Why is it so hard to get a job in investment banking?
The demand for coveted positions in investment banks consistently exceeds the available supply, making it a highly selective field. Statistics indicate that acceptance rates for top investment banks, such as JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, typically range between a mere 3% to 5%.
Investment banking is extremely competitive with way more applicants than available positions each year. You will often be up against students from Ivy League universities, with a high GPAs and multiple internships under their belts.
Investment banking is one of Wall Street's most coveted roles. It is also one of the hardest. It is no surprise that the average day in an investment banker's life is long and stressful. Those who manage to survive the adjustment period often go on to have long and financially rewarding careers.
Yes, GPA matters! Bulge bracket banks and almost all other investment banks will look at your GPA when applying for a job and you should include it in your resume. Typically banks screen resumes based on GPA and will often remove anyone below 3.5.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, jobs in the investment banking and securities dealing industry are growing faster than the average occupation, meaning that competition is fierce due to increased demand and a lack of skilled labor.
JP Morgan is renowned for its rigorous recruitment process, resulting in extremely low acceptance rates. According to industry data, the acceptance rate for entry-level positions at JP Morgan stands at approximately 3%. Out of every 100 applicants, only three individuals successfully secure a position within the firm.
Investment banks impose a high fee based on the amount of the offering (usually 2-8% of the total deal). They earn millions of dollars in commissions as a result. They are also paid for setting an appropriate price and assembling a solid network of enthusiastic investors about the company's long-term prospects.
Investment bankers typically earn salaries in the $200,000 to $700,000 range, with bonuses that can bring their total income up to several million dollars per year. To amass a million-dollar fortune, an investment banker would need to save and invest a large portion of their income over a period of many years.
How Many Hours do Investment Bankers Work? Investment bankers work notoriously long hours, with the typical work week filling in 60-80 hours per week, and the occasional high-intensity work week that can push a banker to 100+ hours.
| Position Title | Typical Age Range | Timeframe for Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | 25-35 | 3-4 years |
| Vice President (VP) | 28-40 | 3-4 years |
| Director / Senior Vice President (SVP) | 32-45 | 2-3 years |
| Managing Director (MD) | 35-50 | N/A |
What GPA does Goldman Sachs want?
Goldman Sachs does not give a specific minimum GPA requirement, though some sources suggest a GPA of at least 3.6 is preferred. Additionally, you may need to show relevant coursework and hard skills for certain programs.
Candidates must demonstrate academic strength – a minimum 3.2 GPA for juniors and a minimum 3.5 GPA for freshmen and sophomores, strong teamwork, communication skills and a high energy level.
It's true – top-tier investment banks recruit heavily from ivy league schools and other target schools. Big names such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan visit campuses to drum up interest in their internship programs and full-time entry-level positions.
Investment bankers have a compensation model that includes a base salary and all or some additional forms of compensation, including bonuses, commissions and profit-sharing. It's common for an investment banker's bonus to surpass their base pay, and in profitable times, they may earn over half a million dollars a year.
- University of Pennsylvania.
- Georgetown University.
- Harvard University.
- Columbia University.
- New York University.
- Cornell University.
- University of Notre Dame.
- University of Michigan.
For those seeking a career in investment banking, a bachelor's degree in finance is a prerequisite. Other potential acceptable majors include bachelors in economics or bachelors in business supplemented with a minor in finance.
Goldman Sachs is the premier investment bank in the world. With an acceptance rate of roughly 4%, it's harder to get into Goldman than it is to get into Harvard or Yale. Let me share how to get a job at Goldman Sachs from someone who did.
The average J.P. Morgan salary ranges from approximately $53,386 per year for Document Processor to $204,015 per year for Executive Director. Average J.P. Morgan hourly pay ranges from approximately $12.85 per hour for Financial Advisor to $61.29 per hour for Full Stack Developer.
How Hard Is It to Land a Job at Goldman Sachs? Getting a job at Goldman Sachs can be hard. In 2021, Goldman Sachs hired only three percent of all job applicants, which numbered roughly 267,000. Getting an internship at this investment bank is no less competitive.
Even with education, experience, and enthusiasm, investment banking might not be for you. Investment bankers work long hours and often earn a high income. Lack of work-life balance is one reason to avoid becoming an investment banker. Investment bankers must also be able to manage high-pressure situations.
What do investment bankers do all day?
Investment bankers spend hours analyzing market reports and databases to get relevant information to aid in decision-making. The research may range from finding and comparing stock performances for several companies to building company profiles for reports.
Investment banking is very well paid, but sign-on bonuses and a healthy pay packet come at a price. To survive as an investment banker, you need to have a high stress threshold. You also need to be willing to say goodbye to your social life for a few years.
What Are the Big 4 Investment Banks? The big four are JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley. Some other global giants are treading right on their heels, including Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Credit Suisse, and UBS.
Age plays a huge factor in the decision-making process. Wall Street is an up-and-out industry. Unless the goal is senior management, most people in finance are out of there by age 50. That's not at just the biggest investment banks, either.
On average, a first-year investment banker makes a 5-digit salary, in the range of $70,000 – $90,000, while a 7-digit salary is considered above average and is difficult to achieve for most people in their careers.
