Why Investment Banking? Sample Answers
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You can check out the updated page here: Why Investment Banking? - What Investment Bankers Want to Hear
The content of this page has been improved and moved under our resources section.
You can check out the updated page here: Why Investment Banking? - What Investment Bankers Want to Hear
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This question has a great deal of really bad answers, and a few safe answers. Stick with cookie cutter -- they are cookie cutter because they work.
I always went with, "Three reasons: the work - it's the type of stuff I enjoy, the experience - learn more in two years than anywhere else, you can take your experience with you anywhere, and the environment - I excel in fast-paced, competitive, intense environments." It worked pretty well.
Yea, you really can't blow anybody away with this answer, you just need to not screw up. All you can do is check the box and move on.
Nobody has ever gotten an offer with an answer to this question, but plenty of people have blown offers they already had in the bag...
Bottles and Models?
...the only model you will work with is Excel. Control+1 that shit all night.
Stick with the standard answer, but differentiate it through your delivery. Be enthusiastic (but not overly so) and make sure that your answer flows well and is concise.
tell them its because competition is less fierece now that no body wants to work 100 hours a week for 5k bonus.
can someone pls explain what would be a cookie cutter answer for someone who has experience in ib/pe? thanks in advance.
A) Do a search B) If you have interviews coming up or just want to learn more, try getting the WSO behavioral guide. It includes all the cookie cutter answers to the most common questions.
It might help to tailor your response to the specific group you're interviewing with. For example, I was a CS major and expressed an interest in tech companies for my tech banking interviews. This works well with industry groups.
thanks. what do you think is a good answer for IBD vs. PE? since i hv pe experience, what do think is a good answer for why i want to do IB instead of PE? i am crafting my answer around the structure with a BB ib internship: training, network, support system etc.
Answering "why investment banking?" in an interview if you're a liberal arts major (Originally Posted: 02/17/2012)
In today's blog, I wanted to share our take on answering this question if you are a liberal arts major. As always, we'll follow a simple template: 1) a brief description of how to think about these questions, 2) what represents a poor answer, 3) what represents a good answer, and lastly, 4) an actual example of a great answer.
I see that you are an art history major, so why finance?
Investment banking offers liberal arts majors one of the few relatively well-defined and challenging career paths available to "smart but skill-less" undergrads. Obviously, many also enter the industry with the obvious intention of making a great deal of money. Of course, answering this question in an interview begs for a little nuance. This question, regardless of whether it is posed to a liberal arts major or business major, should also always be looked at as an opportunity to tell your story.
Below are some sample answers (poor/good/great) Poor answers Poor answers to this question would be answers that somehow indicate you are going into the profession to earn large amounts of money or because you eventually want to go to business school/private equity/hedge funds. While all this may be true, you want the interviewer to think that you are committed to the industry even though he/she knows that more than likely you’ll be one of the analysts that decides to leave after two years of service. As an interviewer, it is better to hear the “reassuring” answer rather than the brutally honest one even though the interviewer knows you are being political.
Great answers Great answers to this question focus on skill-building, networking, and love for difficult challenges. You want to emphasize that being a non-business major you are excited to learn the complex accounting and finance skills involved on the job and eventually transform into an Analyst that has potential to significantly impact the group. You also want to relay that you are excited to work with driven, smart, and motivated colleagues and are looking forward to pushing your limits from a work standpoint. You ultimately want to come off as a positive, “go-getter” type.
Sample great answer
..
I mean, when someone is bashing liberal arts they aren't talking about Econ, if that is what you were looking for.
I really do love you guys.
Liberal arts = critical thinking skills.
Also teaches you how to write well and speak intelligently. I would even stereotype that liberal art's majors have better social skills compared to those that came from more technical backgrounds in engineering or even finance.
Perhaps I'm biased considering my liberal arts background. I studied economics and political science though. If you studied music or art then I highly recommend to double-major in something less ridiculous.
I am a Liberal Arts kid as well, but the "write well and speak intelligently" piece, even though I believe it to be correct, is not received well by interviewers. Better to talk about how you 1) have this liberal arts component, and 2) have increasingly become more interested in finance and the deal making process, as demonstrated by XYZ bullshit wealth management/other semi-related internship, and recent coursework, and whatever else you're using to back up your claim of interest.
Good tips Matan - I'm a product of a liberal arts education. Go Ephs! (econ major as well)
Thanks Patrick - same here; economics major....
Why IBanking as an Art History major? -I enjoy being able to eat
As a liberal arts kid, depending on the school, you can talk about meaningful interaction with professors and learning how to "see the forest for the trees" so to speak; i.e. you understand what you are doing and why rather than just crunching the numbers. If you were an Econ major like I was, you can talk about having to derive Econometrics formulas, write original research papers, etc. which show a high level of not only intelligence but also innovative thinking (theoretically, at least). From my experience, this goes over very well at boutiques, and can go over well at BB's if you're dealing with people in a tight-knit group.
liberal arts all the way. I stood out because I didn't study finance/accounting at my school when doing OCR
Why are you interested in i-banking ? (Originally Posted: 07/18/2008)
Why are you interested in i-banking or finance (other than the money factor)?
