Final round with exclusively the most senior bankers. Any advice?
Hello everyone,
I'm sorry to seem like that guy who just made a new username to ask a question. Long time lurker but never posted... I'd like to start contributing to the community here at WSO. Good to meet you all!
Anyways, I do have a question I was hoping readers could chime in on. I have a final round with a well-known MM bank. First round was a three hour superday with everyone at the Analyst to VP level on the team; 2nd round was an in-house modeling exam (took about 4 hrs); and now this final round is with some of the most senior people in the bank.
Meeting exclusively people who are Director, MD, Co-Heads, Chairman of M&A/IBD, and even CEO of IBD. Didn't think they ever do this for analyst interviews but this is the case for me. By the way, this is for an experienced analyst role (I had been working in a valuation team at a Big 4 before this).
Any advice on how to appeal specifically to the most senior bankers of the company? What are some interview questions they might ask, and what should my thought process be each time? Is this my job to lose?
Any advice is sincerely appreciated, thank you all!
Can't speak authoritatively to most of your questions, but as an experienced analyst hire meeting the most senior bankers I'd express your specific interest in the bank and your desire to stay at the bank long-term, assuming that's your plan.
What notER said: definitely stress that you want to do banking long term. Also, the upper level guys are usually more concerned about fit questions - have those down.
Should I be prepared for any technical questions? If so, how technical will / can they get? I work in a transaction focused role so I assume they'd ask about that and market stuff, but will they ever ask something like 'walk me through a LBO or Accretion/Dilution?'
My guess would be no, based on my ib interview experience (albeit only for IB SA). In my rounds of interviews, I've had (almost) purely technical questions from analysts/associates and only fit questions from VP's.
That being said, definitely be prepared for technical questions. You never know if you'll get them, and it's not worth being unprepared because of what the consequences could be/impression you could leave. Prepare for technical and fit interviews. However, (again, just my opinion) as far as 'technical' questions with senior bankers go, I would focus on more high-level stuff rather than 'define EV' kind of stuff (but again, be able to answer anything thrown at you): your opinion on the economy, the banking industry, group-specific industry thoughts if that's applicable etc. Also have carefully considered/thoughtful questions to ask the senior bankers- it sounds like you're at the stage where you'll be having a bit more of a 'conversation' rather than an interview, and my guess is it will be more of a two-way conversation than your previous interviews.
Adding to notER:
I would be familiar with deals the firm has done in the last year. I have spent entire interviews with MDs discussing one past deal.
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