blog Bonorum et Malorum

You are about to enter an IB interview. What should you know in the last 5 minutes?

Written by Fmi.Online

Interviewing for an investment banking job is a unique and nerve-wracking experience, especially if it is your first interview. In addition to the general advice, such as being on time and dressing right for the part, the investment banking job interview is often more about being prepared, presenting yourself, and being resilient.

If you’re about to enter the interview and need a quick summary of best guidelines, here’s what you should do to stand out in an Investment Banking interview:

Smile!

During the interview process, many candidates forget to smile because they are nervous. According to Mark Hatz, an interview panellist from Goldman Sachs, smiling is one thing that the interviewer wants to see. Have a genuine smile and enjoy the moment.

Have the right attitude

The majority of the assessment is to judge your attitude. Being a junior analyst, you would spend a considerable amount of time in the office. Associates, in the recruiting team, will essentially look for resilient candidates, who have good personalities, are willing to work hard and are fun to be around for 12 hours a day. Unlike what movies show, recruiters do not look for overconfident people with only intelligence, especially if you cannot work in a team. Having said that, you mustn’t present a fake personality, just to fit in.

Be respectful and demonstrate humility

Even if you have great technical knowledge and are comfortable with questions around it, you must show humility throughout the interview. Never try to show that you know more than the interviewers. Investment banking is a very hierarchical industry, so don’t let your excitement make your interviewer feel uncomfortable. Not coming out as overconfident or arrogant will help you exhibit that you would gel well with the organisation’s culture and the teams. 

You can showcase this by waiting for the interviewer to finish their question before answering and keeping your answers clear and brief. Always summarise and let the interviewer ask for the details they need. 

Present your story

The interview is essentially a sales pitch where you are presenting yourself. Make the best use of the opportunity by organising a short narrative that covers your motivation to work in the industry, the reason to select that particular institution, and most importantly, why you’d be a good fit for it. 

Show that you are open to learning

Even after studying, preparing, and taking the best courses, you lack the practical experience required for the industry. With your first job, ample hands-on learning is involved. Throughout the process, you must demonstrate your readiness for the challenge and willingness to learn.

Lastly, stay confident

You can be confident about what you are saying without tipping over into arrogance. Successful candidates are those who are honest about their opinions regardless of what the interviewers think. If you do this in the right way, you will stand apart from the crowd and would come across as mature and genuine. Remember that your interviewers share the same talent and passion as you with far greater experience.

Finally, as a junior analyst candidate, you do not need to know everything about the job. Once you begin interviewing with several banks, it gets easier and you will realise that investment banking interviews follow a pattern. Similar questions come up in most interviews. Your preparation of the technical questions as well as general brainteasers would be the key.

Moreover, as an additional step, you can reach out to people working at your target bank beforehand to seek advice. You could also leverage your school’s alumni network or Linkedin for the same.

More Articles

Investment Banking

The role of investment bankers in the financial world: what do investment bankers do, and why are they important?

Investment bankers play a critical role in the financial world by helping businesses and governments raise capital, facilitating mergers and acquisitions, and providing strategic advice on corporate restructuring. They are vital to the functioning of the capital markets, and their work helps drive economic growth and stability.

Read more

Preparing For Case Studies And Other Interview Assessments in 2023

At FMI, we understand the importance of interview preparation, including case studies and other assessments. That's why we offer an Interview Preparation Bundle course to help you prepare for your next interview

Read more
Investment Banking

How can you earn a six-figure salary at top investment banking firms without any experience in 2023

To earn a six-figure salary as a fresh investment banker, you need to work hard to get a full-time job at a top investment bank and maximize your bonuses. A strong educational background, relevant skill set, and investment banking internships can help you secure a job.

Read more

How you can get a front-facing role in a top investment bank without any experience in 2023

Learn how to get a front-facing role in a top investment bank without any prior experience. Understand what front desk jobs in finance are and the skills required, get the right qualifications, internships, network, and build the right skill set. Show your willingness and dedication to the role through internships, and make a good impression through networking.

Read more
Interview Prep

How to make a successful career in the derivatives market in 2023

A career in the derivatives market offers job paths of derivatives trader, derivative operations analyst and derivatives risk analyst. Traders need finance/economics degree, financial market knowledge and technical skills. Operations analysts need business administration/accounting degree and derivative knowledge. Risk analysts need risk management experience and education. The career is demanding but offers high compensation and growth opportunities.

Read more

Here are the top investment banking internships you should be aiming for in 2023!

Explore the top investment banking internships for 2023, including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America. Learn about the duration, requirements, and responsibilities of these highly competitive internships, as well as the benefits of gaining experience with one of the top investment banks in the world. Discover how an internship with a top investment bank can boost your resume and improve your odds of landing a full-time job in the industry.

Read more
Interview Prep

How an investment banking simulation can train you for your dream career in IB

Simulation replicates the real world to deliver a specific experience in a controlled environment. It prepares candidates to answer case study questions asked during the investment banking interview.

Read more

Here’s what your resume should look like as an investment banking aspirant in 2023

Here's what your resume should look like as an investment banking aspirant | Fmi Online

Read more

Here are the top 3 investment banking interview questions in 2023

Here are the top 3 investment banking interview questions Investment banking interviews are designed to evaluate how fit a candidate is for the leading job role in the field of finance, and therefore should be attended with a decent level of preparation.  Candidates must have a solid understanding of corporate finance fundamentals, and company valuation, […]

Read more
Interview Prep

What you might be lacking in your IB interview prep

Going through the fundamentals of finance, working on DCF calculations, and preparing financial models are some of the more obvious things that an aspiring investment banker prepares for before interviewing for a job at a top investment bank. But what about the subtle nuances that could determine whether you will land a job or not? […]

Read more
Our Courses are designed to boost your career

Launch your career with Fmi’s Learning Pathway

Choose a learning pathway that best meets your needs and ambitions. Not sure which Fmi learning pathway is right for you? Explore our CareerBuddy videos for help and advice.

Investment banking pathway

Investment banking pathway

Monthly Subscription
  • courses-clock60+ hours
  • courses-desktop9 courses

Investment banking offers many exciting career opportunities for students. From Financial Analysts to Investment Management, and Sales & Trading to a wide range of roles in infrastructure such as IT, Risk or Compliance. This pathway is designed to help you understand the investment banking industry, the roles investment banks are recruiting for, and most importantly, help you to develop the practical skills you need to get into the industry and your preferred role whether this be as part of a school leaver, intern or graduate program.

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
55,000+ students currently enrolled
Global markets pathway

Global markets pathway

Monthly Subscription
  • courses-clock70+ hours
  • courses-desktop10 courses

Global markets provide a range of important products and services to corporates, institutions and governments worldwide from executing trades and managing risk to providing quality research content. A key business area in all investment banks, global markets offers a wide range of career paths for students to consider across all functions and at all levels from school leavers to internships through to graduate programs.

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
85,000+ students currently enrolled
Asset management pathway

Asset management pathway

Monthly Subscription
  • courses-clock50+ hours
  • courses-desktop8 courses

The asset management industry is a global industry worth over 100 trillion US dollars. It plays a crucial role in managing the assets of retail and institutional investors, offering a wide range of exciting careers in doing so. If you’re looking to forge a career in asset management, our Asset management pathway is perfect for you. We help you build the skills all asset managers are looking for and explore everything you need to know about the industry and the wide range of roles available in the sector

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
100,000+ students currently enrolled