TESTIMONIALS - CITY INVESTMENT TRAINING

Highest Placement Rate of any IB Summer Program - 91% (2007-2025)

Jakub Śmigorski

From City Investment Training to Rothschild

"Before joining City Investment Training, I was studying at university with very little exposure to finance. After attending the free workshop, I enrolled on the eight-week programme, and it completely changed my understanding of investment banking.

The course gave me a strong foundation in accounting, valuation, and the technical skills I needed for interviews. Since my degree wasn't finance-related, having everything explained in a structured and practical way made a huge difference.

The technical preparation gave me the confidence to perform in highly technical interviews and ultimately helped me secure my first internship in banking. That experience later led to an opportunity to work at PwC while continuing my studies.

Looking back, City Investment Training gave me the technical foundation and confidence that helped turn my first finance opportunity into the start of my career."

Eleanore Chamboredon

From City Investment Training to Societe Generale

Tess Brown

"I wasn't completely sure which area of finance I wanted to go into until I joined City Investment Training. The programme gave me a much better understanding of the industry while helping me develop the technical skills and confidence to pursue opportunities in investment banking.

Just a couple of weeks after finishing the programme, I secured a placement at Société Générale.

What really makes City Investment Training different is the focus on networking. Of course, you learn the technical skills needed to get through interviews, but the programme goes much further than that. It teaches you how to approach professionals, build relationships, and understand the different areas within investment banking, private equity, venture capital, and the wider finance industry.

Those networking skills made a huge difference once I started my placement. I felt much more confident reaching out to senior professionals and learning from people across the business, including the Global Head of Trading.

The programme isn't just about passing interviews—it's about preparing you for the industry. It gave me the technical foundation, networking skills, and confidence to make the most of every opportunity."

Tess Brown

Nicolas Heinze Moreno
From City Investment Training to Morgan Stanley

" I completed City Investment Training during my second year at university, long before I secured my full-time role in investment banking. Looking back, it became one of the most valuable investments I made in my career.

The programme gave me the technical skills that helped me secure my early internships, but what really stood out was how useful those skills continued to be years later. The knowledge I gained stayed with me throughout every stage of the recruitment process and into my professional career.

Another thing I really valued was the network. I'm still in touch with many people from my cohort today, and those relationships have continued long after the programme finished.

When I eventually received my Investment Banking Analyst offer from Morgan Stanley, one of the first people I wanted to tell was Sameer. That says a lot about the role City Investment Training played in helping me get there."

Andrea Martelleti

From City Investment Training to UBS

" My university gave me a good understanding of business, but very little exposure to the practical side of corporate finance. City Investment Training filled that gap by teaching me how financial models are actually built and used in investment banking.

What I liked most was that the programme focused on application rather than theory. Instead of simply learning formulas, we built models from scratch, which made it much easier to understand the logic behind them. Those practical skills became incredibly valuable once I started my internships because I could contribute from day one rather than trying to learn everything on the job.

Another thing I appreciated was how personalised the programme felt. Being able to ask questions and receive feedback on my work made a huge difference compared with larger online courses.

The technical skills I developed through City Investment Training helped strengthen my CV and prepared me for internships in venture capital before later joining UBS Investment Banking."

Sophie Olney

From City Investment Training to Alantra

" When I first started applying for investment banking roles, I quickly realised that having good grades wasn't enough. The biggest thing I was missing was the technical knowledge needed to perform well in interviews, which is why I joined City Investment Training.

What I found valuable was being able to learn directly from someone with industry experience. Financial modelling, valuation, and technical concepts were explained in a practical way, and because the classes were interactive, I could ask questions whenever something wasn't clear. That made a huge difference compared with trying to learn everything through online courses.

By the end of the programme, I felt much more confident answering technical questions and explaining my thought process during interviews.

Those skills played an important role in helping me secure a Private Equity internship at Bridgepoint before moving into an M&A role at Alantra. "

Guillem

From City Investment Training to KPMG

"I joined City Investment Training because I wanted something that online courses couldn't offer. I was looking for face-to-face learning, direct access to someone with investment banking experience, and an environment where I could properly develop my skills.

What stood out most was the structure of the programme. Building financial models in class, asking questions in real time, and receiving immediate feedback made the learning far more effective than studying independently. It also confirmed that investment banking was the career I genuinely wanted to pursue.

