How Do You Guys Answer "Why This Company"?

What do you guys do to prepare for this question and provide an answer than stands out? Is it okay to mention their community involvement and culture(team size and access to senior bankers etc.)? Or should it solely be about their company prospects? What things do you guys research and try to say when an investment bank asks "Why our firm"?

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Just go about your story as to how you were introduced to the firm, conversations you've had with them, past deals you found interesting, and why you think you'd be a good fit.

Example: I was introduced to XYZ bank at my college's IB career fair, where I met Analyst. I had a great conversation with her and that led me to become interested in XYZ bank's [Technology/Healthcare/Consumer, etc] group. In specific, the [insert deal done by XYZ bank in the coverage group] was particularly interesting to me because reason. With my interest in group and the great people I've met at the firm, I think I'd be a good fit at XYZ bank.

 

Thanks for this. I also try to talk about their team size and if you get a good access to senior bankers. Do you think it would be okay to talk about their community involvement if they are involved in a cool project and how you feel like you align with the values they have?

 

Ya I missed that detail. Definitely useful. If you're interviewing with a smaller bank you should talk about how you want to work in a lean team so you can make more of an impact, or something else along those lines.

Values are also pretty useful. I know Citi does this volunteer program with their analysts, and if you express interest in those it shows that you did your homework on the firm and extra points for compatability.

 

When you say "the work that they undertake" do you mean researching the company's deal history and what type of companies and industries they tend to work with?

 

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