What Are Some Good Questions to Ask an Investment Banker

Investment banking is one of the most lucrative career options. People who are eager to pursue a career in this field are often very curious about the day-to-day roles and responsibilities of an investment banker. The job has been popular ever since the capital markets started flourishing; the high pay and perks attract a lot of young people who try hard to make a successful career in this domain.

Your journey gets a little easier if you have someone to lead the way. This is true in professional aspects as well. The big question that people have in mind before opting for the investment banking industry is what is the best course of action to become an investment banker & how exactly to become an investment banker. Think about the job role & figure what are the best questions to ask an investment banker.

The best advice would come from someone who is already living your dream of becoming an investment banker. The investment industry is very dynamic and is evolving with the hour. There are a lot of grey areas that are not addressed in books and courses and require a more pragmatic approach to learning about the subject.

What questions to ask an investment banker?

What questions to ask an investment banker and what will be a good question vary greatly. It depends significantly on your motive behind starting the conversation and what you are looking to gain from it. You need to set your objective straight, whether you are looking to get a job or whether you are using the connection to build your network and make a connection.

The second important factor to keep in mind before considering questions to ask an investment banker is what stage of your career you are in. Are you a college student who wants to pursue higher education and then join the industry? Are you a working professional who is looking to switch to this industry, or do you just want to upgrade your skills and land a job as an investment banker? While asking your question, you should try to be as specific as possible and tailor it according to your requirements, any information that could be found online is probably not the best one to enquire about.

Here is a list of some interesting questions to ask an investment banker:

What type of investment banker are they?

When it comes to the important questions to ask an investment banker, this is one of the most important ones. Here is the answer-

In the investment banking industry, bankers are categorized into two groups: product group and industry. Some of the mainstream product groups include Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Corporate restructuring, etc.

How to build and maintain long-term professional relationships with clients?

Working as an investment banker requires more than just industry knowledge and financial know-how. Your soft skills are equally important as your hard skills, and having good interpersonal skills is key to surviving within this industry.

What would you do differently to reach your present level?

If you are a beginner who is looking to learn from other’s mistakes, this question will certainly help you in your endeavors. It will help you to build the perfect road map for your dream job and will also help you avoid some common mistakes made by people in this industry.

What will be the impact of Artificial Intelligence in the Investment Banking Industry? There are talks of Robot Advisors, how will this impact growth and career prospects in the field?

AI has transformed various industries and has also helped automate many repetitive tasks that earlier required the human workforce. In the digital age, everything is run on data, and AI-powered Machine Learning techniques have already adapted human intelligence in some regards. There are driverless cars being made with the help of this technology, which might have a severe impact on the investment industry as well.

Why was your motivation behind choosing a career in this field?

This question would be fruitful if you want to know the investment banker on a more personal note and you want to listen to his inspiration and his point of view on the investment banking industry. It can help you develop a fresh perspective as to why you should join this industry.

What are some key skills that you look for in a candidate at your organization?

This question will help you understand the hard and soft skills needed to have a successful career in the industry. If you are interested in joining the particular organization, it will be very informative and insightful to crack the interview.

The above are the most important questions to ask an investment banker. Make sure that you confirm all the required details with them once you get some time with them. It’ll not only enhance your own knowledge but also prepare you for your potential future in this stream. 

A dedicated investment banking course can provide a valuable advantage for those looking to break into the field of investment banking. These courses equip you with the technical skills and financial modeling expertise that investment banks look for in candidates. They can also offer networking opportunities and help you better understand the industry culture. If you’re serious about launching your investment banking career, a course can be a strategic investment in your future.

The Investment Banking Career Path

Divyashree shares her experience, and the path that led to an investment banking job at SS&C GlobeOp
Divyashree recently graduated from the Certification Course in Investment Banking at Imarticus and here is her take on the program and on how it helped her achieve her investment banking aspirations.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hello, my name is Divyashree Rai, and I have completed my graduation in commerce and interned at a forex company. That’s when my interest in finance grew. I wanted to explore the finance industry, especially investment banking, and I believe the investment banking course at Imarticus was the perfect fit for me.
After joining the course, I realized that finance is a massive industry, and I learned a lot through classroom training sessions, presentations, and many hands-on simulations.
How was your experience at Imarticus?
The Investment Banking course at Imarticus is the perfect blend of theoretical learning and practical knowledge. There’s a significant gap in terms of practical learning while studying at school and college because you don’t really know the relevance of what you’re learning and how it can be applied to real-world situations. Imarticus bridges this gap by relating every module with case studies, simulations, and hands-on learning. Imarticus Learning’s placement services, resume review sessions, and mock interviews also are invaluable. The course culminated in a job at SS&C GlobeOp, and this would have been impossible without Imarticus.
Moreover, the faculty at Imarticus Learning is friendly and approachable. The classroom training and presentations helped me develop as a professional and amplified my domain knowledge.

