Houlihan Lokey

Name	Noah Kruimer
Based in	Amsterdam
Job title and business area	Financial Analyst, Corporate Finance (M&A)
Year joined Houlihan Lokey	2026
Year attended the International Banking Cycle	2025

 

The International Banking Cycle (IBC) is a great way to not only better understand what
investment bankers actually do but also to showcase your own capabilities. Prior to the
IBC, I had attended quite a few in-house days at other banks and completed one other
M&A internship already. I had consistently heard that Houlihan Lokey was not only a
highly respected investment bank but also an extremely tight-knit and fun team. That
culture was the initial draw for me, so I looked for an opportunity to participate in one of
their in-house days. This eventually led me to the IBC, where HL was hosting an event,
and I was fortunate enough to be selected.

The day started with a presentation that gave us a sneak peek into everything HL does.
We then worked on a "real-life" M&A valuation case study, with the winning group
receiving a nice prize. The event concluded with networking drinks, giving us the chance
to ask questions and socialize with the team. I was thrilled to get a call after the event,
inviting me to interview for an internship; it was great to hear the connection was
mutual. The interview took place shortly after, so if I were to give a quick tip to those of
you joining this year’s IBC: brush up your technical and valuation skills!

Following my interview, I received positive feedback and an internship offer, which I
eagerly accepted. The timing was perfect; it seamlessly followed my previous
internship, allowing me to keep my momentum going. I think it took all of 15 minutes
after sitting down at my desk to receive my first task, but honestly, that was fantastic!
Throughout the internship, I was given a great deal of responsibility as well as the
freedom to execute. Overall, my time at HL was an incredible learning experience. Every
task I received was thoroughly explained, and feedback was direct and almost
immediate. Halfway through the program, you have a mid-term lunch with the team to
review your performance during the first half. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions,
express interest in specific types of work, and learn exactly what areas to focus on for
the remainder of the internship. By consistently incorporating this feedback and giving it
my all, I was thrilled to receive a full-time return offer at the end of my internship.

All in all, the internship was genuinely fantastic. There is a perfect balance between
working hard and having fun, and I highly recommend anyone considering applying to
HL during the IBC to go for it. Without the IBC I would not have secured a full-time job,
and it could potentially mean the same for you.

Have fun at this year's IBC, try to see as many banks as possible, and talk to as many
people as you can. You will not regret it!