HOW TO GET STARTED IN INVESTMENT BANKING AFTER MBA? A BEGINNER'S BLUEPRINT TO BREAKING IN

How to Get Started in Investment Banking After MBA? A Beginner's Blueprint to Breaking In

How to Get Started in Investment Banking After MBA? A Beginner's Blueprint to Breaking In

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If you're finishing up your MBA and eyeing a fast-paced, high-reward career in finance, investment banking might be at the top of your list. The question everyone’s asking: how to get started in investment banking after MBA? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all, but there is a roadmap — and if you follow it with intention, you can make the leap from classroom to closing deals on Wall Street.

Whether you’re from a non-finance background or a CFA-holder looking to pivot, let’s break it down step by step.

Why Investment Banking?


Before we dive into how, let’s talk why. Investment banking offers:

  • High compensation (even at entry level)

  • Elite training in financial modeling, corporate strategy, and capital markets

  • Prestige and exit opportunities to private equity, hedge funds, and corporate roles


It’s not for the faint of heart — the hours are brutal and the pressure is real. But if you want to level up fast, few paths match the speed and scope of learning in investment banking.

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Goals


Start by asking yourself what kind of investment banking you’re interested in:

  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) — deal-driven, analytical, client-facing

  • Capital Markets — focused on debt and equity issuance

  • Industry Coverage — tech, healthcare, energy, etc.


Knowing your area of interest helps you position yourself early and communicate a compelling narrative — something every banker will be evaluating during interviews.

Step 2: Use Your MBA as a Launchpad


Still wondering how to get started in investment banking after MBA? Leverage the ecosystem your business school provides:

  • Join the finance or IB club: These student-run orgs offer interview prep, networking help, and access to alumni.

  • Attend info sessions: Investment banks send recruiters and bankers to top MBA programs — go to their events, take notes, and follow up.

  • Build relationships with professors and advisors: They often have valuable industry connections or can help you refine your pitch.


Your MBA program is not just about classes — it’s a golden opportunity to get noticed.

Step 3: Target the Summer Associate Internship


Here’s a cold truth: the summer internship is the most reliable path to a full-time offer in investment banking.

Banks hire the majority of their full-time associates from their intern pool. That means if you’re serious about IB, landing a summer role between your first and second year should be your top priority.

Tips to Land That Internship:



  • Update your resume to highlight leadership, analytical skills, and any financial experience.

  • Learn the technicals: Know how to value companies, read financial statements, and build basic Excel models.

  • Practice your story: Why MBA? Why IB? Why this bank?


Step 4: Master the Interview Process


Interviews for IB roles post-MBA are rigorous. You’ll be grilled on both:

  • Technical knowledge: DCF, LBO, comps, precedent transactions, accounting scenarios.

  • Behavioral fit: How you handle pressure, work in teams, and solve real-world business problems.


Pro tip: Practice with classmates, use resources like the Vault Guide to Finance Interviews, and stay sharp on current financial news — deals, IPOs, trends.

Step 5: Network Like a Pro


If you want a job in investment banking, you need to know bankers. Networking is the secret weapon most successful candidates don’t talk about enough.

Here’s how to do it right:

  • Reach out to alumni in IB roles with personalized messages.

  • Set up informational calls — not to ask for a job, but to learn and make a connection.

  • Follow up thoughtfully — thank them, update them on your progress, and stay in touch.


This doesn’t just help you get interviews — it can often be the reason you’re selected over someone else equally qualified.

Step 6: Choose the Right Firm


Not all investment banks are the same. Do you want:

  • A Bulge Bracket firm like JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs for global deals and brand value?

  • An Elite Boutique like Moelis or Evercore for hands-on experience and faster advancement?

  • A Middle-Market firm with more work-life balance and regional exposure?


Research the culture, deal flow, and career trajectory at each. When you interview, tailor your answers to align with what the firm actually values.

Step 7: Deliver During Your Internship


Once you land the internship, the real test begins.

To convert it into a full-time offer:

  • Show up early, stay late, and triple-check everything.

  • Take initiative, but don’t overstep — be a team player first.

  • Build relationships not just with your Associate or VP, but also with Analysts. Their feedback counts.


You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to be reliable, resourceful, and resilient.

Step 8: Think Ahead — Exit Options and Career Growth


Getting into IB after an MBA is a huge win. But it’s also just the beginning. After 2–3 years as an Associate, you could:

  • Stay and become a VP, then MD

  • Pivot to private equity, hedge funds, or corporate strategy

  • Launch your own startup or move into fintech


The skills, brand, and network you build in investment banking will open doors for years to come.

Final Thoughts


If you’ve been asking “How to get started in investment banking after MBA?”, now you know: it takes focus, preparation, and relentless effort. The MBA is a powerful stepping stone, but what you do with it matters most.

Start early. Learn fast. Build relationships. And remember — every investment banker started where you are now.

You’ve got this.

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