I am not in banking but I think it might appeal to people who enjoy the excitment of selling. Those who do not, will drop out soon, because money is not a sufficient motivator alone (for too long).
Because I want to fit in
i really dont have interest in banking but it was the thing to do coming out of my college (think one of the ivys that prepares you specifically for selling out: ie: Princeton, Dartmouth) if it wasnt for peer group pressure...
because it is the most rigorous job anyone can have right out of college, and it offers the best skillset to start off a career in finance. no job in finance comes close to what you learn in ibanking, and none can measure your work ethic the way ibanking does. working on live deals that make headlines and shape the structure of corporate america is something that greatly appeals to me. whether i want to move up within the bank or pursue some other job in high finance, ibanking provides me the experience to do anything i want in finance.
i know many disillusioned, grumpy analysts on 2 hours of sleep will laugh at this and mock me, but its a good cookie-cutter answer that analysts and higher-ups love to hear when they ask me "Why banking?" and there is a degree of truth to it would imagine.
I am one of those analysts, and let me say the following:
I cannot tell a lie...you arrrreeeeee, a monkey's...anus.
I used to spout all that shit, there is some truth to it, but there is so in the job of an analyst that is truly demeaning and soul crushing. It is impossible to understand until you do it. Really, truly soul crushing.
...because I don't like the following:
-Free Time -Free Weekends -Hobbies -Working Out -Having Sustainable Relationships
Well other than the mind numbing and menial formatting stuff, I do enjoy:
1) crafting strategical rationales for potential transactions, i.e. why would company A be a good target to company B? Does it add market share, scale, broaden the scope of products, or redefine business model for company B?
2) drafting management presentations because you can really learn a lot about a company and the industry trends and where it's headed (assuming you actually like the sector to begin with)
But yeah in the end it's really ALL about money. You say that it's the experience that you're after. Well yeah, but what do you need the experience for? To make MORE money in the future!!
some guy at a boutique firm said because "we're like the marines"
I'm not sure what's worse: the fact that people BS their own rationales, or that they are very smart people, so they are completely cognisant of their own BSing.
For me, it's a chance to take what I enjoyed doing in college and put the skills to work directly. Alot of people enjoy what they study in college, and do something completely different with what they studied, which is fine, but wasn't for me. I am in because in two years, I will have skills that in high demand in places where you can actually do something good for others/yourself/your wallet (PE/VC/HF), or whatever your rationale is. People forget finance is just a tool. It's a tool to do whatever the hell you want: good things, bad things, smart things, dumb things. So for me, I'm building a skillset so that whatever I choose to do with it, I'll be able to do so.
/rant
word to alpha and the king.
pedigreed monkey stop lying to yourself. it's only gonna hurt you in the long run
Even though I wont be starting for a long time, I do see it as a job that will benefit me in the long run. I know the things I will learn, the work ethic I will build upon, and the networking opportunities can't be found in any other business field.
hey man, i dont think either alpha or theking explicitly disagreed with me. i know a lot of what i said is fluffy BS and the attitude behind it is very idealistic and naive, but thats the way you have to be in interviews if im not mistaken. analysts and other people in the industry frequently ask me "Why IB?" and in my post i gave the type of answer i would give them. its not like im making the job out to be super glamorous, im just saying that it builds a valuable skillset. even TheKing agreed that he has used these answers when he was a prospective
either way im not really "lying to myself" because among all the fluff, the bottom line of my answer is "IB is the best way to other careers in finance"
that was the last sentence of both of our answers, and its esentially the same thing. i dont mind if you flame or criticize what i have to say, but at least be accurate in your response.
I'm not criticizing you in particular, plenty of other people think the same way you. My comment was on the last part of your answer, the fact you're fully aware that you don't totally believe what you're saying. "Building a skillset" is included in your response that you admit you don't totally buy into. You say so after. There's no distinction by you in your statement about what you believe and what you just say because you think others like to hear it.
Which really makes me wonder: if that's the answer you give because bankers/interviewers like to hear it, do you have a real reason/s of your own? Maybe it's that you do want to build a skillset, but you're so confused about why you're in banking and why you say you want to be in that you can't tell the difference.
Not trying to flame anyone in particular. It's just a common response. People get so good at BSing that they forget what they actually wanted in the first place.
without a doubt, i do want to build a transferable skillset, and ibanking provides that more than any other career in finance. i never once denied that. i dont think the actual content of my response is BS, but the way it is worded is quite idealistic, and i knew many analysts on this board would laugh at my phrasing and think "oh just wait til he really experiences it." which is exactly what TheKing did, and its understandable becuase analysts do get disillusioned so quickly.
after re-reading my answer above, there is literally nothing about it that i dont truly believe. i was about to say its a half-lie, but its not even that. i do indeed like the idea of working on live deals, as opposed to the equity research im doing at my current internship that just stays on the internet for individuals to read. i just had to throw in that second paragraph to show that i know its not all bottles and models and that a lot of the novelty wears off fast.
i know what i want, and im not trying to BS my way into a job. but im sure everyone can admit that a little bit of BS by telling the person what they want to hear is sometimes necessary not only for interviews but life in general.
even though ive heard this a million times, why would i ever focus on that in an interview? if you call avoiding talking about that stuff BSing, then it is what it is i guess
pedigreed - that's basically what you have to say. I realize everyone in banking feels it is their civil duty to come onto this message board and comment on how the "right" answer is lame as hell and that anyone who uses those pre-recited lines is a major tool. Even still, TheKing mentioned that he did use them himself.
