Leland+ for Investment Banking

Quantitative Finance Career Guide

A starter guide for careers, skills, and companies related to quantitative finance.

Get Your Foot in the Door with Top Banks

Breaking into top investment banks can feel out of reach—but the right approach can open doors. Join Get Your Foot in the Door with Top Banks, a focused session designed to help you navigate the early stages of IB recruiting with confidence. In this event, you’ll learn how to position your profile for top banks, approach networking strategically, and make a strong first impression with recruiters and professionals. We’ll cover common entry points, key mistakes to avoid, and practical steps you can take right now to improve your chances. Whether you’re early in your journey or looking for clearer direction, you’ll leave with actionable insights and a stronger game plan.

Top 5 Tips to Break into IB

Breaking into investment banking is competitive—but with the right strategy, it’s achievable. Join Top 5 Tips to Break into IB, a focused session designed to give you clear, actionable guidance on how to stand out in the recruiting process. In this event, we’ll cover the five most important factors for breaking into IB, from building a strong resume and networking effectively to preparing for interviews and positioning your story. You’ll gain practical insights you can apply immediately, whether you’re just starting out or refining your approach. Walk away with clarity, confidence, and a smarter strategy for breaking into investment banking.

Positioning for IB and Buy Side

Breaking into investment banking or the buy side requires more than strong technical skills—it requires clear positioning. In this session, a top Leland coach and IB expert Adam B. will break down how to shape your story, experience, and skill set to appeal to both IB and buy-side recruiters.

Networking Log

Keep track of all your coffee chats in one place! This tool allows you to record conversation notes, follow-ups, and next steps so you can maintain organized and professional outreach.

Technical Interviews & Core Finance Concepts

Technical interviews are where candidates rise or fall, and mastering the fundamentals is essential to getting an offer. In this session, you'll learn how to approach the most commonly tested finance concepts—from valuation and accounting, to financial statement analysis and market drivers—in a clear, structured, and interview-ready way. We’ll cover typical technical questions, what interviewers listen for in strong answers, and how to avoid the common mistakes that signal inexperience. Whether you’re starting from scratch or sharpening your edge before first-rounds, you’ll walk away with frameworks, study priorities, and practice tactics to approach technicals with confidence and communicate like a future banker.

How Candidates Actually Land Elite Boutique Offers [4/30/2026] (Recording)

Elite boutique investment banking offers are highly competitive, and the candidates who break through are intentional about how they position their experience and navigate the process. This session is for students targeting firms like Evercore, Lazard, and PJT who want to understand what actually differentiates successful applicants. You’ll learn how to build a focused recruiting strategy, position your background to signal strong fit, and approach networking and interviews in a way that leads to real traction. Join live to hear how an experienced coach evaluates candidates targeting elite boutiques and the patterns they see across successful applicants. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions about your own recruiting approach and get real-time guidance typically shared in 1:1 coaching sessions.

What Top Investment Banks Are Looking For

Many candidates aiming for investment banking roles aren’t sure what actually differentiates applicants in a highly competitive process. This session is designed for students and early-career professionals who want to understand how top banks evaluate candidates beyond GPA and technical skills. You’ll learn what qualities banks prioritize, how to position your experiences effectively, and how successful candidates prepare for both networking and interviews.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Writing

Many people have asked me a set of questions frequently. These questions will answer some of your questions quickly!

Break into Investment Banking + Private Equity

Join this discussion moderated by @YourAverageFinanceBro, a leading finance comedy creator on Instagram and LinkedIn! A panel of expert Leland coaches who help candidates land roles in investment banking and private equity will break down these industries' complex recruiting processes into clear, actionable advice. This session will cover what it really takes to break into highly competitive finance careers through practical guidance on recruiting strategy, preparation, and common pitfalls, providing insights you can apply immediately to stand out and secure interviews at the top firms.

Valuations for Investment Banking

Valuation is the backbone of investment banking interviews and on-the-job analysis, yet many candidates struggle to explain it clearly and confidently. This session breaks down the core valuation methods used in banking, how to think about assumptions and trade-offs, and how to communicate your work the way bankers expect in interviews and live deal discussions. You’ll leave with a stronger conceptual framework for valuation and practical tips to sharpen both your technical accuracy and your delivery.

