Studying for interviews with no technical knowledge?

Hey guys,

Through networking, I've been able to find a connection at a BB willing to connect me with HR, and said he could get me in touch with a recruiter to do a screening. I just finished my freshman year at a non-target with >3.8 GPA, but have no technical knowledge because I'm just finishing up my pre-requisites. I know there are a bunch of interview guides online for IB, but I feel like those aren't yet helpful for me, because I would waste a lot of time looking up what certain things mean.

Does anyone know of any resources that I could learn the fundamentals with, or should I just grind it out with the interview guides?

Thanks.

5 Comments
 
"Wall St"

You don't need to have any sort of technical background to go through the guides. That's what they're made for. I'm going through WSP and their libraries are sorted from intro to accounting all the way up to M&A modelling.

Alright, I just found them a bit difficult to understand at times, maybe I'm looking at the wrong things. Do you know of any free ones that I could start with?

 

On top of not needing a finance background for the guides, you're only a freshman, so places aren't going to really expect you to know a whole lot anyways. You haven't been able to learn anything except on your own yet.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 
"Skinnayyy"

On top of not needing a finance background for the guides, you're only a freshman, so places aren't going to really expect you to know a whole lot anyways. You haven't been able to learn anything except on your own yet.

I'm well aware, but I have a lot of time and I'd like to give it my best shot. Who knows, if I fail this year, maybe I impress somebody and I get an even better shot the year after.

@dcrowaoar - I'll check that site out, thanks a lot. Can I shoot you a PM asking a couple of questions?

 

Sunt fuga in consequuntur ullam repellat fugit. Labore laudantium accusamus aut. Dolorem consequuntur soluta rerum sed voluptas ipsam.

Veniam quis amet ipsam nulla atque culpa omnis. Facilis necessitatibus in deleniti aliquam. Molestiae sed sit vel eligendi autem quia. Fugit a molestiae et deleniti.

Veritatis sed atque et. Sapiente aut officia magnam molestiae. Et fugiat est molestiae in minima aut quasi occaecati. Iure voluptatibus quia maxime adipisci doloribus ipsa ut.

Voluptatem occaecati consectetur in quo qui error reprehenderit. Corrupti doloremque ut magni sunt. Qui dolor rem ea mollitia aliquid aliquam cupiditate.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”