Even the bullshit answers have some truths in them though. I generally said something along the lines of there's no job out of undergrad where you can take on as much responsibility right away or have exposure to senior bankers and/or potentially corporate executives. Well, what do those things have to do with anything? -- They help you to build the skill set you will take with you throughout the rest of your career, and enable you to move into other areas of finance such as hedge funds, pe, etc.
Bottom line though, the bullshit answer is generally the right one.
Won't the interviewers see through your bs though? I mean they must hear that cookie cutter answer all the time, so how do you tell them what they want to hear without sounding like a robot?
Underground -- they want to hear the cookie cutter answer.
I think a good answer is this (though not for an interview):
I want a job that is exciting, challenging, stable, and pays well. Unfortunately, these jobs are few and far between coming out of college. Ultimately, i have no interest in working 100 hour weeks. However, I would rather work 100 hour weeks in an exciting environment (eventually leading to a lesser workload) than 40 hours a week in a dull environment for the rest of my life.
So the true response is: I don't like either option, but banking sure beats the common alternative. Yes, I know there are a ton of other non-traditional ways to make a living, but i think stability is a very necessary requirement for all of us.
For 99% of kids, you have three options:
1) Stay in school (med school/law school) 2) Find a sh!tty paying job that lets you work 40 hours 3) Find a high-paying job that breaks your back
I didn't want to spend more time with my nose in a book, and I don't want to be making $40k and either scraping by in the city or living in some middle of nowhere town. Plus, odds are the back-breaking job will give you a helluva good shot at a better-paying, less-intensive job. It sounds cold but that's just the facts. Plus, I do like the financial concepts used in M&A, but I can't tell you it's my life's calling or something.
only to leave it for a HF
I had this conversation with friends a while back when we were interning.
The consensus was:
"What the hell else would I do after graduating?"
there are other high-paying jobs that are intellectually challenging (consulting, high-tech, trading) but you actually have to be smart for those...haha jk. truth be told, first years out of undergrad are starting at consulting with 85~ all in, google is 75 all in (for biz dev.). Banking is like 130. See the difference. Sacrifice intellectual/personal benefits for 50K a year.
best answer: i dont want to take the bus anymore
this answer almost completely sums it up
Could people stop giving "i think a good answer is..." and "interviewers like to hear..." responses and just answer the OP's question: why are YOU interested in banking? We've all read the vault guide and what have you, but it is much more interesting to read what people's real reasons are.
Personally, I like the thrill of selling things/closing deals. I've worked on the edge of sales environments before (sales ops, brief periods of specialty sales, etc.) and love the pressure, competition, and the rush of closing a sale. However, I find most "products" to be relatively static and boring. Even in high-tech, you are selling a widget that just gets faster/better every six months. You spend your whole career selling the same thing to the same people against the same competition. What excites me about banking is that every company is different, and every deal has different dynamics of buyers/sellers/financials/strategy/etc. Not to mention the fact that if you are working (essentially) on commission, you want to be selling the most expensive things possible, which are companies. I've also worked 40 hours a week long enough to know that I desperately need more intensity to be happy with my work. The only time I care about/enjoy my work is when there is a fire drill, so I'm seeking out a job that has lots of those.
Because it will hopefully allow me to get into the field(s) I actually want to be in.
My personal obsession is owning property debt free. I am and always have been somebody who constantly thinks things are going to go wrong, particularly if they are going well (so I'm constantly convinced that I'm going to be fired in the next year even though rationally I know I most likely won't for various reasons). As a result I've always had it in my head that if I could work in banking for 4-5 years and get enough cash to buy somewhere small without much of a mortgage then at the very least I'd always have a financial safety net in place. So yes at the end of the day it comes down to money. I personally think that on the whole the job is actually pretty interesting and if it was a 9-9 five days a week I'd be happy to do it for the sort of cash consultancies pay. However the extra time requires extra incentive. I know I will reach a point where I'll feel that the extra time is more valuable that the extra money on offer but not there yet.
Why IB over Private Equity? (Originally Posted: 03/29/2012)
Hey guys
Ok short story is I have worked part-time in private equity for final 2 years of my degree.
I am now about to graduate and am in final round interview at a BB.
My feedback from my 2nd round interview was that I need to stress my commitment to M&A and advisory over private equity?
So far I have got the following points:
Please help me for a few more.
Things that you can stress is that there are more variety in Banking compared to Private Equity. Focus on the point that in Banking (M&A and Advisory), there are more variations in term of deal structures and financing options, and you personally find that to be more interesting. Although you like following the sector in both roles, PE is going to limit you to just looking for the exit (and mostly LBO modeling). As a result, you want to be expose to more different type of deals early in your career.
