Investment Banking Cover Letter Example & Writing Tips

Text Format

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager]

[Company Address]

[Company City, State xxxxx]

[(xxx)-xxx-xxxx]

[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear [Mr./Ms.] [Manager’s Name],

My name is Jamie Hass, and I’m writing in support of my application for the Investment Banking Associate position at David Blair & Company. While a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration have given me the fundamental knowledge necessary to be a successful investment banker, it’s the 2+ years at LTA Inc that’s significantly furthered my expertise.

Over the last 2 years as an analyst in the M&A division at LTA Inc, I’ve contribute meaningfully to 6 M&A deals totaling in excess of $3.8 billion, serving as the lead analyst in 3 of these deals. Apart from being integrally involved in valuation and financial modeling for these deals, I was also responsible for maintaining pitch books and ensuring that all stakeholders, both internal and external, had all the information they needed at the right time.

I’ve been praised by my seniors for the attention to detail and clarity in my reports, especially my executive summaries. One of the MDs termed my executive summary for a critical $1.3 billion M&A deal the “most well-written report I’ve come across in years.” I understand how critical data and reports are in decision making, which is why approach writing even the simplest of reports or updates with utmost diligence.

Another facet of my personality that I’d like to highlight is my networking and people skills. I am proud of my ability to effectively interface with colleagues — be it peers or higher ups — as well as clients, both actual and potential. In fact, I was assigned a summer intern to assist with my tasks while I was just 10 months into my analyst role, a first in my firm. This is a testament to how quickly I settled into my role and my manager’s faith in my people management abilities.

I’m now ready for a more impactful role in a larger firm, which is what motivated me to apply for the position you advertised. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have in person or online, at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at (phone number) and (email).

Sincerely,

Jamie Hass

Investment Banking Cover Letter Writing Tips

Learning how to put together a cover letter for the specific job(s) you want will help you land more interviews.

Investment bankers perform a range of tasks, from business valuation and financial planning to helping clients raise public and private funds.

Show employers you’re a great fit for the job by showcasing your skills in a well-written cover letter.

Here are three tips for writing an investment banking cover letter that’s sure to make your job prospects bullish:

Highlight investment banking skills

As an investment banker, you’ll spend a lot of time meeting with clients, conducting research, and developing financial models. So it’s important to highlight essential soft skills in your cover letter in addition to your quantitative abilities.

For example, here are some of the soft skills that are vital to success in the field of investment banking.

Time management skills
Organizational skills
Leadership skills
Critical thinking
Problem-solving skills
Project management skills
Adaptability
Resilience
Sales skills
People skills
Teamwork
Communication skills

Just as important, however (if not more important), are the technical skills associated with investment banking. Here are some industry-specific hard skills to highlight in your investment banking cover letter:

Knowledge of economics and accounting principles
Strong understanding of the financial market
ERP software (SAP, Oracle Hyperion)
Analytical and risk analysis software (SAS, Portfolio analysis software, SunGard Financial Systems AddVantage)
Project management software (Microsoft Project)

Open with a strong introduction

Working with capital markets means a job in investments is fast-paced and competitive. So employers need to know that you have the dedication and work ethic to keep up with the demands of this job.

Get them interested in learning more about you by writing a strong cover letter introduction.

Here’s how to write an impressive introduction for your investment banker cover letter:

Show your passion for the job. Don’t just say you’re interested, explain why.
Lead with an impressive accomplishment to highlight your ability to make sound investment decisions. For example, “Successfully increased client portfolio value by 16% annually after completing thorough research and analysis.”

Provide examples of your achievements (with numbers)

Investment banking is high stakes, so employers will want to hear how you can drive results. In your cover letter, provide examples of your accomplishments and use numbers to back them up.

Here’s how you can incorporate data in your investment banker cover letter:

Trained 10+ new associates on preparing offers and developing financial projections
Contributed to 6 M&A deals totaling in excess of $3.8 billion, and served as lead analyst for 3 of these deals
Conducted research and analysis for a $4B acquisition

Quantifying your skills will give employers a sense of what you can contribute and it helps them visualize how you’ll fit in.