Houlihan Lokey: What The Powerful Investment Bank Looks for When Hiring
Certainly, you’ve heard of Houlihan Lokey. They rank as the number 1 investment bank for global M&A transactions in the US and lead the way as a global restructuring advisor and global M&A fairness opinion advisor. Part of the company’s success is due to its diversification strategy, which has seen them effectively navigate turbulent financial markets and become one of the most prestigious companies to work for.
Co-president of the bank, Scott Adelson, even remarked, “Houlihan Lokey has had a long history of a growth-oriented culture and organisation, and we have demonstrated strong and consistent growth over time. Corporate finance has been growing at a 20% compound annual growth rate for 20 years.”
Many of you may be keen to apply for a position with the powerful investment bank, which is perfectly understandable! However, there are just a few things you need to be aware of if you’re looking to work for them.
1️⃣ Getting into Houlihan Lokey is not easy! This is a very discerning company that places a strong emphasis on academic achievement.
2️⃣ When it comes to hiring students, they tend to hire those with prior experience in prestigious and premier banking companies.
3️⃣ Having a strong investment track record will certainly make a good impression on them, as it will demonstrate excellent financial skills.
4️⃣ Continuing from the previous point, they look for individuals with sharp financial skills so it is extremely important to highlight how you utilised those skills in previous positions.
5️⃣ They want employees to have strong technical skills too, so be prepared to answer some tough questions during the interview process.
6️⃣ Network, network, network! Past interns at Houlihan Lokey, who have gone on to provide interviews of their experiences, have detailed how they networked hard to gain a position in the company.
Does this sound intimidating? We certainly wouldn’t blame you if feel that way. Houlihan Lokey is indeed very discerning but that shouldn’t discourage you. The key takeaways to note are actually applicable to ALL financial institutions that you apply for. Essentially, you need to develop your financial skills and hone your soft skills. You can do this by joining case competitions, taking part in virtual internships, doing volunteer work, participating in online courses, and more.
Also, learn to network effectively. Being able to foster and maintain strong connections with colleagues in previous and current positions can certainly open many doors for you and help you to enter new positions at different companies. Take things in stride and build up your skills and CV so that you have a better chance of securing the job of your dreams.
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