Is Investment banking a viable career option? And what other finance roles are on the same level?

My dream would be to go into investment banking, but I'm not sure if it’s a possible career. I have an offer to study Economics, Statistics, and Finance at UCL, which is a target school for IB. But after looking at some statistics, the chances of getting into spring weeks, let alone an internship, are very low. And that knowing someone is very important in getting a job. As well as job security is very low, and you can get fired at any point. 

Basically, I applied for this course in the hope of getting into IB for the high pay, but now I’m kinda regretting it after finding there is a limited roles. What other career options are open with a degree like this that are on the same level in IB?

6 Comments
 
Funniest

i) Correct. IB is the only job you can be fired from at any point, all other industries need to keep you there for a minimum of 5 years before letting someone go. Maybe 6 after Brexit, I haven’t checked lately. 

ii) If your “dream” is to go IB, and because competition is high you’re already giving up, then you deserve to be mediocre for the rest of your life. 

iii) You have at least 3 years of undergrad and potentially another year for Masters. If after 4 years applying and genuinely trying to improve a little bit everyday, thinking about where you went wrong when you get rejected, learning technicals, reaching out to people and building network, doing extracurriculars, having good grades etc. you haven’t gotten a single offer. Then again, you’re right and should work for Tesco for the rest of your life as a cashier. 

 

Provident et voluptas animi ut reprehenderit nobis consequatur. Maxime quia impedit dolores velit.

Blanditiis ut sit totam facilis sit et. Aut vero non ut optio error illo eius.

Rem temporibus eos labore fuga quis dolore. Tempore esse ea doloribus. Dolores numquam fuga maiores.

Perspiciatis sit eos vero optio sapiente. Ut alias iure necessitatibus aut tenetur fugiat rerum. Maiores eum et assumenda. Nesciunt accusantium libero dolores quis iusto labore incidunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”