Tell them that you really like the transactional aspect of banking and the ability to jump from one deal to the next. In private equity, you have to help operate the company after an acquisition. You are more interested in the intricacies of doing deals than the more mundane operational work with management teams.
Couldn't have said it much better than this. Thanks for pointing it out.
BB still have openings for IBD? Where (location)?
Why would someone pick investment banking over consulting? (Originally Posted: 09/18/2007)
Besides the higher pay, is there really any reason to choose i-banking over consulting? If I'm not mistaken, they are both considered "finance" careers thus require similar skillsets, although a consultant requires more leadership skills whereas an analyst just gets bitched at to crunch numbers and perform excel monkey tricks all day. And consulting provides a better quality of life, better exit opps, and a better chance at a top MBA program. Top consulting firms are also harder to get into than top banking firms, thus more prestigious, in a way.
I would really like some thoughts on this, because as a sophomore who still has time to shift focus on future career paths, I'm wondering if there's really anything i-banking has to offer over consulting besides a higher salary (obviously an important selling point). But if I'm asked in an interview "Why i-banking and not something else like.. say, Consulting?" I seriously have no idea what the hell i could say besides "I'm a greedy bastard and want the bragging rights of making six figures at the age of 22." Any other entry-level career I could find genuine reasons for why I'd prefer i-banking, but consulting has me stumped.
If you take into account that MBB will probably pay for Bschool then the money becomes a non-issue.
I really can't see why anyone would pick IB over a job at MBB, from what I've researched the work life is way better in consulting. I'm not sure if anyone knows for sure but I think that getting an offer at MBB is generally harder than GS but some might disagree.
There is a pretty big difference in terms of what consultants and bankers go on to do after the analyst stint, so it's hard to argue about exit ops being better from one to the other. I wouldn't quantify consulting as a "finance" career by any stretch of the imagination, consulting has a much broader scope and develops a different skillset. I think you are probably a little misguided in terms of what your perspective on consulting is, I doubt that consulting can be considered to offer better quality of life or better prestige.
Bottom line, consulting and banking are pretty different in terms of the type of work you do and the type of career path available. Not to say that consultants don't go to PE or HF and bankers don't go into industry, but it would be a little less likely.
Work-wise, banking is transaction driven, consulting is engagement driven. Very different environments. Sounds like you really need to look into both a little bit more.
As a first-year at MBB, you'll find no shortage of bitch-work as an Excel monkey. Overall, the hours are better and the work can be more interesting, but make no mistake that as a first-year you will receive more than your fair share of mindless activities at MBB or a BB bank.
It’s probably also worth noting, as freeloader pointed out, that consulting isn't considered "finance". Granted, you will have chances to interview at the same top PE shops as folks from banking (since these firms are well aware that they are much better off teaching finance to a very smart person as opposed to hiring a mediocre person with lots of experience); however, once you start looking at smaller shops (where the majority of PE associates reside) there is a general bias towards hiring bankers over consultants.
a) what the fuck do entry-level consultants even DO? i've heard/read more about these jobs than most people my age, and even i am not all that sure what their job description entails. seems to me that if something goes horribly wrong and you lose your job, a former banker can at least point to his resume and say, "these are specific skills that i've developed. i actually DID something at my last job." the consultant only has the ability to say, "i must be smart and prestigious, right?"
b) better exit opps? there's nothing a consultant can do that a former IB analyst cannot do. even if you are in corp fin at McKinsey, it's harder to get into PE than if you had direct investment banking experience.
look at it this way: IB is wall street. consulting is main street. IB is finance; it's fast-paced and exciting. consulting exit opps usually entail being stuck for years between layers of the hierarchy of a monolithic corporation.
Don't make statements if you don't know what you're talking about. Top consultants at MBB absolutely get placed at large PE funds (and this isn't restricted to Bain Capital). From my class at an MBB, five went to Bain Capital, two went to TPG, one to KKR and at least four others ended up at funds with >$10 bn under management. Perhaps your statement holds true for MBB against GS and one to two other BB's, but aside from that its nonsense.
better chance at becoming a CEO or executive VP of a corporation in Corporate Strategy from Consulting
I was halfway through a really long in depth post as to the differences in experiences between the two experiences. But then I had an epiphany, it doesn't matter. People end up where they want to, if you want to go PE, you'll go banking then PE, or really really really top consulting then PE, or go hang out for 5 years anywhere you like, goto B-school and go into PE. Go where you want, meet people you like, and go there. Wherever you work, if they pay you a lot you have to work a lot (or a lot concentrated into a short period), so you better like who you're next to.
Why Banking? - How to answer this? (Originally Posted: 08/17/2011)
Guys, I have been preparing for ib interviews and have prepared fit questions well (atleat i think so )....however, the basic question in every interview is why IB?
i have spent ages on this question, but somehow can't get the unique and spark factor...ofcourse telling the truth that i am interested in money will be suicidal in the interview...
can people share their stories that recruiters bought?? I can draw some parallels on those and create my unique
Thanks monkeys
Models...
