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One of the best ways to prepare for the workforce is to get involved in student organizations at Harvard. As mentioned on our Succeeding in Investment Banking page, good investment bankers have high intellectual and analytical capabilities as well as strong communication, networking, organizational, and technical skills. The following is a list of Harvard student organizations that can help you to cultivate these valuable investment banking skills!


Harvard College Economics Review

The Harvard College Economics Review is an annual periodical addressing issues of national and global importance through economic analyses accessible to professionals and common readers alike. We feature articles and interviews with some of the world's most prominent economists in academia, business, and government, as well as a regular blog from our Harvard staff.


Harvard College Ventures

Harvard Ventures is the largest undergraduate venture capital and entrepreneurship organization at Harvard that supports students by offering educational finance workshops, networking events with founders and investors, and startup internship opportunities.


Harvard Undergraduate BGLTQ Business Society (HUBBS)

HUBBS is dedicated to opening pathways for BGLTQ students interested in finance, consulting, technology, and other business sectors to pursue their career goals, and HUBBS is open to any Harvard College member of the BGLTQ and allied community at Harvard interested in business. Given that BGLTQ students are underrepresented in the business sector, our goal is to connect, advise, and support these students who are considering careers in business.


Harvard Undergraduate Consulting on Business and the Environment

Harvard Undergraduate CBE is a strategy consulting group that works with Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups in the technology, life sciences, and sustainability sectors to solve pressing business problems and develop research-driven strategy recommendations for clients. Since 2008, the group has provided clients with industry-focused solutions including market/industry analysis, product design, customer segmentation, and financial modeling. The group also retains a strong focus on sustainability, working with multiple projects each year geared towards renewable energy, clean water, and clean technology-based companies and programs. Other CBE initiatives include our annual CBE Ventures competition, Black Solidarity Grant, and Sustainability Grant. To learn more about CBE and our flagship sustainability and service initiatives, visit our website: www.harvardcbe.com.


Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association

The Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA) serves as a forum for undergraduate students interested in economics. Its activities include dinners with professors, graduate school panels, peer advising, and community outreach.


Harvard Undergraduate Global Research and Consulting Chapter

GRC Group is a global student-run strategic consulting and research think tank with a strong international network of 500+ ambitious, talented, and entrepreneurial students who seek to have a meaningful impact on the world. With nearly 20 chapters at the top academic institutions, including Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, and LSE, GRC collaborates with global nonprofits, social impact start-ups, and CSR-oriented organizations, such as the United Nations, Wikipedia, and World Wildlife Fund, to develop well-informed, impactful insights and solutions via pro bono consulting and research projects. To further empower our members to drive social change and become responsible future leaders, we offer professional development workshops that equip members with hard skills required for a career in consulting, career panels across relevant sectors (management consulting, impact investing, nonprofits, etc.), and work with organizations to amplify impact tenfold by integrating technology into their operations.


Harvard Undergraduate Latinxs in Finance & Technology

Harvard Undergraduate Latinxs in Finance & Technology (LiFT) is a student-run organization at Harvard College that provides professional resources and support for Latinx students pursuing careers in traditionally underrepresented industries such as business, technology, law, media, and more.


Harvard Undergraduate Real Estate Investment Group

We are committed to educating members about Real Estate Investments.


Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business

Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business (HUWIB) seeks to empower a dynamic group of enterprising young women, uniting them through business education and experience. HUWIB offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate women at Harvard to expand and sharpen their knowledge of business opportunities, giving them the skills they will need to become future leaders in the corporate world. HUWIB's membership has been steadily expanding since its inception approximately twenty years ago. Serving the entire female Harvard undergraduate population, HUWIB is overseen by an Executive Board and nine committees. Through panels, conferences, outreach initiatives, skill-building workshops, leadership projects, mentorship programs, and social events, HUWIB seeks to expose undergraduate women to a variety of business careers. HUWIB's unique blend of professionalism, pragmatism, and entrepreneurial spirit allows us to develop programs that are both effective and diverse. Over the years, HUWIB has cultivated close relationships with many companies in different sectors of the business world, including investment banking, consulting, financial services, software technology, entrepreneurship, marketing, and more. HUWIB also works closely with Harvard Business School and other female-oriented business organizations. Membership in HUWIB requires completion of the 10-week WIBternship in which prospective members attend skill-building business panels and work with others on mini-projects. Once part of the HUWIB network, associates are encouraged to apply for committee positions where they help coordinate and execute the planning for the fastest-growing and largest women's organization on campus. Associates enjoy the opportunity to gain a variety of management and organizational skill sets, from finance and development to marketing, design, and production.


