Investment Banking Internships

What is investment banking?

If you think investment banking is all about trading floors and power suits, think again. There’s lots to discover, so what do investment bankers actually do?

Investment bankers are essentially corporate financial advisors, typically working with businesses, governments and high net worth individuals. They offer strategic advice and find creative solutions to complex financial problems. 

What else do investment bankers do?

A whole lot. Let’s explore. Investment bankers...

• Help clients with buying and selling companies

• Raise capital for expansion

• Assess risk

• Negotiate deals between companies and governments

• Provide advice for hedge, mutual and pension funds.

As an investment banker intern, you’ll work with graduates and senior leaders, getting involved in real projects for real clients. You might find yourself carrying out financial analysis, working on Excel modelling or researching different financial markets.

What do employers look for?

In this fast-paced industry, employers are looking for intellectually curious candidates who can bring fresh ideas and new perspectives to what they do, as well as have a strong work ethic and the ability to keep a cool head under pressure.

Keep scrolling to find out how you can become an investment banker.

Do you really need an internship to get into investment banking?

Yes! Investment banking is hot competition, with an average of 140 applications per graduate role. The good news is that the more investment banking work experience you can get whilst you’re at university, the greater the chance of being hired when you graduate.

Let’s look at your options:

Why are internships amazing? It’s easy, you’ll;

• Gain an insight into how the industry operates

• Develop your skills

• Network with people across the business and industry

• Get work experience for your CV

• Earn a salary

Not to mention the fact that most employers use their investment banking summer internships to find future graduate recruits!

So what’s it like to be an investment banking intern? Let’s hear from one…

How much do interns at investment banks make?

These schemes tend to come with big paychecks.

According to student-written internship reviews on our website, the average salary for an investment banking internship is around £54,000 per year.

What a fantastic amount, and one of the highest-paying industries you could intern in. This would be paid pro-rata for the time you work.

You'll also be eligible for in-work benefits, such as paid holidays, sick pay and other company perks such as gym passes or healthcare insurance.

Investment banking internships in London

When it comes to finance, the capital is truly at the heart of it. All the best investment banks have at least one office in central London. 

And even better, they ALL offer internships in investment banking. So if you fancy having a go at living in the big city or already do, there are loads of opportunities you can apply for.

Investment banking internships in London are popular and attract thousands of applications. Getting your application in early gives you a real advantage, as many firms review applications as they arrive.

How to apply

There are a few things you can do (other than applying early) to boost your chances of securing an investment banking internship. 

CV & Cover Letter

Prepare an internship CV and cover letter that are honest but compelling. Show how your experience, financial or not, really sets you up for success at an investment bank. 

Interview Prep

Be prepared for an intensive interview process. This can be a mixture of video interviews and face-to-face interviews

Be ready to answer questions about your strengths and your passion for banking and asset management.

Remember to think of some questions to ask at your interview too.

Watch the video below to hear Afzal’s advice on answering common investment banking interview questions:

Now you’re all set! All that’s left to do is to start applying. Good luck!