A surge in capital markets business following the pandemic has caused a bidding war for junior bankers – those in the first few years of their careers, who can execute deals, if not necessarily run a business yet. At the same time, investment banking is no longer the tallest tree in the career forest for the ambitious. Banks must now compete with all sorts of other employers for the best and brightest. The result has been a rush to get enough bankers in through the door to cope with business. That means soaring pay for bankers at the start of their careers but where will it all lead? And what happens once the dealflow dries up?