Appetizers

Starting with some basics.

Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

 Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day job.

Tell us about yourself and your job.

I grew up in Silicon Valley and have always been fascinated by its innovative culture. I'm a very curious person that enjoys asking questions about the future, and studying and debating with peers about the trajectory and impacts of technological developments.

In college, I sought a career that would grant me the capability of studying this industry while also playing a part in enabling its growth. I quickly found that I had an interest in financial markets, specifically surrounding software companies. The enterprise software industry is dynamic, its solutions are extremely impactful, and the SaaS business model and transition to the cloud make it unique in financial needs and opportunities. I find that my curiosity plays well with financial markets, and I always try to learn new concepts every day.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

I really enjoyed covering technology companies, specifically enterprise software companies. My previous experience was on the public equity side, and I wanted to switch to a role that gave me exposure to both private and public software companies. I think coverage banking specifically is a great opportunity right out of college to both specialize in a sector and gain a deep understanding of a multitude of financial transactions and skillsets.

What does a typical morning look like on the job?

Mornings typically consist of syncing up with different deal teams, reviewing work for senior review, and meetings - either internally or with clients for deal processes.

Cool, then what does a typical afternoon look like?

A typical afternoon consists of preparing client pitches or deal materials, researching the industry or market data and news, and putting together client models and analyses.

What types of projects and meetings are you involved in?

Work can be generally broken down into 3 categories - pitches, deals, or internal work. I'm typically involved in client discussions, due diligence calls, and industry-specific events.

Who do you collaborate with in meetings and projects? Cross-functional teams? What's it like?

Generally, I will work with my technology coverage team, but oftentimes there is coordination with other product teams like equity capital markets or mergers & acquisitions in other offices or time zones.

 Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your job?

Multiple workstreams, high-pressure tasks with short deadlines, and communication between many different teams (often across different time zones) are normal day-to-day challenges. The extreme attention to detail required for projects may be the biggest challenge out of college - for example, a 5% error rate could be great for a college course but detrimental for client-facing projects.

What are some characteristics that can help someone succeed in your role?

Communication, attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task under pressure are critical characteristics. Focusing on maintaining an optimistic attitude will take you far in the long term!

Any advice on how to stand out and get hired for those just starting off?

Develop clear, linear reasoning as to why you want to pursue this role and be able to communicate it in a relatable way to recruiters. Be able to demonstrate your understanding of the IBD business vs. other areas of the bank like sales & trading or research, and what specific areas within IB interest you (product vs coverage, etc). Master the basics, such as financial accounting and valuation concepts, and closely follow markets or areas that are of interest to you and the role.

What's something that surprised you about your job?

The level of improvement in my communication and my awareness of conversation signals was quite unexpected!

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to do what you do?

I think the most important advice I can give is to have a good understanding of what you want to get out of the analyst role so you can focus on maximizing your time.

 Drinks

Chat more over coffee or tea?