What Are The Big 5s in Investment Banking Interview?

Among all the investment banking interview questions, these seem to have been come across by almost every candidate, in same or similar wordings.

1. Walk me through your resume. Tell me about yourself.

Never talk about your family background, your education history or your hobbies. Focus on your skill sets and experience that are related to the job you are interviewing for.

2. Why do you want to be an investment banker? Why Investment Banking?

Make it clear that you DO understanding what investment banking is and that is what you are exactly looking for and prepared to.

3. Why our bank?

Visit the career section of the bank’s website. You’ll usually find ‘Why Goldman Sachs’ for example. Take notes from that section and be sure to include those points in your answer.

Also mention the bank’s ranking (refer to source if possible) and that you know what the bank’s strength area is and that is exactly the area you are interested in and wanted to devote yourself to.

4. What are some different ways to value a company?

Be sure you know three to five of them and how they differ from each other. Of course you should know the pros and cons of each of the methods and make sure you are able to walk someone through the steps in each of the valuation types you mentioned.

5. Walk me through a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) valuation.

If you answered DCF in your previous question, be prepared that you’ll have to answer this as a subsequent question.

If you are able to answer these five questions in a smart way that impresses the interviewer, you are likely to have built a nice first impression and be ready to go on to the next steps in the interviewing process.

I found a blog which suggests very impressive answers to these questions. Take a look and it will certainly add value to your next investment banking interview.

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Investment Banking Interview