How to Become an Investment Banker?

Becoming an investment banker requires more than just a finance degree. Candidates need strong analytical skills, financial knowledge, practical industry exposure, and often additional certifications such as CFA or an MBA. So, it is important to understand the investment banking career path, required qualifications, salary growth, work-life reality, and industry expectations before entering this field.

This blog takes a closer look at what an investment banking career path looks like and what it takes to enter investment banking as a career in India.

 

What is an Investment Banker?

An investment banker refers to a skilled finance professional who offers a wide range of financial services to individual investors, organisations, and government bodies.

They offer professional guidance to companies in issuing bonds and stocks, securing business loans, pricing securities, allocating financial resources, raising stock capital, and negotiating mergers and acquisitions. Some investment bankers also offer underwriting services for municipal bonds. A strong investment banker qualification and expertise in corporate finance are vital for success in this field.

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What does an investment banker do?

Some of the top responsibilities performed and expected from an investment banker are as follows:

• Assess the current investment scenario
• Identify any potential risks involved in certain projects and offer advice to clients on whether or not to proceed with them
• Highlight the benefits and risks of investments, prepare proposals and presentations for clients, and communicate expected timelines for financial projects
• Prepare, edit, revise, and present pitchbooks, research reports, transaction documents, and PPT presentations
• Offer advice to organisations on managing IPOs, issuing securities, and setting prices for initial public offerings (IPOs)
• Ensure adherence to legal regulations and policies as defined by financial regulatory agencies
• Research different market databases and reports to collect relevant data for making informed financial decisions.
   

Academic Requirements for Becoming an Investment Banker

Completion of formal education in the relevant domain is essential and also one of the key steps to becoming an investment banker. The minimum investment banker qualification is a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business, Finance, or Accounting. Completing a Bachelor’s degree programme can make you eligible to apply for an entry-level job role in an investment bank and start an investment banking career.

If you aim for higher positions or better-paying managerial job roles, then you may choose to pursue a Master’s degree or a PhD in disciplines such as finance, economics, or business administration.

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How to Become an Investment Banker?

Ready to take the step? Here’s how you can begin your journey:

Step 1: 10+2 completion

This is the first step to becoming an investment banker in India. You need to complete your 10+2 education with an aggregate score of over 50% from a recognised board in India. This can be from any domain - Science, Commerce, or Arts (Humanities).

However, a background in the commerce stream is preferred due to knowledge gained in related and relevant disciplines such as accountancy, business, mathematics, economics, and computer technology.

Step 2: Clear the entrance exams for college admission

A competitive entrance exam is held for students applying for admission to specific colleges for graduation or post-graduation degrees in finance, business, or investment banking courses.

These exams may be conducted on a state or national level and include SET, CUET, and CET. For admission to Master’s degree programmes, the entrance exams that you need to qualify for include GMAT, SNAP, XAT, NMAT, and CAT.

Step 3: Complete an undergraduate degree

This is a prerequisite for gaining entry-level job roles in most banks. You would be required to hold a Bachelor’s degree. This can be a BA in Finance, a BBA in Finance, a B.Com, or a BA in Economics. These are often included in investment banker degree programmes and investment banking courses.

Step 4: Continue with a Master’s degree

After completing a UG degree, you may choose to pursue a Master’s or PG degree in a relevant discipline for career advancement opportunities. You can opt for an MBA in Financial Management or an MS in Finance, both valuable for a long-term investment banking career path.
 

Also Read: Best Career Options After BCom

Step 5: Earn a PhD

While this is an optional step in the process of charting out a career in investment banking, it can be very helpful for higher career prospects. Students can specialise in subjects like corporate finance theory, foundations of business research, asset pricing theory, research methods in finance, and microstructure of markets.

Step 6: Obtain a certification online

This is a step forward in continuing your education in the domain of investment banking and helps you stay relevant to the industry and gain the desired skills for further career growth and development. A key certification to earn includes the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) professional course, designed to offer intensive learning and practical skill training on finance and investment.

Step 7: Complete an internship

An internship allows you to apply the skills gained during your degree programmes and professional certifications in real-world financial environments.

You can choose to apply for an internship with an investment banker in India, investment banks, or financial institutions on job portals or directly with banks and NBFCs.