The programme continued to benefit me long after the eight weeks finished. The modelling foundation helped me complete complex LBO case studies during interviews, including the one that ultimately led to my role at RBC Capital Markets. I also built friendships and professional connections that have stayed with me throughout my career.

The program provided an immersive learning experience that helped me develop the confidence, network, and practical skills to progress from my first role in investment banking to KPMG Deal Advisory and now RBC Capital Markets."

Tess Brown

Axel Zanner

From City Investment Training to Ali Liwan Group

What really made City Investment Training stand out for me was that it went far beyond the traditional investment banking curriculum. Of course, we covered financial modelling, valuation, and interview preparation, but one of the biggest advantages was learning how to use AI to work more efficiently.

Sameer introduced us to tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, GenSpark, and NotebookLM, showing us how they can be used to research companies, prepare presentations, write investment memos, and automate repetitive tasks.

Another game changer was the LinkedIn automation training. It completely transformed the way I approached networking, helping me connect with professionals and organise coffee chats far more effectively than I could have done manually.

These are skills that aren't taught at university and, in many cases, aren't even widely used across the industry yet.

City Investment Training prepared me for interviews, it gave me practical tools that I've continued using every day in my career.

Lisa Rose

Nino Awtani
From City Investment Training to SI Partners

I didn't decide on investment banking until the final year of university, which meant I was already behind. I knew very little about spring weeks, summer internships, or how recruitment actually worked, and I quickly realised there was far more to the industry than I had expected.

City Investment Training completely changed that. More than anything, it gave me a genuine understanding of investment banking and the different career paths within it. Through Sameer's experience and the guest speakers from across the industry, I was able to learn what different teams actually do and decide that M&A was the area I wanted to pursue.

The financial modelling was also outstanding. In fact, when I joined an M&A boutique after the programme, I found that the modelling we had covered during the course was even more advanced than what I was initially expected to produce on the job. That gave me a real advantage from day one.

The program helped me gain clarity to make informed career decisions. Without City Investment Training, I genuinely don't think I would be working in investment banking today.

Adam Dewji

From City Investment Training to HSBC

Coming from a non-target university, I wasn't sure whether investment banking was still a realistic career path. City Investment Training completely changed that mindset by giving me the technical skills and practical experience I felt I was missing.

The programme covered everything from financial modelling and DCFs to LBOs and comparable company analysis, all taught in a way that was easy to follow and immediately applicable. It gave me the confidence to compete in spring week applications, stock pitch competitions, and other finance opportunities that I previously wouldn't have felt prepared for.

What I also appreciated was being surrounded by ambitious students with similar goals. The environment encouraged everyone to keep improving and made the whole experience much more motivating.

City Investment Training helped me become far more competitive and gave me the confidence to pursue opportunities in investment banking and high finance.

Rania Sidinou

From City Investment Training to Attijari Finance Corp.

Coming from a Political Economy background, I had no experience with financial modelling, valuation, or any of the technical skills required for investment banking. I knew I wanted to move into finance, but I wasn't sure where to start. City Investment Training gave me the structured learning and practical experience I needed to bridge that gap.

What I found most valuable was how hands-on the programme was. Instead of just learning theory, we built financial models, worked through valuations, and applied everything we learned to real companies. That made complex concepts much easier to understand and gave me confidence that I could actually use these skills in interviews and on the job.

Another thing that really stood out was that the programme didn't just focus on technicals. We also spent time on networking, personal branding, and how to communicate our experiences effectively. Those are skills that aren't always taught at university but are incredibly important when you're trying to stand out in such a competitive industry.

Looking back, City Investment Training gave me practical foundation in finance that complemented my university degree and helped me successfully transition into private equity.

Rees Jennings

From City Investment Training to UBS

City Investment Training gave me the technical foundation that my university simply didn't provide. Coming from a Business Administration background, I had very little exposure to corporate finance.

What stood out most was the practical approach.
I learned how to build financial models from scratch, which proved invaluable once I started my internships.

Those practical skills gave me much more confidence and made the transition into investment banking much smoother.

I also liked how personalised the programme was. Having direct feedback on my work and being able to ask questions made it very different from larger online courses.

The technical training helped strengthen my CV and gave me the confidence to secure internships in venture capital and later Investment Banking at UBS.