Girl Models hahahahaha
Do some more research on the industry- despite the gripes of many currently working in the industry, there's actually a plethora of reasons why IBD is attractive as an entry-level job (hint: don't say exit ops). Think high level of responsibility, people you're working with, the type of finance you're exposed to etc. It's out there, but its usually specific to each individual, and I'm not sure how many people on this site would give their "exact story". In short, this is a question you should be asking yourself.
it's different for everybody. But the best part of my internship, and the reason why I want to continue in i-banking, is that I'm doing something different every day. There's a ton of work to do all the time and the people that I work with are all senior guys who spend a lot of time teaching/mentoring me.
Honestly, the answer I would want to hear is: "I've always loved finance and business and would love to be a part of exciting transactions that make a real impact on the business world. I want to make sure my clients get top dollar for the businesses they have put so much work into....and since their interests are aligned with mine, that means I get paid well for my efforts also...seems like an attractive career given it rewards my hard work and has a real impact"
I think that mentioning that money indirectly is what makes it ring sincere. I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to make a lot of money. Why people think this is taboo is beyond me. Money matters.
me want career in finance
me make models for you, learn how to value M&A and equity placements
bingo bango
don't blow your signing bonus all in one spot junior
For me I loved the internship, deal making, the fact that you can advance rapidly, that you're surrounded by really bright people, at the firm where I interned there was a great culture, the work is interesting, you learn a lot.
thank guys, for your piece of advice
I have been doing some research, but all the answers seemed to me cliches...anyways, better to stick old and tested pitch
this is how much I banking sucks...people have to ask other random people on the internet as to why they want to do it
correction: Not why they want to do it. It is rather what I have to say in the interview
Reading Liars's Poker the first chapter about investment banking said something that is very funny and very true - ib interviews have set questions and set reponses you are supposed to recite. No need to try to "reinvent the wheel here" [awesome banker boilerplate right there]
analyst investment banking is about finding shit people have already done that worked, ctrl c, ctrl v, updating if needed and ta-da! it works again. same approach should be taken to interview.
so why ib? Boilerplate answers -
BOOM there you go, your interviewers will nod in agreement and think you are the greatest thing since the leveraged buyout
This is all great info.
There are many reasons and if you don't know why beyond money, I have a feeling you will not enjoy the work. Many other jobs pay well with hard work, and so you should love the work you are doing.
Brah this is a 3 yr old thread...
for the "interview question" thread. There were some recent posts regarding this issue. Here was my advice:
Talk about the steep learning curve, a ton of exposure to both senior level bankers and c-level executives, high levels of responsibility, working in a deal / transaction environment, exposure to how businesses are run in a variety of industries, exposure to all the different financial products, etc. Don't talk about exit opportunities or money.
Tell the truth. You were never smart enough to be a scientist and never fast enough to be an athlete. Also, how if you really know anything about finance you would be helping a F500 and working through the ranks to being a CEO or investing money and then starting your own HF.
I'm kind of pissed that there was a truthful response to this thread. If you don't know why you want to be in i-banking or you are just doing it for the money and exit opportunities - you will not make it 2 years. This is a brutal environment and if you don't enjoy what you are doing, you will want to kill yourself. My prediction, 6 months 1 day.
Slightly agree with slickmac -- you really ought to have your own reason, that isn't cheap, corny, or about the money/exit ops. Though it was funny, the bank I ended up accepting an offer from kept selling ME exit ops ("We have great out placement!"), which I hadn't even thought of at the time. Anyways, there are a ton of great answers to this question, you just need to find them yourself. If you can't, then your probably missing out on the best parts of this job, and I'm not talking about $$$ or exits.
I interviewed with a top BB. As an non-business major from a non-target, I thought the education, optionality (mobility within the group, mobility within the team. was emphasized), and just pure interest* was compelling.
*I love the micro economics of the industry group I was offered. Each industry group is different in terms of business models, revenue streams, cost structures, and consequently offer different opportunities. For example, industrial firms might have higher leverage associated with relatively larger amounts of physical capital. LevFin transaction makes sense here, as compared to say the technology industry with very little leverage through its capital structures. The transaction opportunities associated with the peculiar microeconomics of the industry seem interesting. At this point in my career, I am interested in working with as many different types of transactions as possible.
when they ask why banking just answer with a "why not?", shrug our shoulders and wait for the offers to roll in...
great answer buyside
Don't bring up the real reasons you want to do banking. ($$ and exits). Tell them that you enjoy the competition and can't stand losing. In the end, they don't think money will keep you there but they think that uber-competitive people will thrive. That's why JPM told Business Week that they liked recruiting college athletes.
How's Duke gonna do this year? Now that's a question.
the first response you got nailed it, by the way.
.
no real answer to this - but its an opportunity to shine cause 99% of kids come in with, I love finance and working hard
lol
"God's work, plumbing of the global economy"- Blankfein
The dreaded... "Why Banking?" Question (Originally Posted: 02/08/2008)
Guys, I'm get slaughtered by this question... My work experince consists of one successful company I started (operating revneues of $200,000 in 3 quarters) and working in the expansion process of another company (raising $600,000 in capital through angel investors and a state-wide loan). Here's the questions I ALWAYS get:
"You seem to have an entrepreneurial background, why not continue working at these successful businesses.. why go into banking??"
followed by
"You understand banking isn't as exciting as what you've done right? Most of it is pretty boring, monotonous work..."
