Insights

From the hiring side.

Recruiting into investment banking in London, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore. Written by the person who used to make the decision, with nothing softened.

How IBD Recruiting Timelines Work: London, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore
Timelines4 min

How IBD Recruiting Timelines Work: London, Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore

Four markets, four calendars and the rolling-review rule that beats every deadline.

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Online Tests, SJTs and HireVue: the Filters Before a Human Sees You
Applications4 min

Online Tests, SJTs and HireVue: the Filters Before a Human Sees You

How the automated filters actually cut and how to clear every one of them.

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Cover Letters in Banking: When They Matter and the Structure That Works
Applications4 min

Cover Letters in Banking: When They Matter and the Structure That Works

When letters are actually read and the four-paragraph structure for that moment.

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Three CVs, Rewritten: What Changed and Why It Worked
CV4 min

Three CVs, Rewritten: What Changed and Why It Worked

Three synthetic student CVs repaired bullet by bullet, with the scoring commentary.

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Your Story Before You Have One: Building a CV From Second Year
CV4 min

Your Story Before You Have One: Building a CV From Second Year

The four assets to build in first and second year, term by term.

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Grades, the 2:1 Question and a Weak Transcript
CV4 min

Grades, the 2:1 Question and a Weak Transcript

What the screen reads by market and the mitigation ladder for a weak transcript.

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Starting Late: When Your CV Is Empty in Second Year
Strategy4 min

Starting Late: When Your CV Is Empty in Second Year

The triage sequence when the window is closing: off-cycles, boutiques, the reset.

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Cold Emails That Get Replies: Templates and Real Reply Rates
Networking4 min

Cold Emails That Get Replies: Templates and Real Reply Rates

The four-part email that survived my inbox, with the reply rates nobody quotes.

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When to Email Bankers: Seasonality and the August Problem
Networking4 min

When to Email Bankers: Seasonality and the August Problem

The banker's calendar: best days, dead months and the August problem.

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The Referral Question: Why Asking First Kills It and What Earns It
Networking4 min

The Referral Question: Why Asking First Kills It and What Earns It

What a referral costs the banker and why asking first kills it.

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Where to start

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