Lisa Rose

Thomas Huang
From City Investment Training to Societe Generale

Before joining City Investment Training, I was trying to learn investment banking through YouTube videos, online resources, and different courses. The problem was that everything felt disconnected. I could understand individual topics, but I never really saw how they all fitted together.

The programme completely changed that. Starting with accounting before moving into financial modelling and valuation gave me a much clearer understanding of how investment banking works in practice. Every topic built on the previous one, so by the end of the course everything finally made sense.

That structured approach made a huge difference when preparing for interviews because I understood the reasoning behind the technical questions instead of simply memorising answers.

During the programme I secured an offer with Société Générale in Global Markets, and I genuinely believe having that structured technical foundation played an important role in helping me get there. It gave me a much clearer understanding of finance and made the whole recruitment process far less intimidating.

Adam Al Molla

From City Investment Training to Veles Capital

As a fourth-year medical student at Imperial College, I wanted to transition into investment banking but knew I needed to bridge the gap between medicine and finance. City Investment Training gave me the structured, practical learning I was looking for.

What impressed me most was how Sameer broke down complex financial concepts into something that was easy to understand, even for someone with no finance background. The first few weeks built a strong foundation in accounting and financial modelling, and by the end of the programme I felt confident discussing financial statements, building DCF models, and tackling technical interview questions.

The mock interviews were another highlight. Each senior banker had a different interview style, which prepared me for a range of questions and helped me improve both my technical and behavioural answers. The personalised feedback made a real difference to how I approached interviews.

For anyone coming from a non-finance background, the programme provides a clear roadmap into investment banking. It takes concepts that initially seem overwhelming and turns them into practical skills you can confidently apply throughout the recruitment process.

Josh Houry

From City Investment Training to Veenero Capital

After graduating with a degree in Accounting and Finance, I realised there was still a gap between what I'd learned at university and what employers expected in investment banking. City Investment Training helped bridge that gap by focusing on practical skills rather than academic theory.

The financial modelling and valuation training gave me experience that I simply hadn't developed during my degree. Everything was taught with real-world application in mind, making it much easier to understand how the technical concepts are actually used in the workplace.

That practical experience gave me much more confidence throughout the recruitment process and strengthened my applications for finance roles.

Shortly after completing the programme, I secured a role at Venera Capital Advisors. Looking back, City Investment Training gave me the practical skills and industry knowledge that helped me make the transition from university into investment banking.

Peter Smith

From City Investment Training to HSBC

Coming into City Investment Training, I already had some exposure to finance through my Master's, but I wanted to develop the practical technical skills that investment banks actually expect. The programme helped me take that knowledge to the next level.

What stood out most was the depth of the technical training. We didn't just cover the fundamentals, we worked through advanced financial modelling, LBOs, M&A accretion and dilution analysis, equity research, and valuation using real case studies. Applying these concepts in practice made them much easier to understand than simply learning the theory.

I also found the mock interviews with senior bankers incredibly valuable. They were challenging, realistic, and gave me detailed feedback that helped me improve both my technical and behavioural interview skills.

Overall, City Investment Training complemented my academic background by providing practical experience that university couldn't offer. It strengthened my technical ability, improved my interview performance, and gave me much greater confidence when applying for investment banking roles.

Lisa Rose

Demi Chen
From City Investment Training to Deutsche Bank

Coming from a Pure Mathematics background, I found investment banking quite intimidating at first because I had no accounting or finance knowledge. City Investment Training gave me a structured introduction that made the whole industry much more accessible.

The programme started with the fundamentals before building into financial modelling and valuation, making it much easier to understand topics that had previously felt overwhelming. The practical projects and company case studies also gave me examples that I could talk about confidently during interviews.

One thing I really appreciated was that the course didn't just teach technical concepts, it gave me a foundation that made independent learning much easier afterwards. Once I understood the basics, I could continue building my knowledge with much more confidence.

Alberto Terzic

From City Investment Training to Marathon Capital

Before joining City Investment Training, I had completed other finance programmes, worked in consulting, and studied Physics at university. What made this programme different wasn't just the technical content, it was having direct access to someone with real investment banking experience who was always willing to answer questions and share practical insights.

One of the most valuable parts of the course was learning how to pitch a stock and present an investment idea. It's a skill that's rarely taught elsewhere, but one that proved incredibly useful during interviews and gave me something tangible to discuss with employers.

