3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK
TO IB
PROVEN “3-STEP FRAMEWORK” TO GET YOU CLOSER TO YOUR DREAM
BANKING ROLE
FOR THOSE THAT:
HAVE NO PRIOR BANKING EXPERIENCE
&
HAVE NO CONNECTIONS IN THE INDUSTRY
THE “AWN” FRAMEWORK:
A = ACQUIRE Your First Relevant "Finance" Experience:
Dive into internships or entry-level positions that provide exposure to finance
Focus on roles that build foundational skills and knowledge in the finance industry
Seek opportunities to work with financial data, analysis, or related tasks
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 1
W = WORK On Your Story & Background:
Craft a compelling narrative about your professional journey, emphasizing key
milestones
Develop a 1-2 minute response to common interview questions, highlighting
relevant experiences
Ensure your story includes key elements: The Beginning, that “Spark” for Finance,
Growing Interest, and Future Goals
N = NETWORK Your Way into Investment Banking Jobs:
Establish connections with professionals in the investment banking industry
Leverage informational interviews, networking events, and online platforms to build
a network
Showcase your passion for finance and express genuine interest in learning from
seasoned professionals
Use your developed story to make a memorable impression during networking
interactions
In summary, this framework guides you to acquire initial finance experience, work on
your personal narrative, and strategically network to increase your chances of entering
the prestigious world of investment banking and capital markets
My dear readers! Before you go any further, I do want to highlight that as in life, nothing
is guaranteed but what this will do is significantly improve your chance of getting that
Dream Banking Job
You have to keep at it, and do it consistently
As the experts say it, it WILL increase the surface area of your luck!
KEEP READING..As I dig deeper into this
A = ACQUIRE Your First Relevant “Finance” Experience
Its actually quite simple, as humans we tend to overcomplicate this
As an analogy, if you want to play a sport at the national or international level, can you
just show up and expect to a spot at Olympics? Obviously NO! So, why do we expect
this to be any different in real life ?
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 2
As in sports, you need to graduate through the state /provincial levels. Yet somehow, we
think that we will in one shot go from being a nobody in the Finance world to a top bulge
bracket bank.
Breaking into a top-tier investment bank demands more than wishful thinking. You need
to go through some intermediate steps in your pursuit of that dream banking gig
Without relevant finance experience, you're hitting a dead end. That's where the game-
changing 'stepping stone' roles come into play, turbocharging your profile and unlocking
the doors to your coveted destination
Regardless of where you are currently, you are not going to break into a top tier
investment bank if you have no relevant finance type experience. You need what I call
them as “stepping stone” roles that will help improve your profile, explain why you want
to work at an investment bank
Stepping Stone roles could be as follows:
1. Any prior Commercial Banking or Wealth Management roles / internships
2. Any finance / accounting related internship
3. Any finance project or consulting work
4. Get creative: Any prior Treasury / Finance work at another company
(pharmaceuticals
5. Are you in any roles that directly / indirectly support Treasury/Finance roles
6. Start an investment club, and invest in markets to showcase your interest in finance!
Start small, be consistent. Form a small cohesive group of like-minded
friends/acquaintances
7. Consulting
8. Accounting
How do you land your first role ?
Whether you are a top tier college or not, you will have to lean on your college network
(alumni, professors, friends, relatives, their friends) to find this first “stepping stone” role
(something that could get you on that Finance track)
The sooner you start the better it is!
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 3
Paid / Unpaid / Part-time / Virtual / Full time – Start with something and do this diligently
over few months.
Don’t be too focused on the compensation or salary. That will come and will come big
time! Be Patient
Here is a big NO:
Not doing Anything, AND “Analysis Paralysis” are some of the WORST decisions you
could find yourself in…I have been guilty myself. So trust me on this
“THE BANKING SPIN”:
What happens if you can’t find anything that’s not directly related to the
banking/financial roles/profiles?
This took me months to figure, and I will give this away for FREE!
With the right thinking and some creativity, almost every role can be shown to be
relevant for your future Banking / Finance / Capital Markets employers
HOW ?
Below are some example profiles that shows how you could connect the dots from your
current role to how they set you nicely for that Banking job:
Technology Analyst or Product Manager: Gain experience in the technology sector
as an analyst or product manager. This will provide exposure to the intersection of
finance and technology, a growing area of interest for many investment banks as
they embrace fintech solutions
Entrepreneur or Start-up Founder: Start your own business or join a start-up.
Entrepreneurial experience demonstrates initiative, risk-taking, and a deep
understanding of business operations—all valuable qualities in investment banking
Data Scientist or Quantitative Analyst: Develop skills in data science or quantitative
analysis. As investment banks increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making,
having a background in analytics and quantitative methods can be a unique asset
Real Estate Analyst or Developer: Work in real estate analysis or development.
