💼 How to Become a Banker? (With AI as Your Secret Weapon)
- City Investment Training
- Sep 16
- 4 min read

📊How to Become a Banker: The Brutal Reality of Banking Applications
Every year, hundreds of thousands of students apply for internships and graduate roles at investment banks across the UK and Europe.
Goldman Sachs received 300,000+ applications in 2023.
Acceptance rates at bulge brackets (GS, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Citi) are under 2%.
Elite boutiques (Rothschild, Lazard, Evercore) hire even fewer, but expect exceptional technical and communication skills.
So, if you're asking yourself how do you become a banker, the first step is understanding that only the top 2% make it through.
Let’s break it down stage by stage — and show you how AI can help you outperform.
📉 How to Become a Banker: Failure Rates at Each Stage + AI Hacks
1. Online Application (CV & Cover Letter)
Failure rate: 80–90%.
Most CVs never reach a human — they are filtered out by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
✅ AI Hacks to Beat This Stage:
ChatGPT / Claude: Rewrite CV bullets in banker-style (1 line per bullet, ending at margin).
Jobscan + ResumAI: Check if your CV has the right keywords (DCF, Valuations, LBO, M\&A).
Notion AI / Perplexity: Draft personalised cover letters tailored to each bank.
Our AI Jobs Tracker: Automatically highlights roles, so your CV/CL can be customised for every single opportunity without missing deadlines.
2. Online Tests (Numerical, Situational, Psychometric)
Failure rate: 50–60%.
Many students fail because they don’t practise enough under timed conditions.
✅ AI Hacks to Beat This Stage:
ChatGPT Plugins: Generate SHL-style practice tests.
Mimir / PrepLounge AI: Simulate psychometric questions with explanations.
AI Flashcards (Anki + GPT): Train mental math speed.
Otter.ai: Analyse your pace while practising.
3. Video Interviews (HireVue)
Failure rate: 20–30%.
Candidates fail for robotic answers or lack of commercial awareness.
✅ AI Hacks to Beat This Stage:
HeyGen / Synthesia: Record mock answers, review tone and body language.
Voiceflow Interview Bot: Simulate banker-style questioning with instant grading.
Yoodli AI: Track filler words, clarity, and energy.
Perplexity: Generate up-to-date deal examples to reference.
4. Assessment Centre (Case Studies, Group Exercises, Interviews)
Failure rate: 40–50%.
Even strong students fail because they can’t apply knowledge under pressure.
✅ AI Hacks to Beat This Stage:
ChatGPT (Case Pack Simulator): Generate new case studies and timed group challenges.
Miro + AI: Practice brainstorming visually under time pressure.
Notion AI: Summarise long case studies instantly.
Otter.ai: Analyse group practice transcripts to check whether you dominate or contribute effectively.
5. Final Round / Superday Interviews
Failure rate: 70–80%.
The last hurdle is all about *fit + technical depth.
✅ AI Hacks to Beat This Stage:
Voiceflow Interview Agent: Train AI with 500+ IB interview questions.
Claude / NotebookLM: Upload deal notes and test yourself.
Perplexity: Keep up with market news to discuss intelligently.
HeyGen avatars: Practise personal stories with different “interviewer personalities.”
❌ The #1 Mistake Holding You Back From Becoming a Banker
Not Making Enough Applications
One of the biggest reasons students fail is simply not applying to enough roles.
Many students only apply to 5–10 banks.
Reality: To maximise your chances, you should target 50–100+ applications across bulge brackets, elite boutiques, and regional boutiques.
Missed deadlines = missed offers.
✅ How Our AI Jobs Tracker Helps You Win:
Aggregates 400+ IB, PE, and AM internships/graduate jobs across the UK, Europe, US, and Australia.
Tracks deadlines, locations, and requirements* in real time.
Sends reminders so you never miss an opportunity.
Lets you filter by bank type (bulge, boutique, mid-market) and region.
This tool alone makes the difference between applying to 10 roles vs 100+ — and dramatically increases your odds of making it into the top 2%.
🚀 Skills You Need to Become a Banker and join the Top 2% (Supercharged by AI)
1. Technical Mastery — DCF, LBO, M\&A modelling, accounting fluency.
Use Excel + ChatGPT Copilot to practise and debug models.
2. Networking Strategy — LinkedIn outreach, alumni calls, society events.
Taplio / Clay AI: Automate personalised LinkedIn messages.
3. Interview Readiness — Storytelling, commercial awareness, confidence.
Voiceflow bots + Yoodli: AI mock interview with real feedback.
4. Assessment Centre Preparedness — teamwork + pressure handling.
AI Case Simulators: Run group case scenarios at home.
5. Consistency in Applications — don’t drop off mid-season.
Our AI Jobs Tracker makes sure you stay on top of every role.
🌍 UK & Europe Nuances: What Matters If You're Becoming a Banker
UK: A-levels matter (AAB+ for bulge, BBC+ for boutiques).
Europe: University prestige + languages (French, German, Spanish) often matter more.
Rolling deadlines: Boutiques often recruit year-round, making the AI Jobs Tracker essential.
🏆 Final Thoughts on How to Become a Banker
The investment banking process is designed to filter out, not select.
Out of 100 applicants:
80–90 fail at CV stage.
Half of the rest fail tests.
Many drop off at video/AC stages.
Only 1–2 win offers.
But with structured preparation — and the right AI tools like our AI Jobs Tracker — you can massively tilt the odds in your favour.
If you’re serious about becoming a banker, free YouTube prep won’t cut it. Our 8-week and 16-week Investment Banking Training Programs combine technical mastery with AI-powered tools — including our AI Jobs Tracker — to give you the edge you need to land offers.
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