Hey Everyone

Hey everyone,

A soon-to-graduate here. I recently wrapped up an investment banking summer analyst internship at a boutique IB firm in the Corporate Finance Division, where I had the incredible opportunity to work on three M&A deals with valuations exceeding $500 million. Witnessing the intricacies of deal-making firsthand ignited my passion for the world of high finance, and I'm now determined to land another summer intern position in the M&A division.

However, the transition from corporate finance to M&A can be daunting. That's where you, the amazing WSO community, come in! I'm eager to learn from your experiences, insights, and any war stories you're willing to share.

Specifically, I'm curious about:

  • The biggest challenges junior bankers face in today's market.
  • Tips for developing and showcasing the skill set needed for success in M&A.
  • Resources or recommendations for someone like me aiming to break into the industry.

Beyond knowledge, I'm also actively seeking mentorship and connections with experienced professionals. If you're willing to chat or share your career journey, I'd be incredibly grateful.

Let's crack the investment banking code together! Hit me up with your thoughts, advice, or even just a friendly hello.

Thanks

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

First of all, I would suggest striking your name from this post or any other posts on this website. There’s very little to gain from it and a lot to lose depending on what else you may post about in the future.

Second, you sound really smart, which is great, and you have a lot of passion and eagerness, but being overly eager is potentially the biggest obstacle you’ll face. 

What you have to understand is that in most workplaces, 90-95% of your people are not that eager to do anything. They come in a few minutes late, leave a few minutes early, and are doing the minimum to hang on to their jobs and cash checks. They draw breath and a paycheck. The issue for you is that many of these people will actively loathe you if they perceive you as being too eager, which is not a good thing for interviewing success.

The good news is twofold. #1 is that this kind of thing gets better with age as some of the novelty of the industry wears off with you. #2 is that eager people tend to have really successful careers overall, as they love what they do and want their bosses to succeed, which bosses appreciate.

I think that’s the best advice I can give in this case, because your intensity and eagerness shows through in your writing.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, mate. And, yeah I removed my name from the post. I'm new here (created this account today), so I wasn't aware of these things 😅.

But, if people don't share things about themselves here, then how do they make connections? I have seen a lot of genuine posts (lying in the green zone), posted by anonymous people.

 

 

Animi dolorem in qui tempore voluptatibus et. Doloribus omnis doloremque iste nemo ducimus enim reprehenderit. Id at sit earum corporis eveniet maxime quis.

Dignissimos fugiat esse ducimus minus sed. Sed consequatur veniam voluptatibus voluptas voluptatum. Numquam laudantium nihil voluptatibus aut itaque eum consequuntur eum. Consequatur saepe quis quasi quis.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 11 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”