When I look at some of the information shared with regards to IB, im wondering if these people are really working in IB or merely just some WSO loyal reader with no practical IB experience.

To those whom are looking for IB roles, please do not be disillusioned by all that big money talk. IB in Singapore is very different from Hong Kong and Wall Street. Alot of IB guys in Singapore ultimately move on to Corporate Banking roles.

If you are in a BO role and wish to move into IB, personality screams louder than anything. If you are able to carry yourself well and know how to work that charisma, you will be able to get the right people to give you what you want. At the end of the day, how you speak and present eloquently at a roadshow is more important than anything else. You need to be persuasive and confident in your approach especially when you are facing a dozen other senior bank representatives and C-level executives whom are listening in.

If you are already working in an FO support role, im sure you will see that all the talk about rude, arrogant and snobbish Ibankers are just a minority in the industry - just like any other industries. Majority of the guys are open to sharing and chatting with you. You just need to know how to approach them.

Remember one thing: when you get into IB, personality is the one and only thing that will get you ahead. You can suck at modelling and DCF analysis. You can suck at risk (which most IB guys are anyway), but if you get your personality right, you will have an easier time. IB at the end of the day is all about packaging. Package yourself well. Package your pitch well - and dont forget that all that packaging is your personality.