How to Tell Your Story in Investment Banking Interviews

How to Tell Your Story in Investment Banking Interviews - Updated for 2017.
A lot of our advice from past years is still applicable, but a few things have changed over time.
Table of Contents:
1:08 Part 1: What’s Different About Your Story Now?
1:47 Part 2: What is Your Story?
2:45 Part 3: How to Tell Your Story in 4 Simple Steps
10:20 Part 4: Mistakes to Avoid in Your Story
12:02 Recap and Summary
To get the full written version, templates, and other examples, click on the links below:
www.mergersandinquisitions.com...

[@voiceofreason5893]

Wow. This is EXTREMELY high quality material. Thanks for posting.

[@YongyotKorean]

Thank you so much. Gain a lot of knowledge from watching your video. :)

[@cansarisoy]

solid and wise comments, thank you for the high value added videos

[@financialmodeling]

Thanks for watching!

[@pv0315]

thank you so much.. :)

[@suetina726]

just great

[@financialmodeling]

Thanks for watching!

[@sanchita4189]

Thank you!!

[@financialmodeling]

Thanks for watching!

[@khadirmohammed5128]

Thank you for such informative video. Previously, I worked one year in retail banking customer service, and 1.5 years in banking and finance research. Currently, I work in financial advisory for fund raising firms for two years. When I was a consumer banker, I completed my MBA in finance and banking., and want break into investment banking. Do I need to mention all these experience at beginning or only the recent one? I would appreciate your feedback and advice

[@financialmodeling]

Did you see the recommended template? Go chronologically and start with your earliest experience. Don't mention everything, just the most relevant 2-3 experiences.

[@khadirmohammed5128]

@@financialmodeling Yes, I saw it. this is very helpful appreciate your kind reply

[@TheVintageCurls]

What about if they ask after “tell me something not on your resume”. For that is it okay to talk about family upbringing and related to being a team player or should I stick to professional or hobbies

[@financialmodeling]

Depends on what this "family upbringing" point is. If it's going to be something negative/difficult-sounding, like growing up in an extremely troubled family or life circumstances, I would avoid it and try to say something more lighthearted. But if it's something fun/different, such as how you lived with a family that spent every 3 years in a different country because your parents were diplomats, sure, that's worth mentioning.

[@user-gj2ql1fd3h]

I‘m 14 years old right now and I am planning to be a banker, I‘m gaining so much knowledge at the moment and my interest is just growing. I want to be something like the "perfect applicant" later. Will I be able to mention this in my first application? Will the interviewers like the fact that I‘ve been keen on working in this branch for such long time? And are there any important things I need to know?

[@financialmodeling]

No. Just follow the template/examples here. You will freak the interviewer out if you say that you have been preparing since the age of 14, or 12, or 10, or something else in that range.

[@user-gj2ql1fd3h]

Mergers & Inquisitions / Breaking Into Wall Street And what if I can prove it? Or is it just not welcome? Me as a human resources guy would prefer someone with good knowledge and real, long-time interest in the branch over someone who‘s just decided to go into IB to make more money (or something like that).

[@financialmodeling]

The key with interviews is to come across as personable and likable while also being competent. The worst way to show you're competent is by attempting to "prove" your competency. Check the check boxes by pointing to past internships and work/study experience, and then cite your interesting fact/story to come across as personable.

[@jacobfillmore9764]

you 17 now hows it going bro

[@joseheredia8334]

Great template! Thanks! Have you ever been the interviewer?

[@financialmodeling]

Thanks. Yes, but I fortunately quit this industry a long time ago.

[@excelmonkeyTMT]

@@financialmodeling Why fortunately?

[@financialmodeling]

@@excelmonkeyTMT Investment banking is not exactly a sustainable job for most people due to the hours, stress, lifestyle, etc. Please see some of the coverage on Mergers & Inquisitions for more.

[@Poojayadav-lz3rk]

I am an engineering graduate and immediately after completing my engineering i got into an MBA college.I am currently in the second year of my MBA and i have completed CFA level 1 and a certification in equity research. I have also done a few academic projects related to portfolio management but my summer internship was in marketing. Apart from this , i don't have much to talk about . Please help me in structuring my answer for tell me about yourself.

