MBA associates in IB

Hello,

I’ve recently been admitted to a top 20 MBA program in the US, and I’m very interested in pursuing a career in Investment Banking (IB). As an international student, I have previous experience in tech consulting, and I hold a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a Master's degree in Economics.

Could you offer any advice or tips on how I can best prepare for an IB role?

Thank you,
NewbieZ

7 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some detailed tips and advice to help you prepare for an Investment Banking (IB) role as an MBA associate:

  1. Pre-MBA Preparation:

    • Networking: Start reaching out to alumni and professionals in the IB industry. Building a strong network is crucial. Attend industry events, join relevant clubs, and leverage LinkedIn to connect with people in the field.
    • Resume Polishing: Highlight any relevant experience, such as advising clients, leading projects, or any financial modeling skills. Make sure your resume is in the format preferred by your MBA program.
    • Study Guides: Go through the Breaking into Wall Street (BiWS) guides to familiarize yourself with technical content and behavioral questions. This will help you get a head start on the rigorous recruiting process.
  2. During MBA:

    • Coursework: Take finance-related courses to build a strong foundation. Courses in financial modeling, valuation, and corporate finance will be particularly useful.
    • Internships: Aim for a summer associate role at an investment bank. This experience is invaluable and often leads to full-time offers.
    • Clubs and Competitions: Join finance or investment banking clubs at your school. Participate in case competitions to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.
  3. Interview Preparation:

    • Technical Skills: Ensure you are well-versed in financial modeling, valuation techniques, and accounting principles. Practice with resources like the WSO Investment Banking Interview Prep.
    • Behavioral Questions: Prepare for common behavioral questions by reflecting on your past experiences. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your answers.
    • Mock Interviews: Conduct mock interviews with peers or professionals to get feedback and improve your performance.
  4. Additional Resources:

    • Books and Online Courses: Read books on investment banking and finance. Consider online courses to further enhance your skills.
    • WSO Forums: Engage with the WSO community to gain insights and advice from others who have successfully transitioned into IB.

By following these steps, you can effectively prepare for a career in Investment Banking and increase your chances of securing a role as an MBA associate. Good luck!

Sources: Just got an IB offer, how do I prepare?, What to do Pre-MBA to prepare for IB recruiting, Prepping for an MBA Career switch into IB, How should I prepare to be a good intern?, Networking 101 – 8 tips from a “non-target” school student

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

As an MBA associate your goal is to be as incompetent as possible - so practice deleting the master file for any group work you are doing, taking absurd amounts of time to complete your work (ensure it is riddled with errors), and always blame those around you for everything that goes wrong!

 

That's the spirit! You should want to get that response to everything you send as a finished product to group mates and colleagues.

 

If you’re interested in IB via the MBA path make sure you are well prepared on technicals/behaviourals the moment you step foot on campus. IB recruitment will run from Sept to November with offers coming out near the end of Q4/Early Q1. Make sure you know what coverage space you want to do, DO NOT spread out across different coverage spaces at different banks (they all talk, and they’ll find it weird if you chase Healthcare at Wells Fargo and then Tech at another bank). Id recommend tying your pre MBA industry coverage space in consulting to the IB coverage spaces, it’ll help with your story.

Lastly, make sure you provide a good impression with the on campus Investment banking clubs and second years. They’re essentially the gatekeepers on who gets interviews so make sure you provide a good impression.

What school did you get into?

 

Non quia quisquam eligendi sit ut aut tenetur. Velit incidunt repellendus sit aspernatur voluptatem dolor. Voluptatem id iste debitis ad. Rerum qui et quisquam.

Aliquid molestias voluptates rem. Quia aperiam hic deleniti quia. Temporibus est ad iure totam unde sunt esse. Neque aut molestiae deserunt esse voluptate enim.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • 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 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (71) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”