Investment banking recruiters play a crucial role in hiring for investment banks. They act as gatekeepers, screening candidates and determining who gets interviews. The top recruiters to know are Oxbridge, SG Partners, and CPI. To impress them, you need to showcase your financial skills, modeling abilities, communication skills, and likability. It’s essential to practice reasoning tests beforehand and carefully craft your resume. Recruiters focus on candidates from top schools and bulge bracket banks. But those from smaller banks can still break in by targeting niche firms focused on specific industries.
The key investment banking recruiters candidates should know
The top investment banking recruiters that candidates need to know are Oxbridge, SG Partners, and CPI. Though firms like Glocap also recruit, the highest quality opportunities are through those three. So networking with and impressing those recruiters is essential, especially if you lack existing PE connections. They act as gatekeepers, screening candidates based on criteria like airport test performance, prior PE experience, and brand name banks on resumes.
What recruiters look for in investment banking candidates
Investment banking recruiters assess candidates on both soft skills and technical abilities. On the soft skills side, they look for likability, communication abilities, and relationship building potential. Someone who seems overly arrogant or abrasive likely won’t make the cut. Technical skills like financial modeling, accounting, Excel, PowerPoint, and technical interview performance also matter. Reasoning test scores play a big role as well, with firms even setting minimum score cutoffs.
How candidates can impress investment banking recruiters
To impress investment banking recruiters, candidates need to showcase a strong balance of technical and soft skills. On the technical side, practicing reasoning tests, financial modeling, and accounting is key. Highlighting deal experience and previous finance internships also helps. For soft skills, come across as likable, polished, and able to work with various personality types. Explain why you’re truly interested in that specific bank and role based on thorough research. Following up with recruiters via email or LinkedIn to express interest and gratitude can further boost your candidacy.
Who investment banking recruiters focus their efforts on
Investment banking recruiters devote most of their efforts towards candidates from target schools and those at bulge bracket banks. Top MBA programs also get attention. This makes breaking in quite difficult for those from smaller or middle market banks. The best approach then is targeting niche firms focused on specific industries where your experience stands out. You can also boost your chances by ensuring reasoning test scores are very high before applying.
Investment banking recruiters like Oxbridge, SG Partners and CPI have substantial influence in hiring. Candidates need to impress them by showcasing technical and soft skills. Recruiters favor target school graduates and bulge bracket bankers, but those from smaller firms can still break in by targeting niche areas.