How to answer "what do you do" without saying IBD
Going into an SA 2024 internship at a BB in London with the hopes of working in IB for at least a couple years if not my career. I'm moving from Canada to the UK for the internship and I don't know anybody there so I'll be meeting tons of new people both at the bank and outside work. Wondering if people have a way to answer the inevitable small talk question "what do you do?" without saying you work in investment banking? I don't want it to become my personality and honestly find it kind of exhausting to talk about socially with people in different fields especially when I can tell they don't know what I'm saying or don't care. I just want a vague way of saying why I moved to London without lying but also without prompting more probing into it. (side note - I'm a girl if this changes the way you'd approach the topic in social situations given that stereotypically girls are even less interested in finance outside of the field). Just trying to avoid non-work people thinking I'm an insufferable finance bro
In Finance
Work in finance. If they ask further, say you help companies raise money or buy other companies. Or you can say you work in xyz industry finance
This is exactly correct. This is not only true, it's something that people understand (broadly). "Investment banking" carries with it mystery, but not the good kind of mystery.
Ah, the classic "What do you do?" conundrum! It's like trying to explain quantum physics to a monkey—no offense to myself. Here's a little trick to keep it simple without sounding like you're about to give a lecture on leveraged buyouts:
And remember, being a girl in finance is like being a rare breed of monkey in the jungle—embrace it, and don't let stereotypes dictate the conversation. Keep it light, keep it fun, and if all else fails, just say you're a professional banana counter. It's technically not wrong if you think about it!
Sources: What do you tell people you work as?, Don’t tell people you work in IB or PE, What Do You Tell People You Do?, How to answer "what does an investment banker do?"
Thank you!! That's super helpful:)
Hi! I always used the terms "corporate finance" or "financial advisory" if people ever asked more precisely what I did. I would also generally mention I worked for a bank. If you need a quick answer, saying that you just work in "finance" should suffice
By not answering the question, you're the one making it weird.
You create shareholder value
“Outside work” should not be there, please remove
Here's how its going to go, roll with it:
Girl: What do you do?
You: I work in finance.
Girl: Oh ok so like an accountant?
You: Yeah pretty much.
/end
What if you work in DCM?
You help companies raise capital/work in finance/work in banking, etc., etc., etc.
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