Many investment banking firms have a division within the company called the Investment Banking Division (IBD) that deals with the raising of funds in debt and equity. Very few firms provide this as their sole service and investment banking firms can expand their services to advice on recapitalizations and restructurings. Banks undertake risk, employing traders who do not deal directly with the clients but deal on their behalf in proprietary trading. Investment banking firms are separated into the Front, Middle and Back offices and in their diversified dealings establish a broad range of contacts, often passing on necessary contacts to their own customers if needed.

Investment banking firms are frequently hugely profitable companies with their employees also earning high salaries in exchange for their hard work and long hours. Internships at large investment banking firms are highly coveted and these interns must often go through a lot of tedious work before getting any real investing experience. Investment banking firms need staff who can be creative, analytical, capable of sales and working on their own initiative while specialist investment banks can require certain skills that pertain to the area they mostly work in. They also require people who are prepared to work long hours and can create business contacts of their own.