Investment Banking: Recruiting Strategy
Breaking into investment banking is highly competitive, and success often depends as much on strategy and execution as it does on qualifications. This package is designed to help candidates develop a personalized recruiting strategy based on their background, experience, target firms, and career goals. Rather than relying on generic advice, we'll assess your specific situation and identify the actions most likely to improve your recruiting outcomes. Topics may include: *Candidate Assessment* - Evaluate your background, strengths, weaknesses, and recruiting profile to understand how you are likely to be perceived by different firms. *Target Banks & Groups* - Identify the banks, groups, and opportunities that best align with your experience, interests, and long-term goals. *Networking Strategy* - Develop a targeted networking approach, including prioritization, outreach strategy, relationship-building, and coffee chat preparation. *Recruiting Roadmap* - Create a practical action plan with clear priorities, timelines, and next steps designed to maximize your chances of securing interviews and offers. The objective is simple: help you focus your time on the opportunities and activities most likely to improve recruiting outcomes.
What's included
This package is delivered through live 1:1 coaching sessions tailored to your background, recruiting timeline, and career objectives. Together, we'll evaluate your recruiting profile, discuss target opportunities, and develop a personalized recruiting strategy designed to maximize your chances of success. You'll leave with a clearer understanding of where to focus your efforts and a practical plan for executing your recruiting process.
- Personalized assessment of your recruiting profile, strengths, and development areas
- Recommended target banks and groups based on your background and goals
- A tailored networking and outreach strategy
- A recruiting roadmap with prioritized action items and next steps
- Greater confidence navigating the investment banking recruiting process
Meet your expert
TJ H.
Ex-BofA Director | Investment Banking Recruiting & Transitions
I’m currently co-founder of Fownder Group - a founder focused advisory and investment banking firm as well as a former investment banking Director with ~15 years of total experience, including ~9 years of bulge bracket investment banking experience, advising founders, private equity sponsors, and management teams on M&A, capital raises, and strategic finance. Over the course of my career, I’ve advised on ~$15bn in completed transaction value. I began my investment banking career in 2016 in the large-cap Consumer & Retail group in New York at Bank of America Securities, before transferring to the large-cap Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) group, and later relocating to San Diego in 2020 as a VP to help build out the firm’s Middle Market Investment Banking platform—joining as the 40th hire on a team that scaled to ~250 bankers. I went on to launch and lead the firm’s middle-market Residential & Commercial Services sector coverage initiative, building the strategy from the ground up and driving origination and execution across a highly fragmented, founder-owned market. I have executed large-scale transactions, including the $6.0bn take-private of Tech Data and the $5.5bn acquisition financing for Bass Pro Group’s acquisition of Cabela's, as well as a range of middle-market transactions in the $100–$300mm enterprise value range. In addition to my day-to-day efforts to source and execute transactions, I served as the inaugural Associate Development Officer for the Middle Market group, focused on improving the associate experience and increasing the overall quality of the associate class. I mentored ~90 associates and helped shape training, performance management, and feedback processes across the platform.