[@financialmodeling]

At the MBA level, you need previous work experience to have a realist chance at Associate roles at investment banks, so I don't know what to tell you. Maybe say that Event X in engineering made you interested in finance, you enrolled in the MBA program, started in research but found yourself more drawn to companies, so you worked in operations and now want to combine the two and advise companies on transactions instead of just following them. But the biggest problem is that you won't win IB offers without full-time work experience.

[@Poojayadav-lz3rk]

Thank you so much for the suggestions. What entry level job can I get in the field of investment management realistically at this stage?

[@financialmodeling]

Maybe an entry-level Analyst or Associate role. Investment management firms recruit from a much wider variety of schools than investment banks do, so you have more options. But you need some solid investment pitches and good knowledge of the technical side.

[@nevenaws6624]

Would it be possible to get into the investment banking in the USA with an LLM degree from a university in the USA? I have a friend who started his career in legal department of the J.P. Morgan and transferred to investment banking. He claims that he only got an LLM degree and that should be sufficient for me to get into it as well. I am currently an employee in the Ministry of interior of Republic of Croatia (I am 28 years old and I have been working there for five years) and studying law. And I am wondering is my plan to emigrate to USA and get into banking viable or is it just wishful thinking? I do have friends in banks around the world to offer me a helping hand but I am looking to get as much info as possible from different sources.

[@financialmodeling]

I'm sure some people follow your friend's path, but it is not a likely outcome. Banks occasionally hire former lawyers, but for the most part, they recruit from top undergrad and MBA institutions. If you've already had 5 years of work experience, your best option at this point is to complete a top MBA in the US if your goal is to work in investment banking in the US. Or go to the UK instead, which would probably be easier because of your citizenship, even post-Brexit.

[@zoom-jx3so]

Great video. Didn't expect the male escort bit haha

[@financialmodeling]

Thanks for watching!

[@llewylnmoss]

I am interested in this specific field of finance but have a degree in communications and have worked for 5 years in both Aerospace manufacturing and high tech medical as operations and supply chain analysis respectively. What are my realistic chances of getting in? thanks

[@financialmodeling]

Without an MBA, not very good. If you've been out of university and working full-time for at least 2-3 years, you will almost always need an MBA to transition into the field because you'll be perceived as a career changer.

[@llewylnmoss]

Thank you very much for that. If I had an MBA, would I be looking at starting as an analyst or an associate?

[@financialmodeling]

Associate

[@khadirmohammed5128]

Does it make sense to insert "virtual investment banking experience" such as J.P. Morgan Investment Banking Virtual Experience, in my resume?

[@financialmodeling]

If you have internships or full-time work experience, no. Maybe at most a small mention at the bottom.

[@khadirmohammed5128]

@@financialmodeling I have 4 years of experience but not in investment banking Thank you for your reply. it helps a lot

[@pebeto09]

So can I say I went to Northwestern?

[@financialmodeling]

If you went to Northwestern, sure. If not, not recommended unless you want to be rejected and/or lose your offer very quickly.

[@pebeto09]

Mergers & Inquisitions / Breaking Into Wall Street haha it was a bad joke but thanks for the confirmation

[@p_prags2]

Hi there. I have completed my graduation in investment management & have secured first rank in the university. And now I am planning to do CFA. But my question is I have applied for my job & interviewed some of it also but I am not getting to the second round of interview or directly selected for the job. I think maybe because I have a negative point about myself that my communication skills are weak. N recently I have given an interview for Relationship Manager, but in that interview I told that I want to change my weakness into strength, as relationship manager mainly should have good communication skills, so what u think that I answered it right. Or I should not mentioned it. N another question is in future I want to become Investment Banker so currently I m preparing for CFA exams, so currently what type of jobs should I apply for that will benefit me in my future job.

[@financialmodeling]

You're asking questions that are way beyond the scope of this channel, which is intended to provide simple tips and tutorials on a few topics. If you want answers to these types of questions, please contact us and ask about coaching services or respond to one of our newsletters with your questions.

[@vladlenvronsky]

Finding a position in this type of field is ridiculous. Been struggling for 2 years. All suited up and postured for no reason

[@financialmodeling]

Sorry to hear that. It is a struggle, especially now. Maybe consider other, related jobs for now and think about IB again once you have some deal/client experience elsewhere.

[@Crystalfroggy]

Depends how bad you want it. School matters, try applying for an MBA program or something at a well known program with bankers that have went there. Its possible, anyways good luck.