After a long series of layoffs, investment banks are planning to rebuild their ranks at the junior and senior levels in anticipation of an M&A rebound. This means that current students can expect to see more investment banks returning to campuses and making presentations with the goal of recruiting talented candidates.

Last recruiting season was exceedingly difficult for students with aspirations to work on Wall Street. As the global economy dipped deeper into a recession, investment banks dramatically reduced headcount. Few investment banks visited campuses as the market became inundated with would-be investment bankers as well as experienced hires.

Now, with global markets rallying and highly publicized M&A deals announced this year, investment banks are now actively recruiting. Competition is fierce for positions, but open positions now exist. The firms below are some of the largest in the industry, but do not end your search here. There are many middle market investment banks and boutiques where you can also build a great career in the industry.

You can apply for most positions at the website of each respective company. For students, pay close attention to on-campus resume drop deadlines and interview schedules. All applicants should seek multiple contacts at each bank of interest. Possible contacts may include former co-workers or clients, alumni, fellow students, family, and others.

Interview types will typically fall into two buckets: fit and technical. Fit interviews will generally attempt to gauge your level of interest in the industry and the firm. Interviewers will also judge your motives for entering the field and for applying to their firm. Technical interviews will test your applied knowledge of accounting and finance.

In a fit interview, "your story" is probably the most important thing you can prepare. For career switchers, your motives for wanting to work as an investment banker must be clear and compelling. It is typically best to relate to things you have already done in the past. For instance, maybe you work(ed) in industry and had the opportunity to get involved in an M&A transaction. An example like this is far more compelling than simply stating that you want to work in investment banking because it seems "interesting."

Technical interviews will test your applied knowledge of accounting and finance. Namely, you must be well-versed in the topics below to succeed.

• Valuation
• Finance
• Accounting
• Market knowledge

Be sure to take advantage of the resources on this site. Best of luck preparing!