How to Get Started in Investment Banking After MBA? Your Step-by-Step Launch Plan
How to Get Started in Investment Banking After MBA? Your Step-by-Step Launch Plan
Blog Article
If you’ve just wrapped up your MBA or are midway through and dreaming of high-stakes deals, fast-paced deal rooms, and million-dollar pitch decks — you’re probably asking the golden question: How to get started in investment banking after MBA?
The good news? Investment banks love MBAs.
The challenge? So does everyone else.
That means if you want to stand out and land your seat at the table, you need a game plan. Here's your step-by-step breakdown — no fluff, just what works.
Step 1: Understand What the Role Really Involves
Before jumping in, let’s get one thing clear: investment banking isn’t for the faint of heart.
You’re signing up for:
80-100 hour weeks
Pressure-packed deadlines
Intense modeling and Excel wizardry
Constant learning in a cutthroat environment
But on the flip side, you get:
$150K+ starting salaries with sky-high bonuses
Deep exposure to deals worth millions (or billions)
A network of overachievers who often go on to private equity, hedge funds, and C-suite roles
That’s the tradeoff. Know what you’re signing up for before you start strategizing how to get started in investment banking after MBA.
Step 2: Pick the Right MBA Program (Or Work With What You’ve Got)
There’s no denying that target schools — think Wharton, Columbia, Booth, Stern, HBS — make the process smoother. These programs have:
Direct pipelines to bulge bracket and elite boutique firms
Strong alumni networks in IB
On-campus recruiting advantages
But if you’re not in a “target,” don’t panic. Plenty of associates come from “non-target” programs — they just work harder to network, build credibility, and demonstrate technical skill.
The bottom line: where you go helps, but how you show up matters even more.
Step 3: Get Fluent in the Language of Finance
Even if you weren’t a finance major, now is your time to ramp up.
Courses and skills to focus on:
Corporate finance
Accounting
Valuation techniques (DCF, comps, precedent transactions)
LBO and M&A modeling
Excel shortcuts and PowerPoint polish
Enroll in bootcamps like Wall Street Prep or Breaking Into Wall Street if your MBA program doesn’t go deep enough.
Remember: if you’re serious about getting in, you must be able to speak the language — fluently.
Step 4: Build Your Story
Here’s the secret sauce: investment banks don’t just hire resumes. They hire narratives.
Craft a compelling answer to:
Why investment banking?
Why now, after an MBA?
Why you, compared to every other smart MBA gunning for the same job?
Maybe you worked in consulting and want to get closer to the deals. Maybe you were in tech but got fascinated by capital markets during your MBA. Whatever your angle, your story should connect the dots — clearly and confidently.
This is a huge part of how to get started in investment banking after MBA, especially in behavioral interviews.
Step 5: Start Networking (Like, Yesterday)
Networking isn’t optional — it’s essential.
Here’s how to make it work:
Start early: Ideally in your first semester, if not before.
Reach out to alumni: Use LinkedIn, school databases, and even cold emails.
Be concise and respectful: Ask for 15-minute chats, not job offers.
Follow up: Relationships grow with time, not just a one-off Zoom call.
Your goal isn’t just to get information — it’s to stay top-of-mind when hiring managers are making decisions.
Step 6: Land the Summer Internship
This is your biggest leverage point. Most full-time IB roles go to people who interned the summer before.
To maximize your chances:
Apply early and broadly — bulge brackets, boutiques, regional firms.
Prepare for technical and behavioral interviews like it’s a second job.
Be ready to answer “Tell me about yourself” in your sleep.
Practice DCFs, LBOs, and brain teasers until they’re second nature.
Pro tip: Start mock interviews with classmates or career coaches weeks in advance. The earlier, the better.
Step 7: Deliver During the Internship
Once you land the internship, treat every task — no matter how small — like it's mission-critical. Because it is.
During your 10-week summer stint:
Be the most reliable person on the team.
Triple-check every Excel formula and slide.
Ask smart questions and stay curious.
Never act like you’re above grunt work.
If you impress, you’ll likely get a full-time offer by the end of the summer. That’s your golden ticket.
Step 8: Keep Pushing If You Miss the Offer
Not every path is linear. Maybe you didn’t land the summer internship. Or maybe you didn’t convert it to full-time.
It’s not game over.
You can:
Target boutique banks and regional firms with off-cycle hiring
Apply for corporate finance or Big 4 advisory roles as a stepping stone
Keep networking and apply for lateral roles after graduation
Plenty of successful investment bankers started with a detour — your persistence matters more than a perfect record.
Final Thoughts
So, how to get started in investment banking after MBA?
Pick the right MBA program
Learn the financial skill set
Craft a compelling narrative
Network early and consistently
Land and convert your summer internship
Stay persistent — even if Plan A doesn’t work
The road isn’t easy, but it is doable — and incredibly rewarding for those who stick with it.
Thinking of breaking into IB? Drop your questions in the comments or share your story — someone further along the path might have just the advice you need. Report this page