The Harvard Crimson Business Board

The Harvard Crimson is an entirely student-run, financially independent publication. The business division raises revenue to support the $600,000 annual operating budget amid a radically transforming media landscape. Our team of highly innovative and dedicated associates operates and grows the million-dollar business that is The Harvard Crimson




While navigating the investment banking industry can be difficult sometimes, there is a variety of resources available online to help you succeed. To help, we've compiled a list of free resources to fit your every need, whether you're preparing for the recruitment season or are interested in learning more about investment banking in general.


Looking to gain more insight into what investment banking is? Check out these resources for some general information:


Find more information about top recruiters in the industry and their opportunities for students here:


There are numerous online and print resources that are available to help you prepare for interviews. These resources include common interview questions and suggested answers, as well as basic finance fundamentals to help you nail the technical questions. Here are a few that students have found helpful:


Choose the ones that work best for you! Beyond online and print readings, your most valuable resources are friends and people in your network who are often more than willing to guide you through the process.


 

These are some of the ways Harvard students studied and prepared for their interviews:


Make your own study guide and practice.

“Just read all the threads that are like "100 most asked questions in IB interviews." Make your own study guide with sample answers. Rehearse your answers. Have a cohesive story of why you want to be an investment banker. Do you love finance? Then why aren't you in any finance clubs? Be able to answer all of these.”

- Analyst at Truist, Harvard Class of 2019


Don't underestimate behavioral questions.

“The M&I 400 Guide is a great resource. This guide is pretty comprehensive, so I didn't study other guides in great depth. I've also heard good things about the Vault Guides but can't personally attest to them. In general, I think nailing the behavioral questions is more important than mastering the technicals--your responses to the behavioral questions tell the interviewer who you are as a person, which is obviously crucial in the hiring process. I personally don't think it's the end of the world if you miss a technical or two because these things can be learned quickly.”

- Intern at BofA, Harvard Class of 2021


Run through interviews with a friend.

“I studied the basic and intermediate portions of the WSO technical interview guide for the technicals which was helpful. Some of the on-campus networking events have technical prep components which is a great resource. Also, what really helped me was talking to an upperclassmen friend who had gone through the same process. She supported me throughout the whole process, going over my elevator pitch, resume, etc.”

- Intern at Citibank, Harvard Class of 2021


Be able to talk about why you're choosing IB.

“The 400 Investment Banking Interview Questions & Answers You Need to Know is pretty helpful and covers a pretty wide range of both behavioral and technical interview questions. It's helpful to read even just for getting a better understanding of what kind of people are suitable for IB and what kinds of skills the job may demand.”

- Intern at BofA, Harvard Class of 2021



Information Sessions

Throughout Fall and Spring Semester

A few companies will come to Harvard to give information sessions to prospective applicants. Take advantage of these to learn about the firm, learn more about the industry, and meet people who work at the company. Companies typically come to campus during September/October in the fall semester, and March/April in the spring semester. During these visits, companies may host information sessions, appear at career fairs, partner with clubs to host events, and/or offer coffee chats. Networking at these events is a way for you to learn more about the firm, and for them to start getting to know you.


Applications Open

Spring/Summer

Send in your application through the company’s portal, updating people you have networked with that you have done so. The application deadlines vary company to company. However, generally summer internship applications open spring/summer the year before.


Phone Interview or HireVue

If you pass the resume screen, companies will usually have a first round phone interview or HireVue, which is a recorded video interview. In this round, you typically will encounter behavioral questions and perhaps a few technical questions.


Superday

Throughout Fall and Spring Semester

The final round, here is where you will be interviewed by multiple people in the firm throughout a whole day. You should expect a mix of behavioral questions and technical questions. Make sure to send thank you emails to everyone who has interviewed you.

Featured Employers

McMaster-Carr

Williams Companies

Industry Guides

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