How to Hire an Investment Banker
Investment bankers advise companies and investors on transactions such as mergers, acquisitions and capital raising, working long hours on demanding deals. Technical modelling is the entry ticket; judgement, resilience and the ability to build client relationships are what separate people over time. This guide helps you assess both the analytical and the human side of the job.
What to Look For
- Strong financial modelling and valuation skills, with a clear grasp of the underlying logic
- Attention to detail: errors in a model or a presentation damage credibility with clients
- Resilience and good judgement under tight deadlines and long hours
- Structured written and spoken communication, including simple explanations of complex deals
- Commercial curiosity about sectors, companies and markets
- Integrity with confidential information and awareness of conflicts of interest
The Hiring Process
- 1
Define the level and sector
State whether you need an analyst, associate or more senior profile, the sectors covered and the type of deals.
- 2
Screen CVs for transaction exposure
Look at the deals the candidate worked on and ask what they personally did, not only the deal size.
- 3
Technical interview
Test valuation methods, reading of financial statements and the logic of a transaction using a short case.
- 4
Modelling or case exercise
Give a time-boxed task, such as a simple valuation or a short market review, and ask the candidate to present the conclusions.
- 5
Fit and judgement interviews
Let senior bankers probe motivation, teamwork, behaviour under stress and handling of confidentiality.
- 6
References and checks
Speak to former supervisors and run the background and regulatory checks that apply in your country and firm.
Interview Tips
- Ask them to walk through a deal they worked on and where their own contribution mattered
- Ask how they find an error in a model that is due in an hour
- Ask for a company they find interesting and a view on how they would value it
- Ask how they handle a conflict between a client request and an internal policy
- Ask what they do when the team is overloaded and priorities collide
Red Flags
- Can recite formulas but cannot explain the reasoning behind a valuation
- Overstates their role in deals they only observed
- Casual about confidentiality, for instance when discussing past clients
- Motivated only by title or pay, with no interest in the work
- Reacts badly to feedback on a draft
Investment Banker: let the AI hold the first interview
Every candidate takes a structured voice interview from their secure portal. Your team reads one scored report per candidate and makes the decision.
Related Hiring Guides
How to Hire an Accountant
GAAP/IFRS · QuickBooks/NetSuite · Month-end Close
How to Hire a Financial Analyst
Excel/Google Sheets · Financial Modeling · Accounting
How to Hire a Financial Controller
Financial Reporting · Internal Controls · Consolidation
How to Hire a Payroll Specialist
Payroll processing · Accuracy · Rules knowledge