When I told an interviewer I enjoyed working with the financial asepcts of the company and not so much the operational side, and that I wanted to immerse myself in fiancne and to learn as much about it as possible, he said... "if you're really interested in finance, why not look to go into derivatives or futures? That's more finance that what a banker does. A banker focuses more moving business and pitching ideas" and at some point he said, "have you considered research? why banking?"
What is a good way to answer the questions to completely set the interview back on the right track? The standard "I want to learn a lot," "I like the fast-paced environment," "I'm in it for the excitement" answers haven't been working well. Could you guys aid me tailoring an answer that dominates?
Thanks
"I am interested in banking because it will enable me to see different businesses accross a wide array on industries and sectors. Although I have started my own company in the past, it tied me down to only seeing one ________ of industry/business. In banking, I will see different types of companies while learning that financial skillset that I have decided I would like to obtain. I am also really into a team environment as I have played sports/member of a club in the past, and there is no better team environment in banking where you are working alongside bright and motivated people".
scale - your company is pretty small by any standards, and you believe that you need something else (knowledge) in order to have a bigger 2nd venture. banking is a good way to acquire that knowledge as you work on deals that involve complex and large companies, thereby giving you insights on how to build better enterprises. you believe that 10 years down the road that the knowledge from banking will make you a better professional whether at that point you decide to stay in finance or try your hand at another start up.
Edit: Sorry, that answer was actually way too detailed. I PMed you.
Why Middle Market Investment banking (Originally Posted: 11/06/2007)
This is for folks who want to be in or in banking:
I am curious if everyone could share why did or do you want to be in I banking?
Folks who have chosen BB or Middle Market or vice versa, why did you make or want to make that descision?
All constructive comments are welcome..
why mm "get more responsibility and experience in the deal team. tighter deal teams. more snr level exposure"
why bb "get to work on newspaper headline deals, get the great training program, get the resources of a full service (cap mkts and M&A) bank, and corporate/commerical banking capabilities for financing alternatives (if at a Citi, JPM, BofA)"
....or so the proper interview answer goes
because you didn't get a BB offer.
MM have more advantages than BB ? Do you feel they are more deals done in MM than BB? If so .. why and where can I read about MM ? thanks
Why the hell would you choose Investment Banking?! (Originally Posted: 07/30/2015)
Hey Guys,
I am curious to find out people's reasoning behind working in i-banking, besides the money and prestige. Why did you choose i-banking over s&t or investment management? What motivates you to keep going?
Thanks in advance!
Money and preftige and exit ops and models and bottles and slam pieces and business cards and...you get the picture
Makes sense. But I'm fearing that I won't get the job if I tell that to a recruiter haha
For recruitment you want to figure out what Bank X wants you to tell them; this could be a variety of things on your end. The generic answer is "I love the competitive environment, being surrounded by smart people, and the excellent learning experience", or some variation of this. You probably want to throw in a specific reason you are interested, background permitting.
Personally I like banking because success after you start as an analyst isn't contingent on whether you stay in that career or not. Regardless of whether you go Associate-track at a bank or move to the "buy-side" or go to Corp Dev, or whatever else you do, you'll probably be pretty successful simply because banking teaches you a lot of things in a very short amount of time. This is different than other careers where you are sort of 'locked in' to a particular field or area. Probably not a good interview answer, but something to consider.
Why do YOU want to do investment banking? (Originally Posted: 01/05/2010)
What's your answer for this question? Just wondering what people usually say, I'm having a hard time putting it all together.
Whatever you say, don't say it is for the money haha.
for the money bitches and respect son. and all the hate that comes with it.
Money, cash, hoes. Money, cash, hoes.
It's good to be humorous. Just be like, "models and bottles, you know whats up" and give him a wink.
It works like a charm.
Because I want to fit in.
I don't and never did, but looking back on it, I didn't know that at the time. You don't realize that you don't want to do investment banking until you are doing investment banking, and by then, for most of us, it's too late.
Run a search in the forums as this question has been asked a number of times and lots of good answers have come up. The truth is, all the best parts of investment banking are ones that you can't speak to in an interview (exit ops, money, etc.). If those are truly the only reasons you're getting into it, then you've got a tough road ahead.
Interview answer: fast paced, lots of responsibility, steep learning curve (which are all true, just way over used)
Personal answer: financial security in the future (maybe??), prestige (sad, but kinda true), interesting work for the most part, and my own competitive nature (because it feels good to beat out xxxx number of candidates for only 1-2 spots).
How do you guys answer the why questions in Investment Banking? (Originally Posted: 02/27/2013)
I think it happens to most of you. I was trying to reach out to some of my alumni these days. We talked a lot about the finance and investment banking. However, when it comes to why you wanna do it? I sometimes said well, I want to make most of my time as a young man and I like challenging works. Plus, I has a lot of good exit opportunities...blah blah blah......I know it's been a tricky question, you can't just say well I am greedy and I love green, right? So what's your answers?
