Top 4 Tips to Secure IB Internship Return Offer (how I got mine @ nyc elite boutique last summer)

Last summer, I secured a return offer at an elite boutique investment bank in nyc (~50% of my class asked back). Here’s how to make sure you get yours.

I had an underclassmen at my school ask me for best pieces of advice the other day. Figured I'd share with the broader audience and see if you all have anything to add....

Picture ~8 preppy finance bros with their perfectly greased back hair & freshly pressed Patagonia quarter zips sitting around the oval in the conference room talking about whether they like you.

Banks have a specific # of offers that they are allowed to give based on how hot the M&A market is. Here’s what I did to make sure that I made the cut:

Bit on me first - Non-target kid; NY EB intern last summer; graduated semester early now full-time PE Analyst.

1. Figure Out Rubric & Graders

• The group of people that had the most sway might surprise you - it’s the JR level analysts & associates. Prioritize making yourself useful to the 3 or 4 JR people that you work with the most.
• Go on coffee chats with the JRs & ask about what you should be focusing on to secure the return. You can then spend energy appropriately & avoid wasting excess time on items that matter less.
• Do This: Schedule coffee chats week 1 with all analysts & associates on your deal teams. Ask what really good interns do better than the average interns.

2. Tracking System - 5 Key Growth Areas

• You’ll have 2 to 3 “feedback sessions” with a SR banker / few JR bankers throughout the summer.
• Everyone will get stellar feedback since you have to be a stud to be there in the first place, but they will still give you one or two things to work on - DO NOT brush these off. Mine were: print stuff out to review before sending, challenge yourself to ask questions about the bigger picture of every task to your teams & continue to improve consistent communication skills.
• Do This: Physically write down 5 Key Areas to work on based on this convo. Before leaving office each day, spend 15min & write tangible bullet point examples of how you improved in each of 5 Areas.

3. Bond Beyond Banking

• People don’t want to work 80hrs a wk. with a lifeless robot - Get them to LIKE YOU!
• Do This: Swing by desks of deal team members week 1 asking if they would be open to grabbing coffee. Aim for > 15-20min every convo non-banking stuff (background, family, hobbies)

4. Finish Strong

• 90% of the time you’ll have a “Final Project” presentation your last week given to a random group of SR bankers. Start early & DO NOT get behind.
• When they are sitting around the table to talk smack about you - this will be what is at the top of their mind - not any of the stuff that happened weeks 1-6.
• Do This: Use weekends to chip away at deck. Schedule ~3 mock presentations with analysts / associates you’ve become closest with. Rehearse >20 times solo