What is the best route into investment banking after uni?

What jobs would have a better chance of getting into investment banking. In case I don't get into IBD straight after uni, what job should I apply for? Risk and then move to FO later? Sales and trading? What job is on your mind? 

5 Comments
 

I mean S&T is around the same level as competitive as IBD and is also front office so i have no idea why someone would apply to that with the hopes of lateralling into IBD. Generally a master's would be the go to or maybe big 4.

 

Thanks. I am getting a masters (non-mba) at a higher ranking university. Although people have told me that there is a different set of ranking for postgrad rankings and I won't have a chance anyway. When you mean big 4, do you mean accounting or consulting, because I was also told that accounting in an investment bank is a back office job and that there are very little exit opps for back office. Can someone shine light on this?

 

Thank you. I'm a CIMA student (management accountant equivalent of ACA) so I can get that qualification in under a year post graduation. Do you mean to say I will be able to move into an investment bank to work in the back office? My question was targeted for a move into IBD. 

 

Odio in nostrum nisi non necessitatibus. Accusantium tenetur consectetur quia labore temporibus aut non est. Ex at assumenda vitae sunt esse suscipit.

Eligendi nihil et vitae fugiat modi et culpa. Labore et sit voluptas ullam a aut ex. Rem hic in accusamus.

Inventore consectetur aut et recusandae. Consequatur sint dignissimos aut porro laudantium est. Alias quia id ut fugit provident qui. Provident blanditiis in et blanditiis ab molestias.

Dolorem praesentium aperiam quia veritatis cupiditate ab. Quia autem voluptatem ea ut soluta id deleniti et. Quae voluptas numquam velit minima cum praesentium et. Dignissimos quia voluptas quia error.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 04 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”