Real estate transactions involve complex financial modeling and deal structuring,
skills that are transferable to investment banking
Nonprofit Finance or Impact Investing: Join a nonprofit organization or work in
impact investing. This demonstrates a commitment to social responsibility and an
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 4
understanding of finance in different contexts, which can be appealing to investment
banks with a focus on sustainable finance
Film or Sports Finance: Pursue roles related to finance in the entertainment or
sports industry. This may involve financial analysis for film productions, sports
teams, or talent agencies. Such experiences can showcase creativity, deal-making,
and financial acumen
Government Policy Analyst: Work in government or policy analysis, especially in
areas related to finance and economics. Understanding the regulatory landscape
and its impact on financial markets can be valuable for investment banking roles
Supply Chain or Logistics Analyst: Gain experience in supply chain or logistics,
focusing on optimizing operations and reducing costs. This unconventional
background can demonstrate your ability to analyze and improve efficiency, which is
crucial in investment banking
Economic Researcher for Think Tanks: Join a think tank as an economic
researcher. This role can involve in-depth analysis of economic trends and policy
implications, showcasing your ability to understand and interpret macroeconomic
factors
Renewable Energy Analyst: Work in the renewable energy sector, focusing on
financial analysis and project management. With the growing emphasis on
sustainable finance, experiences in renewable energy can be relevant and unique
Creative Arts Financing Specialist: Work in a role that involves financing for creative
projects, such as films, music, or art installations. This unique path can showcase
your ability to manage complex financial structures and negotiate deals
Fashion Industry Financial Analyst: Specialize in financial analysis within the
fashion industry. This could involve budgeting for fashion shows, managing
collaborations, or assessing the financial viability of fashion ventures
Culinary Finance Manager: Work in finance within the culinary world, managing
budgets for restaurants, catering services, or food-related events. This unique
experience can demonstrate your ability to handle financial intricacies in diverse
industries
Space Industry Investment Analyst: Explore opportunities in the emerging space
industry. This might involve assessing financial viability for space-related startups,
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 5
evaluating space tourism projects, or analyzing investments in satellite technology
Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) Finance Specialist: Dive into the
finance side of virtual and augmented reality. This could include financial analysis
for VR/AR companies, evaluating investment opportunities in immersive
technologies, or participating in the growing metaverse economy
Environmental and Conservation Finance Analyst: Work in finance roles focused on
environmental conservation. This could involve assessing financial strategies for
sustainable initiatives, managing investments in green technologies, or analyzing
the financial impact of conservation projects
Gaming Industry Financial Planner: Explore financial roles within the gaming
industry. This might include budgeting for game development projects, analyzing the
financial performance of gaming companies, or participating in the esports finance
sector
Humanitarian Finance Coordinator: Combine finance with social impact by working
in roles that coordinate financial efforts for humanitarian organizations. This could
involve managing budgets for disaster relief, analyzing funding structures for NGOs,
or assessing the financial impact of social initiatives
As you can see the possibilities are endless. Practically any background or work
experience has a path forward towards the world of banking and high finance. You need
to be able to work on it and aim to connect the dots
Pro Tips For Choosing your First Work Experience:
When in doubt chose a brand (even if it’s a non -finance gig). Say McKinsey or a
Fortune 500 company. It may help you stand out while interviewing / networking
In any non-finance role, try to get on projects that lets you work or interact with
Finance/Accounting groups
I was a product manager, and I managed to work with investor relations for a tech
company that was exploring IPO – this turned out to be instrumental in landing my
first banking gig!
Try working in groups that work directly / indirectly with banks. You just never know
If nothing works, try some type of Sales role (in Finance) ideally in a large financial
centre: You will learn a lot more than just sitting behind a computer and working on
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 6
that large excel file
W = WORK On Your Story & Background
Usually, this is a version of tell me about yourself and why banking? So work on your
story and background, and why banking or whatever finance roles that you’re targetting
As simple as that. Technical skills are important, but having clarity on what you want
being able to explain this succinctly will almost certainly make you stand out!
I have seen over the years that this is the question where a lot of candidates continue to
falter
You cannot grow a tree in one day, right?
The same thinking applies here
This is a fundamental point - you have to give this time, build a background and story
around your deep rooted interest in Finance and Banking. Strong genuine passion will
overcome any other flaws in your background or profile. TRUST ME !
Unlike technical skills this will take its own time to evolve
You will really need to convince the person (in short few minutes) you are talking to
believe your story.
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 7
Once armed with some type of right experience, craft your narrative – less than 2
minute power-packed response to the pivotal "Tell me about yourself" or "Walk me
through your resume" query.
