regards.

My sister wants to be a investment banker. What sort of skills and qualities would she need in order to do the job properly? What is the day to day like? How difficult is it generally speaking?

IB (and the rest of the financial sector) are desperate to hire women so good timing.

Skills/Qualities:motivated, determined, well-rounded, goes the 'extra mile', already building her CV, comfortable with maths and technology, involved with investment & finance society when at uni.

The day-to-day will differ significantly between the 6 or 7 main business divisions she will have to chose for internship/grad programme but she can do a 1st year more generic Spring Week to help with her career decision making.

Don't think everyone at IB are superstars..they are just good.

What is the sales/revenue momentum like..is it showing signs of acceleration?
If you put money into marketing has that had a positive effect on your company results in previous rounds?
If you lower/increase product prices, how sensitive to sales is that?
(Sorry bit I don't want to get too side-tracked from main discussion)

IB (and the rest of the financial sector) are desperate to hire women so good timing.

Skills/Qualities:motivated, determined, well-rounded, goes the 'extra mile', already building her CV, comfortable with maths and technology, involved with investment & finance society when at uni.

The day-to-day will differ significantly between the 6 or 7 main business divisions she will have to chose for internship/grad programme but she can do a 1st year more generic Spring Week to help with her career decision making.

Don't think everyone at IB are superstars..they are just good.

Hi,

I've got offers from these RG unis: QMUL, Manchester and Southampton. Which one would you say is targeted the most for IB? I'm going to making my decisions for my firm and insurance choices soon so I'd like to take something like this into account.

Also, what would you say was the hardest part about working in IB with your experience? Was it the start and getting used to it or...?

Cheers!

Do you not think the fact that “IB (and the rest of the financial sector) are desperate to hire women” means it is much harder now for men, especially white men, to break into IB and also the banks are possibly accepting weaker applicants in cases just because they have to meet their quotas
You can already see it with their insight schemes, with a lot of banks offering a wide range of schemes solely for women and minorities, which leaves out a lot of students such as white males that attended state schools but are put in the same group as the private/grammar school students of having an advantage

Would you be willing to review my CV? (punt)