Newbie here: What is investment banking and what is the work typically like?

Hi all,

I'm new to WSO and wanted to ask a few basic questions about IB. I'm just discovering that I have a profound interest in business and would like to know more about certain aspects.

Could anyone here give me a brief layman description of investment banking?

What are the typical positions and kinds of work involved?

How prevalent will exit opportunities in IB be after doing consulting with McKinsey for 2 or 3 years?

If I wanted to do IB in Asia, what would be the best starting path to do so after working with a consulting firm such as McKinsey?

P.S. A little about myself -- I will be starting medical school next year in the fall and have an interest in pursuing an MBA as well. After coming along this path for some time I realized that my passion for travel cannot be ignored in order to go into a clinical specialty of medicine at this point in my life. I've been increasingly interested in exploring other paths in business and later returning to medicine when I am much older. From what I've gathered, starting my business career by working as a consultant may prove to be a valuable experience especially with a prestigious firm. Also, I have a large interest in doing work in Asia in general (I speak some Korean) and I am African-American (I only mention this to get possible feedback on being an expat in Asia). Thanks in advance for helping a newbie out!

 

You're one of the oddest person I've heard of lol. No offence though just saying you're unique. You're african american but you speak a bit a korean and you want to work in asian. Additionally, you're in med (I'm not racist or anything but it's very rare for black people to be in medicine) but also, you want to downgrade medicine to business (in terms of prestige). Very, very odd...

I'm here to learn about IB as well so I can't really comment/help you with your question but I just wanted to point that out lolol

 
DJ_Jules:
You're one of the oddest person I've heard of lol.
I'm trying to decide if this person is reverse trolling the troll OP or......
Currently: future neurologist, current psychotherapist Previously: investor relations (top consulting firm), M&A consulting (Big 4), M&A banking (MM)
 

Sure it may seem quite odd but it is what it is. I do plan on returning to medicine when I am much older, but right now as I am young I want the ability to travel around a bit and I won't be able to do that with a stationary patient base to take care of.

I've done a bit of looking into IB myself but I just wanted to hear what others had to say about it who have been in the field for a while or have been interested for a much longer period than I have.

 
Best Response

Your string of posts reminds me of a Seinfield episode where people are making fun of the tact that Jerry uses when he constructs his monolouges:

"Finiance. What's the deal with that? BTW, I want to be a doctor, but only outside the practice/hospital"

"Money. Where does it come from? I've seen some people with some, and some without. What gives?"

"Stocks. Are we still buying low and selling high?"

"Cooperate raiders and Robber Barrons. Where do I sign up?"

BTW, you are mixing your topics in your post. You want feedback on what it is like to be a consultant on the S&T thread.

 

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