Hello everyone, I’m looking for honest feedback about my background and whether I have a realistic shot at getting into investment banking roles across Europe, specifically with the goal of eventually working in London.
I’m wondering if anyone here has experience with the European IB market and can tell me what my chances look like based on my current profile. What specific areas should I focus on improving to make myself more competitive? Are there particular experiences or skills that would make a real difference?
I’m also curious about the best geographic strategy - would it make sense to start somewhere like the Netherlands or another European market before trying to move to the UK? Any insights about the hiring landscape or career progression would be really helpful.
I’m ready to hear the tough truth if needed because I want to make realistic plans and improvements. Thanks for any advice you can share.
Totally doable! Just grab any finance internship this summer - smaller firms count too. Your age works in your favor here. Maybe look into studying abroad in major European financial hubs? Great way to network naturally while you’re learning.
Without knowing your background, here’s my take as someone who screened European IB candidates for years. European investment banking runs on a tier system - your university’s prestige basically determines if you’ll get interviews. But there are other ways in that people don’t talk about enough. Start with structured finance or corporate banking roles. They’re less picky about where you went to school and you’ll still pick up transferable skills. I’ve seen plenty of successful IB people come through treasury, risk management, or Big Four advisory. The upside? You’re proving you can handle numbers and work with clients - exactly what banks want. Geography-wise, skip the obvious choices. Look at Dublin’s growing fintech scene or Luxembourg’s private banking world. You’ll face way less competition than London’s graduate schemes but still get legitimate experience. Once you’re in somewhere, moving laterally is much easier than trying to break in directly.
Hey! I did the same thing - started in Frankfurt then moved to London. Here’s what worked for me: hit up smaller boutique firms first. They’re way less picky about your background and you’ll get solid deal experience that big firms actually respect. Don’t stress about the “perfect” location - the European market’s all connected anyway. Just get your foot in somewhere and build those technical skills. Networking events are massive here too - way bigger deal than I thought they’d be. Once you’ve got some European IB experience, the London move gets much easier.
honestly depends what uni you’re at tbh. if you’re not at a target school the cv screening bots will reject you before humans even see it. maybe try getting into a masters program at LSE or something first? harsh but thats the reality these days
lol you want “honest feedback” but won’t share your background? Classic move. Look, everyone talks about networking and boutiques, but nobody warns you about those 80+ hour weeks that’ll crush your soul. Chase that London dream if you want, but kiss your social life goodbye for the next decade. Pro tip: learn German or Dutch if you’re eyeing other European markets. English only works in the UK bubble.
Reality check: European IB recruitment is brutal. Major banks get thousands of applications for just a handful of spots. You didn’t mention your background, internships, or target schools, so I can’t gauge your actual chances. Here’s what matters: Top universities (LSE, Cambridge, Oxford, HEC, Bocconi) give you a real edge. So do relevant internships at boutiques or bulge bracket firms. Geography plays a role too. Starting in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Paris can work if you build solid relationships and prove yourself. London’s still the European hub, but Brexit shifted some opportunities elsewhere. Network hard - hit up university alumni, industry events, and LinkedIn. You’ll need technical skills, modeling certifications, and a real interest in finance shown through internships or side projects. That’s what separates you from the pack in this oversaturated market.