What Top Investment Banking Candidates Do Differently: Strategy, Positioning & Interview Edge

In this session, you will learn how to position yourself as a compelling investment banking candidate before you ever walk into an interview. We will cover how to build a deal experience narrative that holds up under pressure, how to differentiate yourself in a crowded applicant pool, and what interviewers are actually evaluating when they ask behavioral questions.

Landing an Investment Banking Role

Investment banking recruiting is highly competitive, and success depends on strategy, preparation, and timing. This session breaks down the full recruiting process, from understanding roles and timelines to building a strong resume, networking effectively, and preparing for technical and behavioral interviews. You’ll learn how banks evaluate candidates, what differentiates top applicants, and how to avoid common mistakes that derail otherwise strong profiles.

How to Stand Out in IB Recruiting

Investment banking recruiting is intensely competitive, and standing out requires more than strong grades and technical skills. This session breaks down how banks actually evaluate candidates, what differentiates top applicants, and how to position your background to signal readiness from day one. You’ll learn how to refine your resume, tell a compelling story, network strategically, and avoid common mistakes that quietly hurt your chances.

The Investment Banking Behavior Interview: Prove Your Value

Investment banking behavioral interviews test more than fit—they assess judgment, resilience, and whether you’ll add value on day one. In this session, you’ll learn how to structure compelling stories, highlight impact under pressure, and answer common questions with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re preparing for first rounds or superdays, you’ll leave with a repeatable framework to stand out in behavioral interviews.

Preparing now for IB Summer Recruiting

IB summer recruiting moves quickly, and the strongest candidates are the ones who prepare with intention well before applications open. The groundwork you lay now can dramatically shape your outcomes later. In this session, we’ll cover how to sharpen your technical skills, craft a resume that stands out, network strategically, and understand what banks are truly looking for in summer analysts. If you want to enter recruiting season focused, confident, and ready to compete at the highest level, this is where it starts.

How to Crush your Finance Behavioral Interviews

In finance interviews, technical skills get you in the room—but behavioral answers often decide who gets the offer. Your ability to tell clear, confident stories about leadership, resilience, and impact can make all the difference. In this session, you’ll learn how to structure powerful answers, anticipate the questions firms consistently ask, and turn your experiences into memorable, results-driven narratives. We’ll break down what interviewers are truly assessing and how to respond with clarity, confidence, and credibility. If you want to walk into your next finance interview prepared to stand out, this is where to start.

IB Resume Secrets: What Actually Works (and What Doesn't)

​Breaking into investment banking starts with one thing: a resume that grabs attention. But with so many conflicting tips out there, it’s hard to know what really matters to recruiters and deal teams. ​In this session, Ryan T., a former Investment Banker at Wells Fargo Securities with nearly 5 years of experience in healthcare investment banking, will reveal what top firms actually look for in resumes. Ryan has served as Staffer, Recruiting Team Captain, and Manager - interviewing, hiring, and training multiple analyst classes while executing $10B+ in deals across 90+ transactions. He’s also coached 70+ candidates into roles at leading firms, so you won't want to miss his advice! ​You’ll learn how to structure your bullet points for maximum impact, highlight the experiences that truly matter, and avoid the common mistakes that hold applicants back. Whether you’re recruiting for summer analyst positions or full-time roles, this session will give you the insight and clarity to stand out in one of the most competitive fields in finance.

The IB Playbook for Non-Traditional Backgrounds: From Networking to Interviews

​Breaking into investment banking without a traditional finance background can feel daunting—but it’s absolutely possible with the right strategy. In this workshop, expert Leland coach and former Wells Fargo banker Sereena T. will walk you through how to position your unique experience, build meaningful connections, and succeed in interviews. ​You’ll learn how to translate your skills into the language of finance, craft a networking approach that actually leads to interviews, and prepare effectively for both technical and behavioral questions. The session will wrap up with a Q&A, giving you the chance to get personalized insights from a coach who has helped countless candidates land top IB offers.

Resume & Cover Letter for IB Recruiting

In investment banking recruiting, your resume and cover letter are often the first (and only) chance to make a strong impression. In this workshop, Aaryan P.—an incoming Investment Banking Summer Analyst at J.P. Morgan with experience recruiting at top firms like Moelis, PJT Partners, and Guggenheim—will share how to craft application materials that get noticed.