Is it fine to mention a deal from 2.5 years ago in an interview?

I have an interview with a BB. I was looking at their transactions, and I found one that I find really interesting and would like to bring up in an interview as a point of interest in that bank. Would it be okay to do so considering it's 2.5 years old? Or should I stick to something within the past year?

8 Comments
 

I don't see why not. I've never had a situation where I was asked for "a deal this year." Just go with the 2.5 year ago one if you truly find it interesting. Prepare a deep dive response for that. And then have one more deal that is within a couple of months, just in case I guess.

 

Yes, only if you still remember most if not all the nitty-gritty and be able to answer whatever questions the interviewer throws at you. If that's the case, it would be a perfect example showcasing your level of involvement and contribution to the deal, and how that deal experience helped you grow professionally. What matters is not how many deals you did, but what HIGH-QUALITY deals you worked on, and what you've learned from them.

 

Why is it so interesting, is your answer that much better with the older deal? If you have an amazing deep dive for this deal and are crazy passionate about the space, go ahead. If you just like the company and have a check the box answer, pick something newer.
2.5 years is old simply because anyone who knew about the deal/would respond well to your answer will have mentally moved on. Take AMZN/WF for example, that closed 2.5 years ago and it seems old to talk about given how integrated they are. If you have unique insights on it I'd still be interested in hearing it in an interview though.
 

Wouldn't worry about the 2 year thing with analysts/associates - unless you're interviewing for a specific group, the odds any given analyst at a BB will have worked on one particular deal are slim.

 

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