Becoming an investment banker is an aspiration for a lot of people globally and why won’t it be as it is one of the most lucrative fields that we know of. Though investment banking does keep you on your toes most of the times because of the fast-paced work & long working hours, it surely makes it up to you by paying you big bucks & helping you lead a fancy lifestyle.
If you are sharp & inclines towards numbers, investment banking roles can be the right career option for you. However, it is quite a tedious task to get into this field. Not only you require the theoretical knowledge of the entire subject but also the ability to apply it practically in the real world. If you wish to become a proficient & a successful investment banker, this article will help you in various ways as it covers the characteristics that a capable investment banker must attain in order to be an expert of his or her industry.
1. Solid analytical as well as reasoning skills: Every investment banker is supposed to have an excellent track record academically in order to be eligible for a job in the top ranking banks of the world. Job interviews in this industry mainly focus on math problems & puzzles which requires you to apply your reasoning skills effectively.
2. Attention to detail: If you cannot be accurate with everything you do as an investment banker, people around you will not see you as an able professional. As this field requires you to be as attentive & watchful as you can.
3. Earnestness as well as work ethic: You cannot expect your workflow to be predictable as an investment banker which means you always have to be ready to give in long hours & understand the urgency of the situation.
4. The skills of analyzing financial statements: If you get to join one of the big bulge bracket banks, they will provide you with training secessions in order to teach you everything from the beginning. However, if you start working in a boutique IB, you will be expected to have a functional knowledge of financial analysis as these banks do not have the budget to provide you with a proper training program. So having knowledge of financial statements will you an edge over other during interviews.
5. Multitasking: This is a quality that you can miss to acquire once you are in investment banking. Because on a usual day at work, you will be asked to work on diverse subjects and not just one which requires you to be a multitasker.
6. Outstanding communication skills: Investment bankers are expected to have great communication skills and by that, we are not only referring to oral communication but also the written form of it. The job of a banker involves communication with people day in and day out and if you are an excellent communicator, there are really high chances for you to become a leader of your field pretty early in your career.
