Investment Banker

Follow the arrows. Every step is small and doable. You don't need to be from IIM or IIT you need proof you can do the work.

1. Week 1–2

   1. Understand the industry

   Learn what IB, PE, ER, FP&A and Risk actually do. Watch 3–4 explainer videos.

2. Week 3

   2. Pick one role to aim at

   Use the role cards below. Choose based on skills you enjoy, not just salary.

3. Month 2–4

   3. Build the core skills

   Excel + PowerPoint + accounting + a 3-statement model. This alone beats 80% of freshers.

4. Month 3–6

   4. Get one credential

   NISM XV / CFA Level 1 / a paid financial modelling course. Something the recruiter can verify.

5. Month 5–7

   5. Do 1–2 real projects

   A DCF on a listed company, an M&A pitch, or an equity report. Post it on LinkedIn.

6. Month 7–9

   6. Apply + network

   Target 30–50 firms. Message alumni. Practice guesstimates and behavioural questions.

7. Month 9+

   7. Land the offer

   Interviews focus on: Why finance? Walk me through a DCF. Tell me about a deal.

Forget the jargon for a minute. Here's the simplest way to picture what investment banking actually is.

Same roles as the detailed matrix below, but written the way a friend would explain over coffee. Use these cards to shortlist 1–2 roles you actually want to chase.

Want the deeper version real first-30-days tasks, mid-level salaries and hiring criteria? Scroll to the Role matrix below.

Industry reality check | Front-Office vs Offshore Analytics

Investment Banking in India operates on two very different levels. Both say 'IB' on the resume but the work, hours, pay, and career ceiling are completely different. Know which one you're actually applying to.

Pick a tier see the exact roles, pay & roadmap

Choose the company tier you can realistically target today. We'll filter down to the roles that hire from it, the fresher and experienced pay bands, the skills you need, and the roadmap to get there.

Role matrix pick the role that fits your life

Six realistic finance roles a fresher can target with what you'll actually do, hours, stress, salary bands and a concrete example project you'd own in your first year.

Find your starting point

Tell us your experience and interest. We'll show the realistic first role, what to learn, and what to do next.

Sub-sectors the same role, very different jobs

Company tiers from easy entry to the top 10

Every company hires for specific positions and profiles. Start where you can realistically land, and use it as a stepping stone up.

Spotlight targeted plan for J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

Two realistic entry tracks into the biggest name in the industry. Pick based on whether you want max pay & growth, or better work-life balance.

Master 9-month roadmap to land your target role

The exact plan a beginner can follow to go from zero to a real Tier-2 offer. Everything here is free or under ₹15k. No shortcuts, just execution.

First 30–60–90 day quick wins

Mistakes beginners make

• Chasing 'IB' as a label without knowing which sub-sector (M&A vs ECM vs DCM) fits you.
• Thinking a CFA alone opens IB doors it helps but modeling + network matter more.
• Ignoring boutiques and Big-4 TAS these are the realistic lateral paths for most people.
• Building only DCF models. Recruiters test LBO and merger models much more heavily.
• Applying cold with no informational chats. 70%+ of laterals happen via referrals.
• Trying to enter IB with 5+ years of unrelated experience without an MBA very low odds.

Curated references learn from the best

We deliberately don't rebuild what world-class creators already publish. Follow these to go deep.