INVESTMENT BANKING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

The Career Development Center has gathered some questions that demonstrate the style of those commonly used for informational and case interviews for Investment Banking, Consulting, and related professions. Sign up for a mock interview to improve your skill at answering these types of questions!

Define investment banking. What does an investment banker do? What are the responsibilities of a financial analyst? What qualities make a successful analyst? Give me examples of how you demonstrate those qualities. Why should I hire you instead of a candidate with a 4.0 from Wharton? Give me an example of effective teamwork. What is your ideal work environment? On a scale of one to ten how would you rate your knowledge of investment banking. How would your closest friends describe you? What are your strengths? Weaknesses? What is the your one fatal weakness that you are always trying to conceal? If you decided that you did not want to be an investment banker, what othe career field would you explore? Give me three stock recommendations. Do you invest in the stock market? What did the Dow Jones close at two days ago? What is the 30 year treasury bond at? What has been the current trend in interest rates? What did the Nikkei close at? Give me an example of leadership. Do you think you have a strong academic record?

What is your most important extracurricular activity? Why? Do you hold any leadership positions on campus? What is your contribution to this organization? What do you do in your free time? Tell me about a good book you read recently. Tell me about a previous work experience. Did you have a formal review before you left? What would your previous employer say about you? What would he or she recommend for improvement? Describe your personality. Briefly tell me about yourself. Why do you want to work at our firm? What makes our firm different from all the other firms on Wall Street? With what other firms are you interviewing? What is your favorite industry? Why? What is 73? What is 23 x 17? What is 1% of 1,500,000? Do you have strong quantitative skills? Tell me something about yourself that is not on your resume. Why should we hire you? If I had 2 minutes to defend you in front a selection committee, what would I say? Why did you choose to attend Cornell University? What were your SAT scores? Why did you choose your major? Your college? Which company would have a higher p/e multiple a food company or a technology company? How many McDonalds franchises exist in the United States? How many gas stations? How would you make an estimate? How do you justify your response?

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