Since your graduation from MU, what has been your career path?
I worked for Banco Santander (global markets); six months later I changed to Citigroup to work in the Investment Banking Department doing Mergers & Acquisitions.
Describe your typical workday.
Life in investment banking is hard. I get to the office by 9:30 a.m. I have a meeting to find out what's going on, next deadlines, etc. Then I eat lunch at my desk (most of the time). Other duties include submitting presentations to associates in the form of excel models who provide markups. I then make changes and leave it for them to review the next morning. Usually I leave the office around 1 a.m.
What is the best or most exciting part of your profession?
Exposure to deals and the learning experiences acquired.
What advice would you provide for a job seeker in your field?
Try to do an internship in the field to get a feel for if you can deal with it or not (long hours, no sleep, etc…).
What are essential skills one must posses for success in your field?
One must be a hard worker, eager to work and smart.
What can a current Marquette student do to effectively prepare for a career in your field?
I would suggest that they enroll in the Applied Investment Management Program. However, Investment Banks provide their own trainings and it is not rare to find any and all Majors (History, Philosophy, etc.) in the Analyst class.
How does one find a summer job or internship in your field, and are there any other opportunities to gain experience before graduation?
I suggest applying anywhere. Talking to alumni might be of great help, since most of the on-line applications include a section on if you know someone in the bank and then HR would ask this person about the candidate.
