You don’t need a degree or background in finance to become an investment banker. Find that hard to believe? Well, we don’t blame you.
The mainstream ideology is that the traditional starting point for every investment banker is a bachelor’s degree in economics or finance with a master’s or Ph.D. in rocket science. So I exaggerated a little – but the fact remains – anybody aspiring to be an investment banker without a conventional degree in finance will, in all likelihood, give up!
Danish Azam’s transition from a civil engineering graduate to the investment banking division at SS&C GlobeOp challenges the status quo and is an inspiration for everyone wanting to start a career in investment banking. Read his story here.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a Danish Azam, and I have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. I recently graduated from the Certified Investment Banking Operations course at Imarticus and have been placed at SS&C GlobeOp.
Q: What convinced you to enroll with Imarticus?
I heard about Imarticus through a friend who recommended the course to me. At first, I was hesitant because I had absolutely no background in finance, but I spoke to a counselor at Imarticus who charted an investment banking career path for me and assured me that the transition from engineering to finance was possible. I was convinced and decided to enroll in the course.
Q: Was the transition from engineering to finance challenging?
Quite honestly, it wasn’t as difficult as I had anticipated. Considering the fact that I am from an engineering background and the course is in Finance, I have not faced any challenges and could keep up because of the knowledgeable faculty and the detailed curriculum.
Q: Were the guest lectures helpful?
The guest lectures were beneficial. I was able to co-relate the topics I was taught in class with the practical projects and assignments, and this has helped me grasp particularly challenging concepts like options strategies and derivatives.
Q: What did you like most about the program?
I’d have to say the faculty and the learning facilities. The faculty were extremely helpful and made every concept clear with a focus on real-world simulations and hands-on experience to make the training sessions interactive. The learning infrastructure at Imarticus is exceptional.
The online learning management system – LearnTron – is available to students 24/7. If ever I had a doubt or couldn’t remember a specific concept taught in class, I would go back home and go through the lecture to enhance my knowledge in a better manner.
Q: Tell us a little about the career and placement services.
In addition to technical sessions, soft skill sessions are also conducted and saying these sessions were beneficial would be an understatement. The resume building workshop helped me craft my resume into an effective and efficient one with the help of the experts at Imarticus.
I was pleasantly surprised because the placement services were much better than I had anticipated. Even before completing the course, the placements team brought me a couple of interview opportunities. They didn’t stop there; through mock interviews and interview prep, the trainers helped me hone my communication skills. In all, I appeared for two interviews and cracked one of them. I now work at SS&C Globe Op; my job involves much of what I learned at Imarticus, and I couldn’t be happier.
It’s not too late to begin. Click Here to speak to a career counselor and start your investment banking career.