This isn't just any question; it's also your networking ammunition with bankers
Interview version should go something like this:
Finance interest. What was that spark that got you there?
What did you do about it – internship, work experience, finance/accounting etc
student club. Relevant modeling/technical course. You could also support all of this
by showing credentials such as Level 2 CFA candidacy or if you are a CA ?
How and why this role that you are interviewing for is the right next step for your
career?
Some Real Life Examples:
“I worked in the credit department of {XYZ} bank during my summer internship, and I am
now looking to apply my financial analysis skills to larger more complex deals”
“I interned at a “Pharma” company that was looking to go public. I assisted the internal
teams to produce long term projections for each of the business lines that was relied
upon by Financial Advisor (from ABC bank). I got really interested in what [ABC] bank
does and am looking to build my career in this space”
While pursuing my Arts degree, “I participated in a couple of trading competitions in my
first year. At one of the events I came in 1st by analyzing automotive industry and
recommended a stock that went up ~21%”
“I worked at a non-profit in their fund raising group. I saw how important access to
capital is to the betterment of our communities. This has motivated me to work in the
capital markets division at your bank so that I have access to formal development
opportunities”
Prepare both a comprehensive "full version" and a concise "short version" that
encapsulates The Beginning, the Finance "Spark," Growing Interest, and Your Present
and Future. Ensure your drafts align with our examples to obliterate any uncertainties
Pro Tip:
Try not to be too personal about family, friends. Nobody is interested! It may actually
hurt your chances
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 8
Stick with relevant experiences: no point mentioning summer job at McDonalds or that
you didn’t do anything, simply because its not relevant (despite a lot of us having
slacked during our school / college days)
If you have had a unique skill, use this to your advantage. Say you are Math quant
person, and you are interviewing for Trading role(s) that deals with Options and other
exotic hedging products. Draw the connection and make a pitch for how your
background will be a nice fit for these types of roles
Try adding some uniqueness to your background and bring it up during your interviews.
For eg. if you were a national level swimmer, use this to your advantage. Shows you are
disciplined and have the courage to do what it takes. No different than preforming under
pressure in high stakes world of banking!
And By the way:
A top notch relevant internship will compensate for a no-name school / low GPA
N = NETWORK your way into Investment Banking jobs
Let me share a powerful truth with you: regardless of your global coordinates.
Networking is the ultimate pathway to unlocking banking opportunities—or any dream
you chase in life. Sadly, many of us overlook this, failing to consciously dedicate time to
it. It doesn't happen naturally; we're often too engrossed in social media scrolling,
missing out on connecting with the real people who can shape our desired fields
Network is more than a job search
Finding job in banking – believe it not, what I have realized is often a byproduct of
networking
The misconception that effective networking requires a natural flair for schmoozing can
be quite misleading. While some individuals excel in social situations, not all great
networkers rely on charm and charisma alone. In fact, successful networking often
transcends superficial interactions and depends on a combination of authenticity, some
strategic thinking, and genuine relationship-building
And this is one of the things that truly takes some time to build, but the rewards are
exponential in the long run!
No matter the college or what background you come from, Networking is the arbitrage
that could put your career on a different trajectory! This will serve you extremely well for
the first and next very many jobs or whatever ventures you decide to pursue in life. But
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 9
first, you need to be able to build come good connections, find ways to add value and
you will be rewarded!
So in this case, if you could speak with 10+ finance professionals, your chances of
winning interviews and jobs will increase significantly
Remember though that as with other things there are no certainties in life; only
probabilities.
Better yet, engaging in conversations with folks in the banking and finance realm can
illuminate the path to discovering your authentic interests. It's a journey where you
discern whether you're pursuing something genuinely aligned with your passion or
merely succumbing to external pressures—be it the sway of friends, family, or the
cinematic world
Networking works especially well if you have a longer timeframes (6+ months for eg.)
Even if you have little time, trying this out does not hurt, you just have to be more direct
and have some relevant background (see above) for a stranger to make time for you!
Networking in its simplest form can be reduced to the following:
Reaching out to people for informational interviews. Key is to do some research, be
prepared, and have some genuine curiosity about the industry
Cold emailing or Cold calling to people especially if you have some relevant banking
experience and are short on time. Depending on the geography, this tends to work
better for regional or boutique finance shops
SAMPLE COLD EMAIL SCRIPTS :
Scenario 1: Reaching out to a College/University Alumni who works in Banking
Email Subject: Introduction: [Stamford] Student Reaching out
Dear Ms. Williamson,
My name is Rahul, and I am a MBA Finance student at Stamford University. I came
across your name online while looking for alumni in the capital markets.
