Mizuho is one of Japan's three biggest banks. Outside Japan it's been building its investment bank steadily, and the biggest step was buying the advisory boutique Greenhill in 2023. If you're applying to Mizuho's investment banking roles, read the Greenhill page too.
Why look at Mizuho
- It's growing. Mizuho has been expanding its banking business in the US and Europe, which tends to mean more places and more responsibility for juniors than at a bank that's shrinking.
- Lending plus advice. With Greenhill, Mizuho can offer clients both M&A advice and financing. That's a reasonable "why Mizuho?" answer.
- Less competition. Fewer students apply to Japanese banks than to the US bulge brackets. The bar is still high, but you're in a smaller pool.
On the CV
- Standard bank structure: education with predicted grade, finance experience with numbers, leadership, specific interests.
- Japanese, if you speak it, is worth listing with an honest level. It isn't expected for London roles.