The interview preparation was equally valuable. Rather than memorising model answers, Sameer explained how bankers actually think and what interviewers are looking for, making the process feel far less intimidating.

What really sets City Investment Training apart is the level of guidance you receive throughout the programme.

Being able to ask questions, learn from real industry experience, and receive honest advice helped me make better career decisions and ultimately supported my move into infrastructure private equity, where I work today.

Thomas Basset

From City Investment Training to Veenero Capital

Joining the City Investment Training internship was the first real step I took towards breaking into investment banking. Before the programme, I had some knowledge of finance and trading through university, but I had never built a financial model or worked on valuation and M&A exercises in a practical setting.

The internship gave me something I was missing: relevant experience. Instead of applying with only academic knowledge, I was able to talk about real projects, explain how I approached financial models, and discuss practical work during interviews. That completely changed the quality of my applications.

After the programme, I applied to more than 100 roles. There were plenty of rejections along the way, but every interview became another opportunity to build on the experience I had gained at City Investment Training. That persistence eventually led to an internship offer with Silver Mercator, where I'll be working across private equity, M&A, and capital raising. It also opened the door to joining a student investment fund as a derivatives trader.

City Investment Training was the experience that gave me the momentum to start building a career in investment banking.

Tess Brown

Raj Ravariya
From City Investment Training to Lincoln International

After moving from India to complete my Master's at the London School of Economics, I wanted to transition from consulting into investment banking.

While I had a strong academic background, I was looking for practical experience that would prepare me for the recruitment process.

One of the biggest things I took away from City Investment Training was learning how to use AI to improve my job search.

Before the programme, I had never used AI or automation for networking. Sameer showed us how to use these tools effectively, and once I implemented the system, I started receiving responses from professionals and even recommendations for opportunities.

Alongside that, mock interviews gave me a much clearer understanding of what investment banking interviews involve and where I needed to improve.

City Investment Training wasn't just about learning technical skills, it was about learning smarter ways to approach recruitment.

The combination of practical finance training and modern networking strategies made the programme genuinely different from anything I'd experienced before.

Lisa Rose

Aurea Nikula
From City Investment Training to

Coming from Switzerland with a Master's in Finance and having recently passed CFA Level I, I was looking for practical experience that would complement my academic background.

What stood out most was how practical the programme was. Instead of spending time on theory, we focused on the technical skills and modelling techniques that are actually used in investment banking. Working through real case studies and financial models gave me a much better understanding of how the job works in practice and helped bridge the gap between university and the workplace.

The mock interviews were another highlight. They were challenging, but the feedback from senior bankers was incredibly valuable and gave me much more confidence for real interviews.

City Investment Training gave me exactly what I was looking for, practical experience, stronger technical skills, and a clearer understanding of what investment banking demands.

Peter Smith

From City Investment Training to HSBC

Coming into City Investment Training, I already had some exposure to finance through my Master's, but I wanted to develop the practical technical skills that investment banks actually expect. The programme helped me take that knowledge to the next level.

What stood out most was the depth of the technical training. We didn't just cover the fundamentals, we worked through advanced financial modelling, LBOs, M&A accretion and dilution analysis, equity research, and valuation using real case studies. Applying these concepts in practice made them much easier to understand than simply learning the theory.

I also found the mock interviews with senior bankers incredibly valuable. They were challenging, realistic, and gave me detailed feedback that helped me improve both my technical and behavioural interview skills.

Overall, City Investment Training complemented my academic background by providing practical experience that university couldn't offer. It strengthened my technical ability, improved my interview performance, and gave me much greater confidence when applying for investment banking roles.

Thomas Basset

From City Investment Training to Veenero Capital

After graduating with a degree in Accounting and Finance, I realised there was still a gap between what I'd learned at university and what employers expected in investment banking.

The financial modelling and valuation training gave me experience that I simply hadn't developed during my degree. Everything was taught with real-world application in mind, making it much easier to understand how the technical concepts are actually used in the workplace.

That practical experience gave me much more confidence throughout the recruitment process and strengthened my applications for finance roles.

Shortly after completing the programme, I secured a role at Venera Capital Advisors.

City Investment Training gave me the practical skills and industry knowledge that helped me make the transition from university into investment banking.