5 Tips for Success in Investment Banking
Published: Nov 19, 2024
Saajan Sappal joined the Harris Williams Richmond office as an analyst upon graduation. After a couple of years as an analyst, he gained experience working in private equity before returning to the firm as an associate in London. Newer on the scene, Katie McCarthy joined the firm’s Richmond office just over a year ago. Now, both Saajan and Katie work in the firm’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Group. Below are some of their tips for success in investment banking.
What's your advice for choosing the firm where you want to start your career?
Saajan: Especially important early in your career are level of responsibility, access to mentorship, and firm culture. I chose Harris Williams because it brings a unique combination of all three.
Katie: During the recruiting process, I recommend asking your interviewers why they chose the firm, their level of experience and responsibility on deals, and what they do in their free time. This will help you better understand the firm’s culture. Also, ask analysts and associates about their relationships with senior bankers. This will allow you to gauge whether they have meaningful interactions with the broader team and whether their voice is heard.
Saajan: Whether you’re joining as an associate from another bank or out of an MBA program, look for a place where you’re encouraged to step up and take as much responsibility as you can, including high levels of client engagement and strong ownership on key workstreams. Having this responsibility early on in your career expedites your personal and professional growth and benefits the team. Look for a strong culture of mentorship, too. When I participated in the two-week Harris Williams Boot Camp program, I could tell there was a culture of mentorship across all levels within the firm. That’s remained true as I’ve progressed from analyst to associate. This career requires a lot of your time and energy, but doing it with a team that’s collaborative, personable, and invested in your development makes a huge difference.
What are your tips for landing an internship and ultimately a full-time role?
Katie: Network as much as possible before official interviews to gain more information on the firm. Come prepared, be able to talk about the firm, and ask questions that prove you’re putting in the work to learn the industry. All of this will help show your commitment.
Saajan: The analyst and associate roles are challenging and fast-paced, and getting up the learning curve is a two-way street. The best interns come in eager to learn and contribute to their teams, with a strong and proactive work ethic, attention to detail, and high standard of work.
Katie: During the internship, it’s not just about getting to know the other analysts and associates; also make the effort to get to know senior bankers and other people throughout the firm. Every person is important and worth getting to know.
Saajan: While Harris Williams invests heavily in the development of our incoming classes—both in terms of initial firmwide training and ongoing education—your trajectory is up to you. The best analysts and associates leverage all the resources and knowledge we have to learn, ask questions, and look for ways to take on more responsibility.
How do you make your voice heard as someone earlier on in their career?
Saajan: The opportunity is there for junior bankers to grab. We fully recognize that incoming analysts and associates bring fresh perspectives to our teams, and we aim for a culture that’s collaborative and open. Externally, our teams are very supportive of giving junior bankers ample facetime with clients. This tone of amplifying all perspectives is set by the firm’s leadership, but it’s on the analysts and associates to seize the opportunity.
Katie: It took me a couple months, but then I started flexing the muscle of speaking up around senior bankers and clients. It’s important to interject if you know the latest update and to establish your own relationship with management teams. Being confident in yourself and your work leads to a lot of professional and personal growth.
How do you balance the demands of the job with your personal life and interests?
Katie: Going from undergrad to a full-time position is an adjustment in and of itself. It’s important to quickly get an understanding of the expectations and requirements and then figure out how to carve time for yourself. Whether it’s going to a workout class or dinner with friends, taking a break is necessary to continue doing good work. The key element is communicating with your team.
Saajan: Investment banking requires a lot, especially earlier in your career. Time management and proactive communication are critical skills to find balance with personal life and interests. Outside of work, I make time for cooking and dining with family and friends, travel, and fitness. As long as there’s strong communication amongst the team, you can fit in what matters to you.
What are your best tips for excelling in your role and unlocking opportunity as you advance in your career?
Saajan: We operate with what we call a One Firm mentality, meaning we leverage the knowledge base of the whole firm, not just for our clients but for our internal team as well. I encourage new joiners to connect with professionals across the firm and find relationships and mentorship in different industry groups as well as their own. The firm is better for all of our collaboration and shared expertise, and it’s key for how we bring fresh insights to the table.
Katie: Always be curious and ask questions of people in every position. It will help you get up the learning curve faster. Thankfully, Harris Williams has an open-door policy, so I am able to easily ask questions and learn from others. Find ways to demonstrate your growth and make clear when you’re starting to take on responsibilities at the next level. Focus on attention to detail, even if it’s just going to the associate or VP on the client engagement. Take pride in the work you’re doing. And although I already mentioned this, it’s important: Make connections with people you’re not always working with at all levels. It can be quick—a coffee or lunch.