I was going to answer this after reviewing the subject. I proceeded to read the actual post and have decided against it. Retail Banking might be a better fit for you.
Associate is right you don't really deserve an answer.
Look the recruiter right in the eyes and spell it out for him "m-o-d-e-l-s and b-o-t-t-l-e-s!"
You will almost certainly get a high-5 and an offer
Yeah, talk about exit opps. That is like telling a girl you want to date her to increase your chances of smashing her friend...
I just found my game plan for the club this weekend, will let you know how it goes.
As for OP, I can see why people have problems with the 'why this bank?' questions, but if you can't beat your chest into a frenzy about why banking, it might be time to look back office.
You know... 60 percent of the time... it works every time..
Insta-ding!
Just answer it as you laid it out... "blah, blah, blah."
Can't believe you used commas...
When I'm on interviews and get asked a question I don't know, I just hang up the phone. Then you call right back and say how you must have lost connection and just bank on them moving on.
What if you get 2 hard questions in a row. Hang up and call tomorrow lolz
honestly most people give the exact same answers, but i think giving a personal+slightly different answer helps you stand out a lot.
i worked at a really small boutique my sophomore year, and so i got a lot of client interaction. So, for my 'why banking,' i talked about how i really enjoyed 1. being able to humanize a company/put a face+personality to a business 2. the relationship driven nature of investment banking and cultivating that skillset in the long run
If you dont really know, why are you doing it?
Best answers for 'why I-banking?' (Originally Posted: 12/05/2007)
Clearly, "i'd like to make a ton of money" isn't gonna hack it. I'm wondering what some of the best you guys have heard are.
Thanks in advance and regardless,
The1220
I've actually heard a few candidates say they wanted to do banking to get rich and the interviewer loved it. In this case that was what the interviewer started banking to do so he related well. You really need to paint the picture of how you life led you and prepared you for banking with your resume and personal experiences.
I call total BS on this one. Seriously, stop lying.
The best answer would typically be some combination of: -excitement of working on big deals -caliber of your colleagues -gaining a strong financial foundation to either continue in banking or move on to something else -strong interest in finance (best if you are a finance major and can otherwise demonstrate a history of "finance loving")
I call total BS on this one. Seriously, stop lying.
The best answer would typically be some combination of: -excitement of working on big deals -caliber of your colleagues -gaining a strong financial foundation to either continue in banking or move on to something else -strong interest in finance (best if you are a finance major and can otherwise demonstrate a history of "finance loving")
are you asking what are the best "real" answers to that question or what are the best funny inappropriate answers that we've heard?
both.
"Bottles and models, next question."
hahah
an alumni grilled me on this, since i was pretty hesitant with my reasons
ultimatley, the skill set you build is what I say - its partially true and no one can really call you out on it
If you want to say $$$, you are taking a big risk. Some interviewers think it's brilliant, while many others I know deem it an automatic ding. For analysts, say something along building skill-sets, excitement of being involved in headline transactions, aptitude for numbers/finance etc. Draw on your past experiences (family, school, part time work etc.) to support your reasons.
One more thing: if there is one question that you want to answer with conviction and passion, this is it. Look the interviewer in the eye when you deliver your answer. How you say it is just as important as what you say.
I think i did a pretty good job at faking passion during my interview. No one really likes banking. People like the $$$ and the perceived prestige.
Genuine, honest answers are ALWAYS the best. Even if they don't relate, they'll detect it. And never miss an opportunity to get 'em laughing... "Bottles and models, next question."...priceless
This question varys depending on your area, you answer it differently (by displaying your skills) depending on which area your going to S&T, CorpFin/M&A, Research etc...
Talk about how your activities relate to the division too.
This is wrong for a couple reasons. First, there are lots of ways you can make the same or more money as in banking and do it with significantly less work. Hedge funds and PEs, for example, make more with less work, and outside of finance you could start your own business and make more money with less effort. And then there are other methods like selling drugs (not that I'm recommending anything illegal).
Good answers to give:
-You want to be Jack Bauer - you like excitement and the rush that comes from not knowing what each day will bring or what will happen. Every day really IS different.
-Strong interest in a career in finance - no better way to enter than banking.
-Learning - works especially well if you're coming from a non-finance background. You will learn a ton especially in the first 6 months or so, more than in most other jobs.
I would not mention anything like money, prestige - these could work really well depending on your interviewer or they could backfire and make you lose the job.
I'm writing an upcoming blog post on this very topic so stay tuned.
"You want to be Jack Bauer - you like excitement and the rush that comes from not knowing what each day will bring or what will happen. Every day really IS different."
If someone told me they wanted to work in finance b/c they want to be Jack Bauer....i don't think i'd be able to contain myself....
If you're the type of person who likes the excitement and having lots of unexpected stuff come up each day that is a good reason to do banking. Obviously you would phrase it in more favorable terms but the basic idea is true.
