How to Have a Successful Interview for an Investment Banking Internship
How to Have a Successful Interview for an Investment Banking Internship
Erin Parker
After successful networking and receiving an investment banking interview, steps must be taken to ensure a winning interview. You’ve come this far and worked too hard to fail near the finish line.The interview in general begins out with the interviewee meeting with two people from the firm for 30 minutes. The purpose of the first interview is to “see if you fit”. The interviewer wants to gauge how easy you are to talk to and your personality. Regardless, you may still be asked technical questions about the industry and therefore preparation must be accounted for.
If you are approved in the first interview, you will be invited for a second interview, this time meeting with three or four people in the company. This time, technical questions will surely be asked and you will be judged on both your technical knowledge and your personality. You should expect to be evaluated on not only your technical aptitude, but also your attitude and personality. This is important because you will be spending 80 to 90 hours a week with these people; the interviewers want to make sure that it will be a good working atmosphere.
If you pass the second interview, you will have likely earned the position. To ensure success in the interview, you should be friendly and authentic. When asked, “How did you get interested in this field?” a short sentence will suffice but provide a personal story as well. In the beginning of the interview, the interviewers want to know you more personally. You are more likely to be hired if they know and like you, so it will be beneficial to personalize your answers. Enter the interview with a positive attitude.
Another key to a successful interview is to study before the interview. Obtain some top investment books in the industry and review them thoroughly. Making flash cards with pertinent financial questions on one side and answers on the back is also useful. Go over the cards until you can answer the backwards and forward. There may be around 300 or more cards. To be in this business, preparation is essential.
To finalize, the keys to having successful interviews are:• Preparation. Learn the technical aspects of the industry prior to the interview.• Friendliness and being genuine. People are perceptive to false acts.• Have a positive attitude for the interview.
Erin Parker is the brilliant and successful author of this article, read more of Erin’s advice and other investment banking experts at Guide To An IBanking Internship. About the author – Erin Parker is an economics student at Stanford University. She has had three investment banking internships spanning UBS (private wealth management), FT Partners (financial technology coverage), and J.P. Morgan in New York (syndicated and leveraged finance).
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