FBIS hosts speaker from Jefferies

Investment banking is a large and risky industry.  Invest in the right companies, and you could suddenly find yourself rich.  Invest in the wrong companies, and you could find yourself out of your money.  In order to help FBIS, Jerry Chernock visited the group and hosted a workshop.

Chernock, a Universityof Maryland alumnus, is an investment banker. He has five years of experience in the field of investment banking, working as an associate for Jefferies and Company. He also interned for Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Morgan Stanley while in college.

Chernock opened up his presentation by talking about how a major investment banking firm operates. He emphasized that the firm is divided into subcategories organized by industry. 

Chernock stated and kept reiterating throughout his presentation that an investment banker acts like a middleman between various companies within an industry.  Because the job requires dedication to a specific industry, he told the group that prospective investment bankers should study something they are passionate about along with finance and banking.

Chernock said that there were four steps to becoming a successful investment banker.  The first step is to "know yourself."  He said to evaluate your skills, strengths, weaknesses, interests, and talents before applying for the job.

The second step is to know what financial analysts and investment bankers actually do on the job.

The third step is to research your possible employer.  Chernock recommended visiting the investment banking firm and seeing how it works.  He said to learn the small nuances of the business and the company. Showing knowledge of small details could impress your interviewer, giving you a boost over the competition.

The fourth step is to "own" your résumé and prepare for the interview itself.  This is mainly accomplished by following the first three steps.  Knowing about yourself, the company, and the job itself are all necessary to earn a job in the field of investment banking.