Banana_Milkshake and dosk17 have it right. $$$ is indeed way too risky unless you really have a good feel for the personality of the interviewer. second, this is absolutetly the most important question you can be asked if you are new to banking. it's your chance not only to show you have the right personality and attitude but also to show that you have a basic understanding of what the job entails (i.e. do you know what you are getting into). don't underestimate the importance of the latter.
a link to some examples of what to say: http://www.ibankingfaq.com/interviewing-common-qualitative-fit-question… and what not to say: http://www.ibankingfaq.com/interviewing-common-qualitative-fit-question…
Dosk17,
I would love to see you try to make more money with "significantly" less effort engaging in any of the aforementioned endeavors. To say that you can make more in HF/PE with less work is asinine (unless you are referring solely to total # of hours) and I bet you couldn't even run a successful banana nut bread lemonade stand on the corner, which also requires significant effort.
I'm also still trying to find a single similarity between Jack Bauer and an investment banker, good analogy.
you can mention exit opps for analyst interviews, but definitely not for associates. they actually want associates to work long term in the firm.
i told the interviewer i was in for the money...and surprisingly he laughed and i got in...but yes...it depends on who you are interviewing with...
My big pont was that I am not sure what I want to be doing in 10 years but I have enjoyed my previous m&a experience and that there is no better way to prepare myself for the future careers in finance.
I did have one MD who told me that he found it funny how things had changed since all he told his Drexel Burnham interviewer was that he wanted to make as much as he could as quickly as he could, but granted it was the 80's when greed was good.
I so wish it was still cool to say that. I think I could deliver that line pretty DAMN convincingly ;)
I said "to pay 80 grand college debt"
I wouldn't even bother finishing an interview with a kid who had the balls to say "money". Of course, I also would never ask that question.
Here's a suggestion: let's say you come to work in M&A, versus going to work for a company, any company. Where are you more likely to meet the company's CEO, CFO or Board members? In which situation is your work more likely to influence their decision making? That's why you'd want to be a banker.
That's an answer you can deliver with some conviction and with at least a modicum of credibility.
I honestly don't think that you can influence CEO thinking as an analyst. LOL.
Don't be silly - of course not.
What I said is that as an analyst, you may sit in meetings somewhat regularly with people like Ivan Seidenberg or Doreen Toben. You go to work for Verizon out of college and you're a long way from ever catching a glimpse of them. And the analyst's work will definitely influence the CEO's strategy.
Make no mistake, if one of my analysts decides to speak out of turn at a client meeting with, say, the Board of 3M and I will end his career that same day. As an analyst, you do not advise companies. I do. You support my ability to provide sound advice, and in return for that I bring you along to learn about what you might do someday when you sit in my seat. Regardless, that puts you a whole lot closer to the executive suite at your Fortune 500 client than almost anyone short of the CFO of that company.
Because I need some way to get tuition for law school.
Of course, I'd never say that.....I'm thinking I'll interview for IB, apply to law school at the same time, do the internship (if I don't get dinged), and "decide" to go to law school when I intended to go to law school all along. So my parents can't say "I thought you were gonna do finance." I'll say "it didn't work out so I'm going to law school."
"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
It certainly would not make sense if a female says that..
Ling~
"I wanna marry a rich MD!"
xabaglione - Haven't you heard of male models?
I don't think many females want to go into IB for the benefits of dating male models.. perhaps some are.. but not me. Money is my primary reason.. hehe o_O
Ling~
Why Banking - How to respond? (Originally Posted: 03/25/2010)
When you are asked in an interview why you chose investment banking and/or a specific niche in investment banking what do you say? Or when asked by friends or casual acquaintances, how do you respond without sounding like you are full of yourself?
I need the money.
Dude, this post has been up a million times. Use the search button.
search for a post called "in search of respect.."
if YOU don't know why you want to do it, then save everyone the time and go into what you do want to do
To gain credibility on Wall Street Oasis of course.
To get more pinky rings. You have two pinkies after all. One just wouldn't do, it's unseemly.
look him dead in the eye and say "starts with p ends with y"
PONY!!!! that's why i want in
models&bottles
easy. just tell them since all your classmates are going to investment banking, you want to do it too. It's like the new fad.
Also tell them you think that you are strong quantitative abilities so you can build those complex models and graphs in pitchbooks, and you can multiply 37x37 in your head.
Have ya had a look at Mergers and Inquisitions yet? It provides a good starting point
No, but will do. Thanks for the serious answer.
Why investment banking? - Completed my super day at a BB (Originally Posted: 08/30/2010)
Just completed my super day at a BB. I got a call 2 days later from HR informing me that they were not extending an offer. The HR person told me that the MD did not think I answered the question "Why investment banking" well enough. In the interview I said that I wanted investment banking because I thrived in a challenging environment and that I loved learning about the ins and outs of different businesses that is required in IB. well obviously thats not the right answer. Could anyone share what they may be looking for?
way too generic an answer
$
simple: models & bottles
at least you will get ++ points for honesty.
The MD probly does it for that exact reason too, and to bang his secretary
Did you try, "Why not?" That'll show 'em.
I used to bang the stress out of an MDs secretary... she's also my ticket in. haha
just for the hell of it i'd probably say money money money. if i get an interview ever i'll try to be as unique and honest as possible, bad idea?
If you want a challenge, how about researching for the cure for cancer? If you want to learn, why don't you stay in school?
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