How Important is ATAR?
Hi, just checking how important ATAR is to get into Investment Banking in Australia (for EBs and BBs). And if ATAR is still asked about during the recruitment process if you don't try to go into IB straight after uni but a after some professional experience (i.e TS at a Big4, or Corporate Banking at a Big 4 bank in AU).
Based on the most helpful WSO content, the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is an important factor for getting into investment banking in Australia, especially for entry-level positions. Here's a bit more detail for you:
Entry into Top Universities: A high ATAR is crucial for gaining admission into the Group of Eight (Go8) universities, which are considered target schools for investment banking roles in Australia. These include the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, and University of New South Wales, among others.
Recruitment Process: During the recruitment process, especially for summer internships and graduate programs, banks may consider your ATAR as part of their assessment. It's one of the indicators of academic performance and can be particularly relevant for candidates with less professional experience.
Experienced Hires: If you're entering investment banking with professional experience, such as from a Big4 firm in Transaction Services or Corporate Banking, the emphasis on ATAR diminishes. Recruiters and hiring managers will likely focus more on your professional achievements, technical skills, and how well you've performed in your previous roles.
Remember, while ATAR can open doors, especially early on, it's your performance, networking skills, and industry knowledge that will ultimately secure you a position in investment banking. Keep swinging through those financial jungles, and don't let a single number define your career path!
Sources: Q&A: 2nd yr IB Analyst - Australia, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/qa-australian-ib-life-etc?customgpt=1, What's the best school for investment banking?, Investment Banking Australia
During internship recruiting I was only asked what my ATAR was by one investment bank (during the application stage).
In my experience university grades are much more important than ATAR and even then university grades are not the most important factor.
Can’t comment on the 2nd question but I’d presume that after work experience your ATAR would be even less important.
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