The Job

• An investment banker's job starts early in the morning and can last late into the night. The global nature of finance makes it necessary to work with securities markets located in different time zones. Your work may entail arranging a deal between a bank in New York and an automobile manufacturer in Germany or a municipality in China. The importance of pitching and closing deals also requires after-work client entertainment and travel to visit your clients in other locations. Daily work involves strategic planning, negotiating terms of deals, writing and editing presentations or deal memorandums and closely monitoring the financial reports and needs of more than a dozen clients.
  
  

Marketing Savvy

• As an investment banker, you are a sales rep for the capabilities of the banking firm for which you work. A considerable amount of your time and effort goes into developing new business with new and existing clients. Nearly any service you can provide is also available at most of your competition, so it is vital that you know how to market yourself and your firm. Image is almost more important than actual capabilities. A prospective client must feel you represent the most professional solution to her finance needs.
  
  

Finance and Economics

• Your world consists of the interplay between your corporate or municipal clients, the financial industry and the global economy. If you are not completely knowledgeable in the latest funding strategies, strategic partnership structures, global economic trends and securities market conditions, you will not be able to beat out your competition for the deals. You must maintain your expertise in finance and economics to identify opportunities for your clients and advise them in ways they can optimize their corporate performance using your services.
  
  

Strategic Thinking

• A client will rarely tell you what he needs. It is your job to come up with ideas that will benefit the company finances or strategic position. You must recognize opportunities and develop strategic plans that entail using your employer's investment banking capabilities. To be able to recognize opportunities you must study the financial reports issued by your clients and closely monitor their business dealings. When you have developed an idea, your next task is to present it to your client and convince him of the value of following your proposal.