Investment Banking Cover Letter

Investment bankers typically work for investment banks, commercial banks, or securities firms, raising capital for their organisation or clients by issuing and selling securities.

A career in investment banking isn’t for everyone, though. Investment bankers must be able to think on their feet, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and make decisions under pressure.

So if you’re applying to an investment banking job, you’ll need to make a cover letter that highlights your industry-relevant experience and skills. Here are three tips for writing an investment banking cover letter that gets you hired:

1. Use the proper format for your investment banking cover letter

When you apply for an investment banking job, it’s essential to format your cover letter correctly. Your cover letter is usually the first part of your application a potential employer will read, so it’s important to make a good impression with professional formatting.

Here’s how to format your investment banking cover letter:

• Start with your contact information by including your name, address, phone number, and email address in a cover letter header
• Write the date you’re submitting your application (right-align the date if you’re making a cover letter from scratch or put it in the designated spot on your cover letter template)
• Include the contact person’s name and contact information in a left-aligned list
• Greet the contact person by name in a professional salutation like ‘Dear Mr Sanchez,’ (it’s typically best to avoid coming off as impersonal by using generic greetings such as ‘Dear Sir or Madam,’ and ‘To Whom It May Concern,’)
• Write 4–5 paragraphs explaining your reasons for applying
• End with a professional sign-off (‘Yours sincerely,’ for example)

Remember that your cover letter should be no more than one page long. If it’s too long, the bank’s recruiter may not bother reading it.

2. Lead with your most valuable investment banking skills and achievements

When it comes to writing an investment banking cover letter, the opening is key. You want to make sure that your cover letter instantly grabs the reader’s attention and gives them a reason to keep reading.

This is how to start your cover letter for an investment banking job:

• State why you’re interested in working for the investment banking firm: This can be something personal, such as how you’ve always been fascinated by the financial industry, or how you admire the company’s track record
• Highlight your most relevant qualifications and experience: If you’ve worked in finance before, or if you’ve got any particular skills or knowledge related to your target investment banking job, make sure to mention that here
• Explain what you can offer the investment banking team: A cover letter is an opportunity to sell your investment banker skills, so focus on what value you can bring to the organisation

Here’s an example of an opening paragraph from a job-winning investment banking cover letter:

3. Quantify your investment banking experience

Your investment banking cover letter is an important opportunity to demonstrate your quantitative skills. Hard numbers are the language of investment banking, and your cover letter is a chance to show that you can use them to make persuasive arguments.

So when you write your cover letter, focus on results rather than descriptions of your investment banking job duties. Include concrete details like percentage increases and dollar amounts. For instance, if you led a team that generated $10 million in new business, that’s the number you should highlight.

Here’s another example of how to quantify your experience in your investment banking cover letter:

For the past two years in my current role, I have successfully coordinated multiple multi-billion pound deals, including a private equity firm’s £3.5 billion acquisition of a public organisation. I’ve also reeled in 100+ new corporate clients, generating £20 million in revenue.