Advise on Lateraling into IB (Currently an incoming CB Analyst)

Hi everyone,

I’m currently an incoming corporate banking analyst at a bank with a strong presence in EMEA and APAC. However, I will be working in their U.S. office, where there is less presence. My long-term goal is to lateral into investment banking in the U.S., ideally into a coverage group like TMT or Consumer, or into M&A.

The reality is that my corporate banking role will involve little to no modeling—mostly administrative and relationship work that helps the bank maintain client accounts. I know this isn't the ideal setup for a transition into IB, so I'm looking for advice.

Has anyone successfully made this move? Would love to hear how you positioned yourself, what you focused on learning, and any tips on networking.

For context: I interned in private equity and asset management during undergrad, recruited for IB (SA and FT) but wasn’t able to land an offer.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!