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Trent, Investment Banking Associate at Global Investment Bank: Advize Career Interview
A Division I baseball player's journey to Investment Banking Associate at a Global Investment Bank reveals a unique path combining athletics and finance.
The interviewee's career trajectory highlights the importance of networking, internships, and an MBA. Daily responsibilities involve managing multiple deals simultaneously, creating presentations, and conducting financial analysis, requiring a diverse skill set encompassing financial expertise, strong communication, and exceptional time management.
The work is demanding but rewarding, offering exposure to a wide range of industries and the opportunity to participate in significant corporate decisions.
Success in this field, the interviewee emphasizes, requires dedication, precision, teamwork, and the ability to balance the interpersonal aspects of the business with focused execution.
Aspiring investment bankers are encouraged to start with summer internships and network extensively to understand industry nuances. A key lesson learned is the value of thorough material review before submission.
The combination of rigorous academics and athletics provided a strong foundation for this career path.
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Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
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Trent Hammond
Investment Banking Associate
Global Investment Bank
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - 2017
UCLA Anderson School of Management - MBA
Finance
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Took Out Loans, Student Athlete
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Career Path Of An Investment Banking Associate At A Global Investment Bank
Trent's career path is unique, combining a Division 1 baseball career with a pursuit of finance; after baseball ended, "the best opportunity was to go and get my MBA," leading to a current role in investment banking after gaining consulting experience and networking in New York. The combination of "summer ball" and "a few weeks...at a real estate firm" provided foundational experience before pursuing a more focused career trajectory.
Main Responsibilities of an Investment Banking Associate at Global Investment Bank
Trent, a recent Investment Banking Associate at a Global Investment Bank, is transitioning into the role and describes responsibilities that include "working in between the analysts and the vice presidents and directors," creating "client decks and pitch decks," and contributing to financial models and due diligence within data rooms. This reflects a common career path, starting with supporting senior team members before taking on more significant responsibilities.
A Day In The Life Of An Investment Banking Associate At An Investment Bank
A day for an investment banking associate involves working on "six to eight deals" simultaneously, each in different phases and industries, leading to varied responsibilities like creating pitch decks, researching marketing materials, managing data rooms, and compiling "70-page decks" with financial and industry information. This constant variety and substantial responsibility ensure continuous learning and a dynamic career progression.
Most Important Skills For An Investment Banking Associate At A Global Investment Bank
Trent, an Investment Banking Associate, highlights a crucial "toolkit" of skills for success, emphasizing both financial expertise from coursework like "corporate finance" and "evaluation courses," and strong interpersonal abilities. Effective time management, clear communication—"responding in email saying that I received it"—and relationship building with diverse individuals, from executives to investors, are equally vital for navigating the multifaceted demands of the role.
Favorite Parts Of Being An Investment Banking Associate At A Global Investment Bank
Trent, an Investment Banking Associate, enjoys the "wide breadth of industries" and exposure to diverse companies, citing examples from gambling to consumer products. The "volatility of work," ranging from marketing materials to financial modeling, and the collaborative environment with "extremely friendly, hard workers," are also key aspects of the role that Trent finds appealing.
Biggest Challenges Faced by an Investment Banking Associate at a Global Investment Bank
Trent's biggest challenge as an Investment Banking Associate is managing "the amount of responsibility" across diverse industries, requiring rapid adaptation between calls and maintaining client service expectations of dedicated attention. This necessitates efficient material review and quick transitions to successfully navigate the demands of this "industry agnostic role".
Favorite Parts of Working in Investment Banking as an Investment Banking Associate
Trent, an Investment Banking Associate, finds the "breadth of work and the breadth of responsibility" most rewarding, citing the unique opportunity to learn about company financials and the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions from both the buyer and seller perspectives. This allows Trent to work directly with companies, guiding them through "life-changing decisions" and maximizing returns for their stakeholders.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Investment Banking According To An Investment Banking Associate At Global Investment Bank
Investment banking success hinges on "very hard workers" who are "precise with what they're trying to do," possessing strong teamwork and communication skills alongside adaptability to long hours and demanding environments. The ability to balance "the people side of the business" with focused work execution is key to thriving in this high-pressure industry.
What an Investment Banking Associate at a Global Investment Bank Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Investment Banking Industry
Trent's six-year journey into investment banking involved extensive networking, "speaking honestly with hundreds of different people," to understand the industry's challenges and opportunities across various firm types. This thorough due diligence, including conversations with professionals in diverse sectors, is advice Trent offers to aspiring investment bankers.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Investment Bankers
Investment banking offers structured recruiting, starting with summer internships after the sophomore and junior years of college; these internships, the recruiting process for which begins "like a year ahead," are a "pipeline" to securing a post-graduate position.
Significant Career Lesson From an Investment Banking Associate at a Global Investment Bank
In today's fast-paced work environment, Trent, an Investment Banking Associate, emphasizes the importance of "taking the moment to review the material" before submitting work. This extra step, even if it means taking "an extra hour," results in a "perfect deliverable," minimizing revisions and maximizing manager satisfaction.
College Experiences that Helped an Investment Banking Associate at Global Investment Bank Succeed
Trent's Division I baseball experience and finance studies instilled a strong work ethic, emphasizing "putting the time in and repetition" in both academics and athletics. This dedication to discipline and consistent effort, mirroring the collaborative nature of the work environment, proved invaluable in their successful transition to investment banking.
How Identity Has Influenced An Investment Banking Associate's Career At A Global Investment Bank
Trent's experience as a student athlete provided a strong foundation for career navigation, even after the transition from "hanging my cleats up". The developed skills in teamwork, communication, and discipline, along with the resume-building and networking opportunities, helped Trent transition into investment banking despite lacking specific industry experience.
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