Many students often aim for a career in investment banking after BCom because it offers a high salary, rapid career growth, and global opportunities, making it one of the most sought-after careers in finance. Although investment banking is a highly competitive field often associated with postgraduates and MBAs, a BCom gives you a strong start to build a successful career.
In this blog, we will explain everything a BCom graduate needs to know about investment banking, including key skills, certifications, and the best investment banking courses that build a strong foundation. We will also provide a step-by-step guide on how to transition from a BCom graduate to an investment banker.
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Investment banking (IB) provides strategic advisory and capital markets services to governments, corporations, and other large institutions. Some of the key services include helping organizations with mergers and acquisitions (M&A), underwriting securities for IPO, financial restructuring, and offering financial advice.
Unlike retail banking, investment banking focuses on corporate finance, capital markets, and generates revenue through high commissions and fees generated from significant deals like debt issuances, trading, and more. Your BCom background already gives you a strong foundation in accounting, finance, and business, exactly what investment bankers rely on daily.
What Does an Investment Banker Do?
Investment bankers help companies, governments, and institutions raise capital and make better-informed financial decisions. The main role of an investment banker is to negotiate deals, help companies issue shares during an IPO, advise on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and arrange debt financing.
A junior investment banker, generally an analyst or associate, spends most of their time building financial models, researching industries, designing pitch decks, and analyzing data to support senior bankers during client meetings. Senior-level bankers prioritize building client relationships, negotiating, and deal execution.
The role is fast-paced, demanding, and often requires long hours. The role also offers opportunities to work on complex financial deals and high-level business strategies.
Apart from your BCom degree, mastering specific technical and soft skills is essential to standing out.
1. Financial Modeling and Valuation: One of the most important skills in investment banking is financial modeling and valuation. You must be able to build models for Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), comparable company analysis, and other valuation techniques to determine the value of a company or deal.
2. Advanced Excel and PowerPoint: Expertise in Excel for financial analysis and PowerPoint for creating pitch decks is important. Investment bankers spend countless hours on these tools as they help to improve data visualization, tackle complex tasks, and create professional reports and presentations.
3. Analytical and Quantitative Skills: The ability to process and interpret massive amounts of financial data to identify trends, evaluate market conditions, and make data-driven decisions is essential.
4. Communication Skills: You must be able to present complex financial concepts clearly and concisely, both in writing and in presentations to clients and senior management.
5. Attention to Detail: In high-stakes transactions, even a minor error in financial analysis can be costly, making extreme attention to detail critical.
Investment Banking Certification Program
Learn from industry experts and master real-world tools used by top analysts
While an advanced degree is not always required for entry-level roles, pursuing professional certifications can significantly boost your resume and credibility.
1. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
A globally recognized and highly respected certification, the CFA program covers a wide range of investment topics. Completing the CFA program involves passing three levels of exams and completing 4000 hours of relevant working experience. Earning a CFA charter shows expertise in managing portfolios, valuing securities, and making informed investment decisions.
2. Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA)
A financial modeling and valuation analyst (FMVA) certification focuses specifically on the practical financial modeling and valuation techniques used in the industry, making it highly relevant for analyst roles.
3. Certified Investment Banking Operations Professional (CIBOP)
The certified investment banking operations professional (CIBOP) is designed to help individuals develop the skills needed for investment banking operations roles, such as risk management and settlement. This program is excellent for BCom graduates looking to specialize in the operational aspects of investment banking.
The more real experience you have, the stronger your profile becomes. Internships, projects, and extracurricular activities all play a major role in getting into investment banking.
1. Internships: Internships are the most direct and effective path to a full-time offer. Target summer analyst programs at top investment banks (e.g., J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs) as well as specialized investment firms, or the Big 4 accounting firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG).
2. Financial Projects: Actively work on financial modeling case studies, valuation tasks, and company analysis projects. You can build a portfolio of this work to showcase your skills during interviews.
3. Relevant Extracurriculars: Join your university’s finance or investment club, or participate in finance-related competitions to show your passion and gain hands-on experience.
Check out some of the best online courses to learn Investment Banking.
Effective Networking Strategies to Get Into Investment Banking
Since the industry is so competitive, networking is important to stand out.
1. Build Your Network
Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with finance professionals, especially alumni from your university. Attend industry events, seminars, and webinars to meet people and gather insights.
2. Personalize Your Outreach
Add a personal touch to your messages. When reaching out, mention a shared interest or a specific aspect of their career that you find impressive. Frame your request as a desire to learn from their experience, rather than an immediate need for a job.
