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

Hi, thanks for doing this!

I've obviously heard working hours to be very long, but in your experience do you think it substantially gets easier over the years or not really?

Also are the exit options better in the Big 4 professional firms, doing Deal/Finance advisory as they make you do the ACA and a larger variety of projects? or as an investment banker doing M&A is an investment bank? after perhaps 5 years or so?

Hello, so to keep it short I am interested in taking Law for university but I'm not 100 percent sure on my end goal yet. I'm debating whether I want to become a lawyer or do something else with my life. My first question is 1. Would learning Law help me in this sector and 2. If you have the time can you explain what type of area I can join with a law degree and what I would be doing.

Khalifa

Hey Khalifa - Well learning Law is relevant for this sector. Although IBs of course have their own Legal Departments ...the main graduate relevance would be in Compliance - the latter implements the consider legal and regulatory burden on IBs and Asset Managers and also keeps and eye out for questionable trading as well a s amking sure employees stay within the rules. A number of large financial institutions run Compliance Internships and Grad Progrmmes..check out M&G Asset Management website to learn more about this option.Note:Compliance is a growth industry!.

Hey there! Thanks for doing this i just have a couple questions i would like you to answer
1) What type of A-level grades should i achieve to be considered in this industry
2) To what extent does the Uni matter if you have achieved good a levels and have at least a 2:1

If you had grad/internship offers at an Elite Boutique such as Laz/Roths/Evercore, would you choose then over a large BB such as JP/Citi/BAML?

How should one mate that decision,

Thanks.

Is it easy to break into F/O from Operations? Have an offer from JPMorgan for their CADP Summer Program, whilst study at an RG University.
(Degree Predicted: 2:1/1st, A Levels: 3A*, 1A)

Hi,

I am a physics first year at a target uni. I've applied to all spring weeks at BB's and EB and also some accountancy firms including the big four, I have received around 10 rejections already. I have applied for IBD roles. Are spring weeks just very competitive and or am I doing something wrong???

Hi Paul,
A quick bit about me- 2nd year econ student at QMUL
I would like to ask how significant is obtaining spring week and/or a summer internship experience in getting 3rd year graduate offers from these employers? Not necessarily IB only, as you've mentioned many other divisions.
I'm asking because I'm not the most organised individual nor most hard-core in terms of these applications. I mean I'm generally surprised at the high level of comprehension of people on TSR when they talk about these spring weeks and internship applications as they use a lot of jargon I don't know (despite being an econ student!) - i.e. BB, EB! Is that considered normal, and the general level of candidates who are 'successful' in their applications, from your experience?
I am kind of worried because like another person has said, I've applied for maybe 15 summer internship places and had a few interviews/tests etc. but not been successful. So I have to consider it a high likelihood I will end up with no summer internship. I do have other work experience but those are more about soft skills rather than direct "bank" experience.
I know you've said the banks just want to see 2.1 minimum but I think there is a good chance (as I take my work seriously) I will end up with a 1st class. Do you think that might raise my chances for 3rd year or do the banks not really care about 2.1 or a 1st?
Finally, I really don't want to end up in Accounting, so I'm wondering what you would recommend someone who is a graduate with 2.1 or higher in a relevant degree should be doing if they wish to enter "the industry"? Is the best move just to attempt to build up work experience and keep applying ?
Thanks!

do you have a lambo

No but I had a Porsche at 26 but I kinda grew out of all that !