Investment Banking Questions to Ask (2024)

FAQs

What are the questions asked in investment banking? ›

Any “weakness” that you cite in an interview should: Be Real, But Not TOO Real – Pick something that is a real weakness, but which is not a “deal-breaker weakness.” For example, you could say that you sometimes take too long to make decisions, which makes projects take more time.

Your 3 “Short Stories” should include a Success Story, a Failure Story, and a Leadership Story that demonstrate the qualities bankers are looking for: Analytical skills, ability to work in a team, ability to work long hours, attention to detail, communication skills, and a demonstrated interest in finance.

Basic knowledge of financial statements and a general understanding of how the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement are interrelated is another common technical skill-testing question of the investment banking interview.

Impress the person you're speaking to by being charming, respectful, knowing their work experience, and asking thoughtful questions. Learn about any potential opportunities, the status of recruiting processes, or any advice to succeed in the interview.

Some examples of common weaknesses in investment banking include public speaking, networking, and delegating tasks. Explain how you are working to improve your weaknesses. For example, you could talk about how you are taking a public speaking class or how you are practicing delegating tasks to your team members.

What is a good answer to the weakness question? ›

Answer “what is your greatest weakness” by choosing a skill that is not essential to the job you're applying to and by stressing exactly how you're practically addressing your weakness. Some skills that you can use as weaknesses include impatience, multitasking, self-criticism, and procrastination.

3 M&A behavioral questions

You should also be prepared to answer some common behavioral questions, such as why do you want to work for this bank, how do you handle stress and pressure, how do you deal with conflicts and feedback, and how do you balance multiple priorities and deadlines.

You need self-discipline, hardworking nature, and diligence to complete the tasks within the deadlines. Also, you may be required to spend extra hours at work to handle complex situations. Any employee in the investment banking field starting from the entry-level to the top position works under pressure.

To become an investment banker, you need a minimum of a bachelor's degree. Common majors are finance, business, economics, and accounting.