How to Survive an Investment Banking Interview

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

How to Survive an Investment Banking Interview

If you are applying for a job in investment banking, the interview process plays a huge part in decision whether you will be hired or not. Before going into one, it is best to be prepared.  Not only that you need to know your financial banana, but the truth is that every company is different from each other so it is difficult to make generalizations on what to expect in the interview. However it is best to be ready for it to become easier for you. The number of people who will interview you varies by bank. It could be the manager, associate or even the VP. Don’t plan anything for the day because it could last for hours. Surviving an Investment Banking Interview

Most likely you will be asked some fit questions that include experience and technical knowledge on the industry. Your answers would be the basis of assessment whether you will be hired or not. It is best to make pitch on your background. Tell why you are interested in investment banking and why you are interested with the work. Prepare examples that will back up your story. If you are answering, be enthusiastic about it. There are technical questions that might go your way - Valuation, accounting and brain teasers. This would test your knowledge on a particular subject. While you are on the investing banking interview, it is best to calm about it. Think before you answer. There are times when one or two people would get immediate offers right away. If you know the basics of interview process, then you have an edge over your competition. You will hear back from them in a day or two if you did well on the interview. Don’t lose hope when you didn’t receive a call or mail regarding your application. Make a follow up on the bank but don’t be annoying while doing so.

9 comments:

Life Insurance BC said...

Thank you for all the great posts from last year! I look forward to reading your blog, because they are always full of information that I can put to use. Thank you again, and God bless you in 2010.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this wonderful article. Hinduja Group is among the biggest investment bankers in the world. It is one of the larget multi-millionare congloromerates in the world.
http://www.hindujagroup.com

Online Banking said...

Great article and a must read for someone appearing in the interview for Investment Banker.

Mutual Investment said...

Great information it will really help job seekers. Hoping you will be there with more information. :)

Anonymous said...

Where the posts? Please keep posting articles. I hate it when an editor just abandons a blog.

Online Banking said...

Investment Banking is really a tough one to crack. Thanks for the information. Its really great to be on your blog as it has the relevant information that delivers the message straight to the reader instead of beating around the bush.

SMU Cox MBA said...

Wow... I think I'll stick with IT.

Investment Banking said...

Thanks for sharing this detail and comprehensive knowledge on Investment Banking.

Anonymous said...

Don't know about US, but in Australia most investment banks have a multi-stage process. First stage is a single 1 hour interview where they will ask all sorts of questions from fit to technical. Following that if you make it through it's full on day/half-day interview session and usually dinner or lunch somewhere real nice. You may have anywhere from 4 interviews and a case study to 8 interviews with mini case studies in a few of them.