Step 8: Apply for a job role

Once you have gained some work experience via an internship, you can build your resume and work portfolio and start applying for a full-time investment banking job as an investment banker in India or internationally. Make sure to highlight all your academic and professional achievements in your resume and portfolio.
 

Also Read: How to Prepare for Investment Banking Career Through MBA Finance
 

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Types of Investment Banks

Work culture, salary, deal size, and career trajectory vary significantly across all three. There's no universally "best" type as it depends on what you want from the industry.
 

Potential Salary of an Investment Banker In India

The average investment banker salary in India can vary depending on experience, qualifications, and the organisation. Entry-level professionals in investment banking roles may earn around ₹8 - 12 lakhs per annum, while experienced investment bankers can earn ₹25 lakhs or more annually.

The figures are indicative only and may vary from one professional to another, based on experience, domain expertise, and industry exposure in investment banking as a career.

Salary of an Investment Banker in India by Experience

The salary range of an investment banker will depend on the position he/she holds, years of experience, and, of course, the company they are working with. However, based on industry trends as a whole, here’s a range that you can expect:
 

Investment Banker Salary by City in India

Skills Required to Become an Investment Banker

You will need some solid skills in order to be an investment banker:

• Financial modelling & valuation: Excel will practically become your second language. DCF, LBO, comparable analysis; you need to know these properly.
• Attention to detail: One wrong figure in a deal can be catastrophic. There's zero margin for error.
• Communication: You're constantly pitching to clients, writing reports, and presenting in high-pressure rooms. Numbers mean nothing if you can't explain them.
• Time management: Multiple live deals, tight deadlines, and long hours all happening at once. You need to prioritise.
• Commercial awareness: Understanding what's happening in markets, industries, and the broader economy isn't optional. It's expected from day one.
   

Also Read: Unlock Your Career with an MBA in Banking and Finance
 

How to Increase Your Investment Banker Salary

• Choose the right firm from the start. The bank you join as an analyst sets your salary baseline for years. A bulge bracket or elite boutique will always pay more than a regional firm, and that gap compounds over time.
• Get into the top performance bucket. Most banks rank analysts and associates into tiers. The top bucket can earn 30 to 40% more in bonus than the middle bucket at the same firm. Your work quality, reliability, and visibility to seniors determine where you land.
• Move firms strategically. Lateral moves are one of the fastest ways to get a pay bump. Banks routinely offer 20 to 30% salary increases to poach experienced bankers from competitors.
• Get an MBA from a target school. An MBA from IIM, ISB, or a top global school lets you re-enter banking at the associate level with a significantly higher base than a promoted analyst.
• Add certifications that actually matter. CFA and CA credentials are taken seriously in India. They won't double your salary overnight but they do open doors to better firms and faster promotions.
• Specialise in high-demand sectors. Bankers with deep expertise in infrastructure, technology, or private equity advisory tend to command a premium. Generalists are easier to replace.
• Stay through a strong deal cycle. Bonuses are tied to deal flow. If the market is hot and you have a strong year on record, that is the best time to negotiate or make a move.
   

Also Read: Investment Banker Salary In India
 

Is Investment Banking a Good Career in India?

Honestly, yes, investment banking is a good career choice in India if you can handle the pressure. India's deal market is growing fast, salaries at global banks are among the highest in the country, and the exit opportunities are genuinely excellent.

You can move into private equity, hedge funds, or senior corporate finance roles after just a few years. The hours are brutal, especially early on, but the financial rewards and career trajectory make it worth it for the right person.
 

Continue Your Career Growth with Amity Online

A successful investment banking career requires strong academic preparation, analytical thinking, and practical financial knowledge. As you begin working as a professional in investment banking, continuing your education can help you develop industry-relevant skills, strengthen your expertise in finance, and become a stronger candidate for high-growth investment banking careers.

Amity University Online offers multiple opportunities to continue your learning journey through flexible 100% online programmes. The university is recognised, and its degree programmes and certification courses are valued by employers across industries.

Through finance programmes and specialised investment banking online courses, you can build the knowledge and skills required to succeed as an investment banker in India.

Choose a programme that aligns with your academic background and career goals and start building a rewarding investment banking career with Amity University Online.
 

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