Step 1: Determine area(s) of interest (focus is crucial; have a plan)
*Resume – edit / revise many times and have others critique / offer feedback
*Relationships – reach out to people (be sensitive to time), ask good questions, ask for feedback, express your interest in company / interview / position; email (don’t call unless told) good questions to learn and network
*Events – visits to firms, on-campus recruiting, informational interviews
Step 3: Interview Preparation
* Relationships – ask detailed questions about firm / position / interview advice, demonstrate that you’ve reached out / done your homework
* Financial questions – pure practice / mock interviews (> month in advance); 90% predictable; use Vault Guide to Finance Interviews
* Brain teasers questions – lots of practice, show them you’re trying / think out loud / don’t give up (ask for a hint), stay cool under pressure; see Vault Guide to Finance Interviews
Strong story – ensure your statements make sense (for the position), are consistent, and present your candidacy effectively; state what sets you apart
Characteristics – know differentiating factors of each bank (GS, MWD, CSR, MER, DB, LEH, BSC, C, JPM, WB, BAC)
Cater interview to unique circumstances – prepare points that speak to unique situations of each individual bank (relationships, opportunities, things that have impressed you a/b a bank / desk / group, etc)
Culture – familiarity with banks’ traits and history (especially GS, Bear)
News / current events – read WSJ and online financial news sources
- Corporate Finance / I-banking (M&A, leveraged finance, equity / debt offerings, strategic advisory)
- Sales / Trading (Fixed Income, Equities, Currencies, Commodities)
- Asset / Private Wealth Mgmt
- Research
- Other fields (strategy consulting, tax, audit, industry finance, private equity, hedge fund, management, etc)
*Resume – edit / revise many times and have others critique / offer feedback
*Relationships – reach out to people (be sensitive to time), ask good questions, ask for feedback, express your interest in company / interview / position; email (don’t call unless told) good questions to learn and network
*Events – visits to firms, on-campus recruiting, informational interviews
Step 3: Interview Preparation
* Relationships – ask detailed questions about firm / position / interview advice, demonstrate that you’ve reached out / done your homework
* Financial questions – pure practice / mock interviews (> month in advance); 90% predictable; use Vault Guide to Finance Interviews
* Brain teasers questions – lots of practice, show them you’re trying / think out loud / don’t give up (ask for a hint), stay cool under pressure; see Vault Guide to Finance Interviews
Strong story – ensure your statements make sense (for the position), are consistent, and present your candidacy effectively; state what sets you apart
Characteristics – know differentiating factors of each bank (GS, MWD, CSR, MER, DB, LEH, BSC, C, JPM, WB, BAC)
Cater interview to unique circumstances – prepare points that speak to unique situations of each individual bank (relationships, opportunities, things that have impressed you a/b a bank / desk / group, etc)
Culture – familiarity with banks’ traits and history (especially GS, Bear)
News / current events – read WSJ and online financial news sources