Why would you recommend the investment banking training course?
Imarticus trained me on the complexities of finance in a simple, concise format. I’d recommend this course because it’s suitable for both finance professionals and individuals with no background in finance because the course starts with the basics and moves on to more complex investment banking concepts and strategies. The course has boosted my confidence and has transformed me into a job-ready individual.
What do you like most about Imarticus?
When you have the right knowledge, there’s nothing that can stop you. I realized this when I was asked a lot of domain questions during my interviews, and I could answer every question confidently thanks to the faculty and training at Imarticus. The support staff also are really accommodating and were available to help out any time I faced challenges.
I want to thank Imarticus for helping me start my investment banking career at SS&C GlobeOp and would encourage aspiring investment bankers to take up this course.
Become an investment banker in 3 months. Click here to inquire about the investment banking operations program.

What Are The Ways of Reducing Financial Risk?

Synopsis

One of the biggest things that people learn in investment banking is how to undertake risk and manage it, which makes it a lucrative career to pursue. Here’s how. 

Today, everyone wants to pursue a career in investment banking. One of the biggest reasons which individuals are training in investment banking course and then finding a job in the field is due to the fact that it is a high risk, high pay-out kind of a career.

The industry employees individuals who are driven, hardworking and smart. It requires dedication and the job involves long hours. Many educational institutes are providing certification courses in Investment Banking to individuals in order to pursue this career.

 

Investment Banking Course

One of the biggest things they teach you when it comes to investment banking courses is assessing different kinds of risks for your clients. From operational risk, legal risk to financial risk, there are many things to consider before launching and growing a business. Large multinational organizations go to investment bankers to help them assess the different aspects of running a business including raising capital, risks associated with the business and growth trajectory.

Those who are pursuing a career in investment banking need to understand the financial risk a business is willing to take in order to grow and provide solutions to mitigate or manage the risk. Here are some top ways financial risk can be managed.

Perform a Risk Assessment

At the onset of the business, investment bankers need to take a stock of all the various kinds of risks associated with running a particular business and prepare a risk assessment plan. This will give the business an opportunity to take stock, build ideas and have a plan in place to reduce or mitigate risk. One example that stands out is, it is a good idea to get certain equipment insured so that some of the risks can be transferred to insurance parties.

Maintain a contingency plan

Since we know that every business involves risk a good way to proceed when it comes to taking the business to the next level is by ensuring that there is a plan B. A contingency plan with adequate funds is a good approach to managing financial risks. This means that if you are in a difficult position, you will be able to look at the second plan of action for answers

Reduce Risk of Operation

Sometimes operational risk can lead to financial losses which mean that it is also a financial risk. Having a good management infrastructure in place, keeping employees happy, performing due diligence minimizing credit risk can all go a long way when it comes to reducing operational risk. Operational risk also can be external that is legal issues which can crop up along the way when it comes to running a business. Making sure to consider all the legal and state implications while setting up a business can go a long way when it comes to running a business.

Conclusion

Once investment bankers have learned to deal with various kinds of financial risks, they will be in a better position to help their clients grow and succeed in business.

Career Benefits from Investment Banking Boot Camps And Modeling And Valuation Courses

Investment banking is one of the hottest careers available right now. It offers high salaries and an exciting career dealing with corporate acquisitions and mergers. Investment bankers help corporations and companies raise funds for different opportunities and walk them through dealings with other companies. Becoming a successful investment banker involves a fundamental and intimate knowledge of financial systems and products, operational challenges, and regulatory requirements.
If you are thinking about making the transition to investment banking, you might be wondering about the value of the multitude of investment banking courses available and their impact on your career. These courses come in all shapes and forms, and you have to check their offerings in order to match it to your expectations. Here are a few things you must keep in mind when going for investment banking training. One of the first things you will want to check is if the course you are interested in is an investment banking certification. Not all investment banking courses give you a certification, and not all of the certified ones are industry recognized. Some of the courses will prepare you to take industry certification exams, but you need to make sure that it is an exam that is valid or recognized in the region you want to work.

Make sure that you research the tutors as they are very important in regards to what you learn. Ideally, they should be industry experts and should provide knowledge that they are familiar with. Once you know the instructor, you will be able to understand the scope and direction of the course. Some courses provide general knowledge about investment banking while other courses focus on exploring concepts in detail.
Now that you know what to look for in investment banking courses, you need to understand how they can help your career. One of the most important things a course will give you is finance related knowledge. Depending on your previous knowledge and the course you pick, you will learn concepts of business valuations, debt securities, capital markets, cash equities, money markets, derivatives markets, and deal structuring.

A good course will incorporate experiential learning through live case studies along with classroom training. This will give you the ability to apply all the concepts you have learned and made you a more valuable employee.
One of the most important things your course should cover is the interview process and how to ace it.   Apart from knowing your concepts, you should also stay up to date with financial news and corporations. A good course will conduct mock interviews and give you valuable feedback on how to improve your interviewing skills. A major hurdle most interested candidates face is the interview portion where they find themselves unable to convey why they are good hires.
The bottom line is that there are plenty of courses and opportunities to improve your knowledge available to those interested in investment banking. It is important that you do your due diligence and research these courses and the companies that offer the course. Do not fall for any claims of 100% placements. These courses are viewed as something that adds value to an already strong CV, and you should focus on your primary education first before looking into a certification course in investment banking.