Why do all German iBankers look the same?

Something I have noticed after working in the industry and it´s unnerving me really: All the IB (and of the consulting) guys here in Krautland seem to look the same, have exactly the same CV and seem to do all the same. Why is that?
Like:

  • 99% upper class and the single one German-Turk who fought his way up

  • side part; if glasses, half-rimmed

  • too tight blue suit, ugly shoes

  • exclusively went to Frankfurt School, WHU or Mannheim

  • immeasurably closed-minded, has never even thought of interesting work outside IB

  • greatest wish in life is to "do deals" or pivot to a PE company

Look, I know that this is a cliché at Wall Street, but there are other guys, too, other styles, creativity, etc. Here, not so much.
Why? Do we really aspire to have our entire industry represented by those blond, blue-suited Davids from WHU or what?

Krautbros, we gotta change that. Time to introduce the mohawk to banking! Free the flanell shirt! Up with Münster, down with Mannheim! Viva la revolución!

 
 
Most Helpful

What did you actually expected? Germans as a people are not a synonym for uniqueness, humor and enjoying in life.

In one sentence - Stiff, humorless, distant, cold-blooded executors of given tasks, But extremely successful in that. They are pre-programmed human beings without any spontaneity. Germans are perfect to work with them and to learn from them, you will work very hard but you will be properly awarded. Every other social interaction with them is very hard, sometimes completely impossible.

In the last 3 months of my life in London I met more interesting people and experienced more beautiful moments in my life than in 3 years of living in Germany.

Like I said, perfect executors. In prosperous times and relevant for investment banking you will get great leaders, true dominant rainmakers who with impress you with their constant desire for perfectionism.

On the other hand, in bad times, they were the creators of some of the worst atrocities in the history of human civilization.

 

+1 SB for the casual insult lol, but in some ways you´re right, we are a bit stiff. Don´t forget our romantic streak tho, although that doesn´t quite show in IB, I guess...

 
Matchwood:
* exclusively went to **Frankfurt School, WHU **
Also the worst German Universities. When I came the first time to Frankfurt I didn't know either of those Universities. But the people who went there like to tell you every time they went to one of them and that they are private universities. Never met in London anyone who graduated from these Universities or maybe people there realised no one cares about some small German Universities.
 

Only in IB? What about other divisions? S&T, AM...? Where are the other guys in finance in Germany? Do I have to go to London?

I thought -in Frankfurt- for IB the absolute number as well as the quality of graduates applying has decreased and banking is not a popular career option for graduates in Germany.

 

"German-Turk" nice made up term, you can either be German or Turkish... Nailed stuff about the upper class retards and looks FS only places into MM and Tier 2 shops, WHU and Mannheim are T1 targets

Cringe at the Münster line

Si vis pacem, para bellum
 

You again? Don´t worry, it´s not the remark about Turks that I find laughable, they really aren´t German and never will be. But Münster is a pretty good public university in terms of Finance, although internship opps are of course extremely limited.

 

If by pretty good you mean semi- to good non-target then yes, some of them made it into T1 and MM IB. The majority will probably get into Big4/ KMU tho...

Ofc Northern Germans are weird in general, no exceptions for the dudes in Münster

Si vis pacem, para bellum
 

Being from Germany, I believe it is because society there really doesn't even know what I-Banking is. In the US everyone knows wallstreet and thinks you'll be rich if you go there. There is no equivalent in Germany. As a result, those going into it were made aware of it by their parents who are probably working in that space.

This was my personal experience so I am not saying this is necessarily true for Germany as a whole.

 

Asperiores dolorem ullam nesciunt voluptatem atque enim asperiores et. Aut atque velit debitis voluptatem delectus ipsa. Tempora ea deserunt et cumque enim. Quam labore quod ab doloribus cum incidunt debitis. Veritatis itaque quo impedit est nesciunt alias.

Quia quas doloremque et et reprehenderit architecto labore. Dolor reprehenderit quae suscipit atque minus nisi sed. At numquam et ratione officiis perferendis ratione facilis. Accusamus commodi tenetur aut sunt aliquam quibusdam. Voluptatem sed commodi quas rem qui quo velit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Lazard Freres No 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. 25 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (21) $373
  • Associates (91) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (68) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”