I've become interested in capital markets as a career path, and have been trying to
learn as much as possible ever since. I have already spoken with over 5 professionals
in the field, but would be particularly interested in hearing your perspective on the
industry given your years of experience in this industry.
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 10
I know you're extremely busy and place tremendous value on your time, but if you have
any free time in next week I would like to speak with you briefly to ask a few questions
on your career path. I am generally available on weekdays between 12-2pm, and after
5pm.
Thanks in advance and I hope we have a chance to connect in coming days.
Sincerely,
Sid Kumar
Scenario 2: Summer Internship and Reaching out for a full time Role
Email Subject: Introduction: Summer Intern [ZQA Advisory]
Hi [John]:
My name is Rahul and I’m currently working as a Summer Intern at ZQA Advisory
covering energy and power space. I came across your contact profile online and I’m
reaching out to you regarding the role of full time Associate at [SER] Bank
I have already applied for this role and I understand that its SER's prerogative to select
resumes for any consideration, but i just wanted to reach out to you and see if you could
just spend a minute on my resume (please see attachment). I’m confident that you will
see my skills and experiences a good match to the requirements of this position.
Alternatively, i understand if this position has already been filled and so would be happy
to speak with you on the phone during weekdays? I saw you have a solid background in
this space and would very much like to connect with you and learn more about your
career path. I understand if your schedule is tight, but I just wanted to ask anyway – I
would appreciate any insights you could share with me for a few minutes over the
phone
Thanks in anticipation for your time and hope we have a chance to connect.
Best,
Greg Harold
Scenario 3: Making an “Ask” after meeting up earlier
Email Subject: Recruiting Follow-Up – [ABC University] Student
Hi Rafael- Thanks again for speaking with me last month regarding your experience in
equity research at GRI Capital
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 11
With recruiting season starting up in a few weeks, I just wanted to reiterate my interest
in your firm and see how I could best position myself for an interview.
Thanks,
Mira
HOW TO ENGAGE IN A “NETWORKING” CONVERSATION ?
Let’s face it – Often people in general do not have a lot of spare time and have a short
attention span these days.
So, here is a high-level simple approach – it will make your life and job search simple
and effective
Keep it to 15-20 mins and cover the following:
1) Background and story. Find common ground that connects, whether it's your city,
school, college, interests, sports, or even the weather (hello, Sweden!) or traffic (hey,
Delhi!). Building some genuine connection is key
2) Their current work profile / day to day work
3) Share Your Background: Let them know where you're coming. Depending on your
situation, don't hesitate to make the ASK! Be clear about what you're looking for and
how they can help
4) Ask for referral to 2-3 more people in their network in Banking/Finance/Capital
Markets
5) Keep in Touch: Again, less is more.
Occasionally reach out to stay on their radar, but avoid bombarding them with multiple
emails and multiple asks
Next Steps?
Discovering someone, reaching out, and engaging in conversation is just the beginning
of the journey. The true victory lies in the follow-up — weaving connections, securing
recommendations, submitting your resume, or earning referrals. Without these steps, it's
not just a lost opportunity; it's a chance left untapped. Turn each interaction into a
stepping stone toward your goals; let persistence be the key that unlocks doors to that
dream banking career!
SIDE NOTE:
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 12
Look at the following TWO scenarios:
Scenario 1: Meet Alex, a determined individual who, despite having attended multiple
interviews without a concrete offer, doesn't let the number discourage them. Alex
understands that the journey to success is not solely measured by the quantity of
interviews but by the quality of the opportunities seized. Instead of fixating on the tally of
job offers, Alex focuses on being prepared for that one golden chance.
Scenario 2: On the other hand, there's Nina, who, amidst a handful of offers, embraces
the wisdom of the advice. She realizes that in the end, she can only accept and pursue
one job. Rather than getting caught up in the excitement of multiple options, Emily takes
the time to carefully evaluate each opportunity. She knows that the key to success is not
just landing a job but selecting the right one that aligns with her long-term goals and
aspirations.
Idea being:
Would you rather have 5 interviews and 0 job offers, or 1 interview and 1 offer?
Remember – Every interaction (planned or otherwise) is a chance to unlock something
in your life.
Our “Network” is our “Net Worth”.
Even after your first full time banking role, you future career opportunities could very
well be influenced by who you know!
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
Trust me, just as with life, it will be quite random. Some things will work, others will not.
You will face dejections, even feel embarrassed. People will question everything about
you and your capabilities
Idea is to find that ONE ROLE and that will provide you the escape velocity to your long-
term success in Banking!
Upwards and Onwards! My friend
Rahul Singh
https://boundlessbanker.com/
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 13
3 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK TO IB 14
