2008 was an interesting year for the finance industry. Back when Bear Stearns failed, we thought it was the end of the world.

But the economy kept getting worse and worse, and then September rolled around and we were in a full state of financial apocalypse.

Despite how much things have changed, there are a few questions that keep coming up over and over again.

I’ve tried to answer some frequently asked questions, but after a year of doing this, I’ve decided that some questions are just not worth answering.

So here are 7 questions that you will not see answered on Mergers & Inquisitions in 2009 - and some good questions that will be addressed.

1. “Can You Rank the Most Prestigious Banks/Groups/Offices?”

Read the rest of this article

In this week’s edition of Q&A (we’ve had Rapid-Fire, Lightning, 100-Meter Dash and now Light Speed… suggestions for new names are welcome), I once again compress as much information as possible into as few words as possible.

Surprisingly, this week we cover some questions that aren’t related to economic collapse / the end of investment banking as we know it / other end-is-nigh scenarios.

And we start with a question relevant to everyone from kindergartners to seasoned pros: the sick day. Oh, and marriage, which I suppose is less relevant to kindergartners.

Sick Days, Marriage & Yerba Mate

1. I recently had a cold and took a day off from work. Can you take sick days as an investment banker? Or do you have to come to the office even if you’re dying?

Read the rest of this article

What is Investment Banking?: Ari Gold: What Bankers Actually Do, Why NOT Do Investment Banking

Investment Banking Lifestyle: A Day in the Life - Worst Day and Best Day, How to Stay Fit, Investment Banking Wardrobe for Men, Investment Banking Lingo Part 1 and Part 2, A Week in the Life (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)

Breaking into Finance: How to Get an Investment Banking Job, Networking into Investment Banking, Recruiting in a Tough Market, Breaking in from Engineering, Breaking in from Law, Breaking in from the Back Office

Investment Banking Resumes: How to Write an Investment Banking Resume, How Investment Bankers Read Resumes

Investment Banking Interviews: Investment Banking Interview Guide, The Interview Selection Process, How to Close Your Interviews

Summer Internships: Summer Intern Success Guide, How to Dominate Your Summer Internship, Tips from a Former Summer Analyst, What You Do as a Summer Analyst, 10 Summer Internship "Don't's", How Summer Interns Get Full-Time Offers

Investment Banking Salaries: Investment Banking Salaries vs. McDonald's, Why Investment Bankers Make So Much Money, 2008 Analyst Bonuses

Private Equity / Buyside Jobs: Private Equity Resumes, Private Equity Interviews, The Myth of the Buyside Job, Headhunters: Friend or Foe?

Specific Groups: UBS LA, Boutiques, Restructuring, The Back Office

Quitting Finance: The Conference Room: How You Get Fired, The Farewell Email, A Day in the Life of a Former Investment Banker