Questions for head of I-Banking Division of BB firm?

You're kidding, right? Heads of Investment Banking Divisions don't sift through forums. I'm sure Mark Kleinwill post something outrageous.

good question actually - even I'd like to know.

If you want to stand out, looking for cookie cutter questions won't cut it. Try and avoid sounding like a robot: plenty of those around already. Ask questions about current events at his bank.

You're an SA, so don't pretend to know-it-all, because of course, you don't. Ask lots of questions about the M&A group, what they look for, recent deals they've done, etc. Heck, at the end, I might even go as far as telling him while you're interning at his rival, you want to apply and whether you guys can talk more.

It's like an interview, but infinitely more relaxed and with food and hopefully some booze (are you even 21 yet? Ha...if not, DEFINITELY take the above advice and order up two scotches. When they ask for your ID, look at them like they are retarded or have a giant mole on their cheek and condescendingly ask, "are you fucking kidding me? Hurry it up, kid!" MDs know how to crush souls with the flick of their Rolex-laden wrists, so this will stand out).

thanks guys.

If the company took big writedowns, ask him what he thinks can be done in the future to prevent losses like this in new risky products that seem to develop every couple of years and become all the rage.

Or, research a couple of M&A deals that have passed through the office the last few months and ask some pointed questions about the deals, especially if it looks like there is not a great strategic rationale for the acquirer.

Finally, just be friendly/engaging and try to ask questions about the culture of the office, senior/junior interaction, etc. They aren't dumb questions, because honestly each group and office is different. Also see if you can get in contact with an analyst he knows/likes and ask them more questions.

Also, is this a formal meeting or a lunch/dinner meeting?

I'm glad that everyone like's the alcohol advice. It's a strange thing, but it works. And if you do order the scotch, make sure you know about Scotch. God forbid you do that with an MD who drinks and knows his way around a Lowland malt versus a more commonly seen and served Speyside malt. Be warry of the MD that drinks Islay malts as opposed to any non-Speyside Highland malt. As for my personal tastes, I find Islay to have the taste of betadyne.

Islay is medicinal al right, it has notes of IODINE, SEAWEAD, SALT. I prefer Bowmore Islay whenever offered a choice, it's the least bitter of the bunch. As for wine, I would consider Half-Chardonnay and half-Pinoit Noir.

What is the head of IB doing meeting one on one with interns? That's the first question I would ask him!... followed by "are you avoiding going home to your nut job wife or something?"

Then pose the drinks question. Get him while he's vulnerable.

Bananaman, don't be ridiculous. Powerful people meet with interns all the time, remember Bill Clinton?

Awesome talk here.

Oh, and for the love of God, I hope you've taken all this advice with a grain of salt. Ordering drinks is cool, but keep it humble. Haha... though who knows, maybe waxing alcoholic and impressing a higher-up with knowledge of scotch that belongs no where near your drink cabinet, let alone your mouth might be pretty baller, haha.

"if you are so good, why are you not in private equity..."

What's a better way to land an investment banking job, than to get the MD drunk, and his judgment impaired?

Unless you are an attractive female I would seriously hesistate before meeting someone so senior. There is absolutely nothing you can say to impress him, the best you can go for is mild disdain.

If you are an attractive female on the other hand, then rottenapple is right, and the Bill Clinton approach might work...

I wouldn't try to pull any of this cute alcohol stuff ... sounds like bad pick-up lines.

Instead of trying to show the guy how smart and cultured you are, make him and his responsibilities the topic. People love to talk about themselves/ what they're involved in, and generally come away from conversations where they spoke the entire time feeling as if it were a really great exchange.

For the head of IBD I would ask questions about where the division is going, how it's changing, what's driving those changes, who the biggest competitors are, biggest challenges, as well the more group specific stuff like gnomes3pc posted above.

Of course you're probably going to have to do some research to adequately participate ... look up some recent equity research on the firm and ask him about the big questions and unknowns surrounding IBD, I guarantee he thinks about it day and night.

And when he talks about something you don't know, DO NOT be afraid to ask for clarification. You're a freaking SA, the lowest on the totem pole, of course you don't know anything! It shows much more maturity and interest trying to learn about a big decision than trying to knock his socks off with whatever you memorized in McGillicuddy's Guide to Scotch that you recently got for your 21st b-day.

i agree with MAdude, try and make him the topic of discussion. people love to talk about themselves... also, know your drinks, just in case