How do you get started in investment banking?
What does a career look like in investment banking?
What is the main role of an investment banker?
How do investment banks manage financial risks?
How are investment banks different from your everyday commercial banks?
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Since you're probably new to the industry / this site, I'll play along, but there are plenty of posts on WSO and articles outside of WSO that can help you out.
How do you get started in investment banking? It's easiest to break in through internships. You'll have to recruit during ~January of your sophomore year to get an internship for your junior summer, so this requires lots of upfront networking, studying technical questions, interview prep, and polishing the resume during your freshman / first half of sophomore year. It helps to have internships already completed during your freshman year to set yourself apart from others during sophomore recruiting
What does a career look like in investment banking? Most (estimated >90%) don't stay in investment banking from entry level to senior level, but the progression is as follows: Analyst (2-3 years) > Associate (2-4 years) > Vice President (2-6 years) > Director (2-6 years) > Managing Director. Many people leave after their Analyst time and work in other finance roles like private equity, corporate development, or others. Generally as you move up, your role becomes more client facing such as generating new customers, leading the face-to-face interaction on a current project, facilitating relationships with existing clients (private equity firms) and pivots outside of execution work (making marketing materials for companies, making models, responding to diligence questions, etc.)
What is the main role of an investment banker? It depends what type of investment banking you're in (sell-side / buy-side M&A, equity & debt capital markets, restructuring), but it's mainly acting as an advisor to corporations and connecting companies with certain investors that are seeking to invest capital
How do investment banks manage financial risks? I think you're referring to more of the commercial banking side (ie lending)
How are investment banks different from your everyday commercial banks? There can be both (ie JP Morgan), but typically commercial banks lend money to companies and earn money on the interest payments and investment banks advise companies and earn fees based on this advice
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