how to start a career in investment bank with no prior knowledge or experience

What course should I take If I have no knowledge of finance? I do know what investment bank is but I am not sure about where to being because everything I see an online course they usually start with something like a DCF since I am not a finance or business major I do not know what that means. So, I am unsure on where to being?

3 Comments
 

If your school has an IB club, start attending their meetings and request access to their IB interview guides.

Most of these guides will begin with basic accounting / finance concepts and will also get into valuation methodologies including the DCF.

Also start networking with bankers to get a better feel of if you'd actually want to pursue a carrer in finance - its going to require a lot of work getting up to speed, but if you have a genuine passion for business / finance, you'll survive

 

Labore consequatur quis totam qui perspiciatis quibusdam. Et voluptatem eos cumque. Libero cum ea aut iure minima dolor. In maiores sequi ea ut maxime aut. Dolore doloribus similique suscipit expedita earum voluptatem.

Atque expedita officia asperiores eos. Dolor et ipsum minus culpa ipsa. Ut sequi quos quis qui cumque rerum corporis.

Optio consequuntur nesciunt alias dolore alias consequatur. Quia molestias rerum velit consequatur. Commodi voluptatem repellendus magni ut velit ipsum omnis qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 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

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”