"Industry Expertise" as a Junior Banker

Hi Monkeys,

A lot of IB applications (both student and experienced) ask you to include 'industry expertise'. I worked at a boutique investment bank focused on one industry last summer. When asked by interviewers if I want to stay in that space, even a larger organization, I always joke that one summer, semester, internship etc. does not 'industry expertise' make.

However, I am wondering when you all think it would be acceptable to consider yourself 'expertised' in a given industry. Obviously, this knowledge grows over time, but I am curious about the point where the switch flips and you (and others) start to take your understanding of a space seriously.

Looking forward to your responses!
TS

 

Very broad answer here, but to me the "industry expert" lever gets flipped from off to on when:

A) Externally - Other people decide you are no longer full of shit and choose to listen to what you have to say on said area of expertise rather than HAVE to listen until you stop talking

B) Internally - You feel confident enough to talk to anybody, anywhere about this topic and never feel out of your comfort zone. If you still worry that someone is going to bring up something you don't understand or know about, you are probably not there yet.

Both A and B must be checked in my mind for you to be a junior "expert" on something. To me, this would typically happen in year two to three for junior bankers. Cannot happen in first year, not enough reps, entirely book-based knowledge.

"We're not lawyers, we're investment bankers. We call you for the paperwork. We didn't go to Harvard, we went to Wharton, and we saw you coming a mile away."
 
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