Answering “why x firm?” For a small boutique

I’m currently a freshman at a target and I have an interview tomorrow with a very small regional boutique. Does anyone more senior than me know how to answer the question of “why this firm?” when it is clear that I will never work there FT?

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Usually it's some mix of:

You like that it's a smaller team so you have exposure to the senior bankers (less bureaucracy in the middle) and can take on more responsibilities as presumably deal teams are smaller
You like the idea of working with smaller businesses that will require more hands-on engagement by a banker (since many will be run by entrepreneurs or families that won't necessarily have had a ton of experience in M&A situations)
If this firm has a specific attachment to a geography you have ties to, then you can play that up as well (desire to be there longer-term)
Do some research into this boutique online...do they have a specific niche or area they focus more on? If you have a legitimate interest there, then play that up as well.

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Authored by: Certified Private Equity Professional - PrincipalCertified Private Equity Pro

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Answering “why x firm?” For a small boutique

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