How can I get a internship in investment banking with no experience?

Great question! Investment banking interviews are challenging and intense and you need to make sure you're 100% prepared for anything they throw your way. Even if you don't have experience (yet), there are three things you need to do:

1. Networking: Before the interview even starts, make sure that you've reached out to and talked with as many people as possible at the firm. Learn about what they care about and what they're learning for in a candidate. Build advocates.
2. Behaviorals: Then, get started on your behavioral prep. Work on your behaviorals "trifecta"--tell me about yourself, why banking, why this bank, and then create a stories-based approach for other behavioral questions.
3. Technicals: Finally, once you get past the first round (usually behavioral) it's time to really hone in on technicals. Start with the 400 Question Guide and then it gets more advanced from there. 

Then, of course, go out and try to get an internship in finance so that you have the experience you need, even if it's not in IB. 

There are 10,000 other things we need to discuss on each of these pieces--please reach out for a free intro session and let's talk about how to get you into the industry!

Dear candidate, 

Similar to consulting, investment banking had high standards for entry but the application skills and experience from consulting are very transferrable.

A) Network immediately. Get referrals and ask for internship opportunities. You might pick specific areas that are close to your interests to make it easier for you, for example would you want to trade or focus on M&A? 

B) For Ibanking practise additionally finance know-how. You might be asked specific finance questions during the interviews and must be able to answer them correctly. 

C) I offer a specific prep for this that focuses on you applying core skills of creating positive finance right during the interviews it is exciting and very competitive. For example Ibanks like it a lot if you have additional hobbies like trading or you have your own company along your main career. From this I have also learned one of the most important aspects: truly enjoy the field. The best is when candidates really enjoy solving finance questions directly. You can for example easily land internships in trading if you trade yourself, etc. Most importantly there is a wealth of easy high caliber qualifications you can get in Finance next to your work like the CFA etc and. You can get in by leveraging venture capital or private equity experience. For example why not look at internships in parallel there, it makes it easy to land your best Finance role.

Very best wishes

Best regards

Hey,

I was in a similar position not too long ago – no direct experience in investment banking but super eager to break in. I eventually landed an internship, and here’s what worked for me:

First, don’t worry too much about not having IB experience. You’ve probably picked up relevant skills from your other internships or courses, like Excel, financial analysis, or even project management. The key is to frame that experience in a way that shows how it can apply to investment banking.

Another thing that helped me was learning some of the technical stuff on my own. Even without a finance degree, you can pick up the basics like financial modeling, DCFs, and M&A through online courses. There are tons of resources out there (like free YouTube tutorials), and these skills will help you in interviews, which are often pretty technical.

Now, this is huge: networking. Honestly, I can't stress this enough. Start connecting with alumni from your school or people in IB on LinkedIn. I reached out to a bunch of people, and some were really helpful with advice and even referrals. The key is not to ask for an internship right away – just be genuinely interested in learning about their experience and the industry.

If you’re still in school, joining an investment club or taking part in case competitions can also help. It’s a great way to show that you’re passionate about finance, even without direct experience.

Lastly, when you’re applying, make sure your resume and cover letter are tailored to investment banking. Focus on relevant skills like financial analysis, attention to detail, and being able to handle a fast-paced environment.

It might take a few tries, but don’t get discouraged. Good luck!

I was in a similar spot when I started, and it’s definitely possible to break into investment banking without direct experience. What worked for me was focusing on learning the technical skills—especially financial modeling and valuation. There are great online courses that cover the basics like DCFs, comps, and M&A. I also made a big effort to network, reaching out to alumni, attending finance events, and connecting with people on LinkedIn who were already in the industry. Informational interviews were super useful for understanding the field and getting my name out there. Lastly, even if your internships weren’t directly in investment banking, try to frame your work to highlight relevant skills. It’s all about showing you’re serious and willing to put in the effort to learn. Good luck!