3. Tell Your Story
Always be ready to answer the “Tell me about yourself” question by preparing a short 1-2 minute story that summarizes your background, experience, and why you are interested in investment banking.
4. Follow Up
Maintain contact with your network by sharing relevant articles, congratulating them on accomplishments, and providing updates on your progress.
Among all the jobs for BCom graduates, investment banking stands out for its high pay and global exposure.
As a BCom graduate, you will typically start your career as an entry-level analyst, where you will gain hands-on experience and build a strong foundation in finance.
1. Investment Banking Analyst
An investment banking analyst’s responsibilities include building financial models, conducting market research, performing financial analysis, and preparing presentations for senior bankers. Investment banking analysts with 1-4 years of experience earn between ₹3-₹30 lakhs per year.
2. Financial Analyst
The role of a financial analyst involves analyzing financial data, preparing reports to help companies and investors make informed investment decisions. Key responsibilities are evaluating investment opportunities, assessing risk, and predicting future trends. The salary of financial analysts ranges between ₹2.2-₹14 lakhs per year for 1-7 years of experience.
3. Equity Research Analyst
The primary role of an equity research analyst is to research and spot market trends. They evaluate publicly traded companies and industries to buy, sell, or hold recommendations for clients. This role would be a great fit since it focuses on analyzing stocks and industries. The salary of an equity research analyst with 1-7 years of experience ranges between ₹2.8-₹26 lakhs per year.
4. Risk Analyst
This position focuses on identifying, analyzing, and mitigating financial, compliance, and operational risks for organizations. Some of the key duties involve monitoring market trends, reviewing financial data, and developing risk management strategies. A risk analyst’s salary ranges between ₹2-₹19.7 lakhs per year for individuals holding experience of 1-6 years.
5. Investment Specialist
An investment specialist mainly focuses on specific investment products, like fixed income, and advises clients. They analyze financial data, perform market research, and develop personalized portfolios. The salary of an investment specialist with 1-11 years of experience ranges between ₹2-₹18 lakhs per year.
Note: Salary range can vary depending on location, industry type, job role, and other factors.
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Getting into an investment banking role is not easy, and BCom graduates face specific challenges.
- Intense Competition: You will be competing with a large pool of talented candidates, including those with MBAs or from top business schools.
- Long Hours: Investment banking is known for its demanding work schedule, with 80-100-hours workweeks being common for junior analysts.
- Demanding Learning Process: There is a lot to learn quickly, and the pressure to perform at a high level is intense.
Steps to Start a Career in Investment Banking After BCom
Here is how you can start a career in Investment Banking after BCom:
1. Enhance your skills: Apart from acquiring a BCom degree, master financial modeling, Excel, and communication skills.
2. Gain practical experience: Actively look for internships and work on finance-related projects.
3. Earn professional certifications: Earn certifications like the CFA, FMVA, or relevant NISM certifications to strengthen your profile.
4. Network aggressively: Build relationships with finance professionals on LinkedIn and at industry events.
5. Target the right roles: Focus on entry-level analyst positions where your skills can improve.
The Bottom Line
With the right skills, certifications, and focus, jobs for BCom graduates in banks are within reach. You can create a successful career in investment banking by applying what you learned in college, gaining practical skills, building good connections, and getting real-world experience.
Learn financial modeling, valuation, and deal-making through a practical Investment Banking Course. Gain real-world knowledge and industry exposure that prepare you for a strong start in finance.
Investment Banking – FAQs
Q1. Do I need an MBA to get into investment banking?
No, an MBA is not mandatory for entry-level analyst positions. While it can help your career grow faster, many people advance through a combination of experience, networking, and relevant certifications.
Q2. What is the typical starting salary for an investment banking analyst?
Starting salaries for investment banking analysts can vary significantly depending on the firm, location, and individual skills. They are generally among the highest in the finance industry, with salaries ranging between ₹3-₹30 lakhs per year for experience of 0-4 years.
Q3. How difficult are investment banking interviews?
Investment banking interviews are thorough and test both your technical knowledge (like valuation methods) and your organizational fit. Practice case studies, common questions, and be prepared to discuss deals you have followed.
Q4. Can I get an investment banking job from a local university?
Yes, it is possible. While graduates from top-tier universities have an advantage, strong technical skills, relevant internships, and building strong connections can help you succeed. Many people have successfully made a career in investment banking from local universities.
Q5. How long does it take to get established in investment banking?
An individual can start working with proper investment banking courses and focused work within 6-12 months.