Breaking into ER from commercial banking

Currently working in commercial banking at a large bank. Some of our clients are smaller corporates with 10bn + in revenues so I have some corporate banking experience. Has anyone else broken into ER from a similar non-traditional background? I'm planning on taking modeling courses, networking, and doing a level or two of the CFA to help boost my profile.

392 WSO Academy Equity Research Session Reviews: 4.83/5

Class of '28 Aug 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Equity Research 7 Stories Review

“I want to give my highest recommendation to Craig, who coached me on interview preparation as I move from structural biology into equity research. In a single session, he changed how I think about telling my own story. He started with my Tell Me About Yourself answer. Within minutes he saw that it read like a walk through my CV, and he explained why that misses the point. An introduction is not a list of achievements; it is a bridge to the interviewer's next question, something they will want to explore. He was just as clear about what already worked, which told me exactly what to keep and what to rebuild. He then pushed me on the question that matters most for a career changer: why. My turn into finance was too abrupt, and he challenged me to explain the emotional reason behind it, not just the credentials. He also made sure I was ready for the question every interviewer will ask, which is why a successful scientist would leave the lab for equity research. That one conversation reshaped my whole narrative. Craig was equally sharp on my behavioural stories. He saw that a story I had filed under strengths was really about teamwork and leadership, and he put into words something I had never articulated myself: that my greatest strength is my ability to connect people. When my ethics story missed the mark, he told me so plainly and explained what interviewers are really testing for, a genuine dilemma where doing the right thing carries personal risk. What sets Craig apart is his combination of candour and generosity. He never softened feedback to the point of being unhelpful, yet every comment came with a clear path forward, and I always felt he was invested in my success. He listens closely, hears what a story is really saying, and knows exactly how an interviewer will hear it. I left our session with much sharper answers and far more confidence. I would recommend Craig without hesitation to anyone preparing for interviews, especially those making a career transition. Thank you again, Craig.”

Class of '26 Oct 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Equity Research Full Resume Review

“Markus was incredibly helpful with the CV review, he started off looking at my CV and gave me a detailed list of questions, really trying to understand the candidate before making the CV. He made all the refinements himself and never took more than 24 hours in between correspondence. He also gave me a detailed list of all actions he had taken and why to help explain his reasoning before I could even pushback, which made the process convenient. Overall had an incredibly positive and pleasant time.”

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3 Comments

AntiKobe

ER

6y

I came from MM commercial banking. Had MBA and finished CFA, and went through boutique IB to get to European BB ER. Talked to a LOT of people.

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Authored by: Certified Equity Research Professional - Vice PresidentCertified Equity Research Pro

rich_toad

AM

6y

Totally doable. AntiKobe is right - talk to a lot of people. But make sure you got "product" (pitches) to sell. It's sell-side ER after all. Know your pitches cold - well, the sales people will grill you on morning call too. It's all pre-assessing whether you got the basic sell-side ER skills.

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Authored by: Certified Asset Management Professional - Research AnalystCertified Asset Management Pro

Deter6895

ER

6y

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Authored by: Certified Equity Research Professional - Vice PresidentCertified Equity Research Pro

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Breaking into ER from commercial banking

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Breaking into ER from commercial banking

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