Breaking into investment banking after completing your MBA can be one of the most rewarding — and demanding — career moves you can make. With high earning potential, prestige, and the chance to work on major financial deals, it's no wonder MBA grads are eager to enter this elite world. But here’s the real question: How to get started in investment banking after MBA?

This guide lays out the roadmap to help you launch your career in investment banking post-MBA, even if you’re starting from scratch.

Why Choose Investment Banking After MBA?

Before we dive into the how, let’s talk about the why.

Investment banking offers:

• High compensation: First-year associate salaries often exceed $150,000, with bonuses that can double that number.

• Exposure to high-stakes deals: Mergers, acquisitions, IPOs — you’ll work on some of the biggest financial transactions in the business world.

• Powerful network: You’ll be surrounded by driven professionals and alumni who often go on to C-suite roles or start their own funds.

An MBA is one of the most direct pipelines into these roles — especially if you know how to leverage it right.

Step 1: Choose the Right MBA Program

When thinking about how to get started in investment banking after MBA, your choice of program can make or break your chances.

Target schools that are known as “feeder schools” for investment banks. These include:

• Harvard Business School

• Wharton (UPenn)

• Booth (University of Chicago)

• Columbia Business School

• Stern (NYU)

These schools have strong alumni networks, on-campus recruiting relationships with top banks (like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Morgan Stanley), and rigorous finance-focused coursework.

If you’re already in an MBA program, check where recent graduates landed jobs. That’ll give you a sense of the program’s banking placement strength.

Step 2: Take Investment Banking-Relevant Courses

You don’t need to be a financial modeling wizard on day one, but you should build your technical foundation. Focus on:

• Corporate finance

• Valuation

• Accounting

• Financial modeling

• M&A strategy

Many top MBA programs offer “Investment Banking Bootcamps” or prep sessions led by alumni or career services. Don’t skip these — they’re gold for resume prep and interview practice.

Step 3: Network Early and Often

When exploring how to get started in investment banking after MBA, never underestimate the power of networking.

Start networking in year one — ideally during the first semester. Here’s how:

• Attend company presentations: IB firms often host on-campus events.

• Reach out to alumni: Use LinkedIn or your school’s alumni database to find bankers at your target firms.

• Set up informational interviews: These 15–30 minute chats can turn into internship referrals or interview tips.

Tip: Always come prepared with questions and never directly ask for a job. Build genuine connections.

Step 4: Secure a Summer Internship

In investment banking, the summer internship between the first and second year is everything.

Why? Because the majority of full-time associate offers come from these internships. If you want to land a post-MBA IB job, you must get a summer internship at a reputable bank.

How to prepare:

• Sharpen your technical skills

• Practice 30-40 mock interviews

• Study common behavioral and technical questions (ex: “Walk me through a DCF” or “Tell me about a time you worked under pressure”)

Banks typically recruit for internships as early as November — so be ready before winter break.

Step 5: Nail the Interviews

Interviewing for investment banking is a combination of stamina and strategy. You’ll face:

• Behavioral interviews: To assess fit, leadership, and work ethic

• Technical interviews: Covering valuation, accounting, and Excel modeling

• Case studies or modeling tests: Particularly for boutique banks or later rounds

Pro tip: Master your “story.” Be able to explain why you’re transitioning into IB, how your background supports this, and what your long-term goals are — all in under 90 seconds.

Step 6: Get the Full-Time Offer

Assuming you perform well in your internship — work long hours, stay sharp, and make a good impression — you’ll likely receive a full-time offer before the second year of your MBA ends.

But what if you don’t?

No worries — there are still off-cycle roles, boutique firms, and lateral opportunities. Keep networking, consider a delayed start, or even explore adjacent fields like corporate finance or private equity.

Step 7: Keep Learning (Even After You Land the Job)

Once you're in, the learning curve continues.

• Stay sharp on Excel, PowerPoint, and financial modeling.

• Follow market news daily — The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg.

• Keep networking — the relationships you build in your first few years will be crucial if you pivot into PE, hedge funds, or startups later on.

Final Thoughts

So, how to get started in investment banking after MBA? It starts with the right school, the right mindset, and relentless preparation. Remember, investment banking isn’t just about numbers — it’s about storytelling, endurance, and building trust with clients and colleagues under pressure.

If you’re passionate about finance and willing to put in the work, investment banking can be one of the most rewarding career paths out there.