For those people who are really keen on pursuing an investment banking career, I would like to share a few tips I learnt during the past few years in IBD and answer the most common questions I received from IBD candidates.
對於那些真正想進投資銀行的人，我來分享一下過去幾年來我在投行OFFER(一下簡稱IBD)中學到的幾點，也來回答一下我被IBD申請者問的最多的幾個問題。
Q1. Besides applying online or through campus recruitment, is there any other way to break into the industry?
問1：除了網上申請或者校園招聘會，還有什麼其他方法打進這個行當?
A1: Yes of course. You could also leverage on professional recruitment agencies such as headhunters or try your luck through networking sessions. I would suggest every potential candidate should build a comprehensive LinkedIn profile and stay visible to headhunters. For those candidates who have access to Bloomberg, registering for a Bloomberg event or simply showing up during the conference will win a good chance to network with REAL industrial professionals. Last but not least, do send a thank-you note to follow up with whoever you've spoken with during the event. It helps!
答1：當然啦。你也可以依靠專業的招聘機構例如獵頭，或者通過網路會議來試試運氣。我會建議每一個潛在的申請者建立一個完善的LinkedIn檔案，並且保持對獵頭可見。對於那些能接觸到彭博社的申請者，註冊一個彭博社的`專案或者在會議中簡單地露一下面，都會讓你有機會接觸上實實在在的行業專家。最後也是最重要的，給那些在專案中和你說過話的每個人寫一張致謝的條子，這很有用!
Q2. What is the most important thing for the IBD interview?
問2：IBD面試中最重要的事情是什麼?
A2: In early rounds of interviews, your hard skills are the most important. In light of the high volume of work and tight deadlines, it is just impossible to train a fresh analyst how to do accounting and financial modellings from scratch. So make sure that you at least read ONE full-fledged annual report of a company and understand most of the Notes to Account, and at least do one financial projections with simplified assumptions on Excel. If you are lucky to make it to the final rounds of interview, it is only the chemistry between you and your potential future boss that counts. Make sure that you speak well and fingers crossed that the team likes you.
答2：在開始幾輪的面試中，你的硬本領是最重要的。在大量的工作和各種截止期限面前，訓練一個剛來的分析師如何記賬和金融建模是不可能的。所以你需要確保你至少讀熟了一份公司的財務年報並且理解了大多數的賬務筆記，還有至少做過一張財務規劃的EXCEL表格。如果你有幸進入了面試的最後幾輪，只有你和你可能的未來老總的化學反應說了算了。確保你的談吐得體，想著你的團隊會喜歡你。
Q3. Do I need to pass CFA Level I or Level II before pursuing a job in IBD?
問3. 我要不要在IBD找工作前通過CFA(特許金融分析師)一級或者二級考試?
A3: If you have little knowledge in accounting or have plenty of time to kill, you may go and take CFA Level I. It is good opportunity to give you a holistic idea of the financial markets. Some people like myself just took the CFA exams in case we would like to switch to a buy-side career after all.
答3：如果你對會計幾乎沒有知識或者你有足夠的時間去消磨，你可以參加CFA一級考試。這是一個給你提供全面的金融市場知識的良好機會。一些人就像我自己，會參加CFA考試以防我們想轉到“買方”(主營投資管理業務的金融機構)的工作。
Q4. How many applications did you submit to get the decent internship offers?
問4：拿到體面的實習OFFER需要提交多少申請?
A4: I spent two months submitting applications to more than 40 financial institutions world-wide during my internship seeking period. Sometimes you just have to try more before the lucky bird lands on you. It turns out that most of your friends' applications will flood into those big names everybody makes sense to discover the blue ocean out of the red, simply go on the banking regulator's website and try some banks you never heard of. At least I got a few offers from some middle-eastern banks :) And yes they did pay well.
答4：在我的實習期，我花了2個月向全球40多家金融機構提交實習申請。有時候你需要在好運降臨到你頭上之前多投幾份。事實證明你大多數的朋友都會將申請投到那些無人不知的投行：高盛/摩根士丹利/摩根大通/德意志銀行。。。要知道從血海中殺出一條生路很重要，去看看銀行監管機構的網站，試試看那些你聞所未聞的銀行。至少我拿到了一些來自中東地區銀行的OFFER:).他們給的工資也的確很高。
Q5. Shall I use the same template for cover letters?
問5：我的求職信要用什麼模板麼?
A5: The most silly thing is to CTRL+H and use one cover letter template for all. Make sure that you understand the JD before submitting your cover letter, and please double-check your writings because consistency is the key in this line of work.
答5：最傻的事就是按CTRL+H,給全盤求職信用一個模板了。確保你在提交求職信前你要知道公司裡是有律師的，還有務必多次檢查你的求職信，因為內容的連貫性是這個環節的關鍵。