URGENT HELP! INTERVIEW INCOMING!!

Hi all, so as the title says I have an interview  for a generalist M&A and debt advisory internship role incoming in very little time. The place is a bank in Milan.

This would be my first interview ever and I'm not sure what to focus on. I've already gone through the BWIS guide and hold a bachelor in finance. Find myself comfortable with accouting concepts.

Would appreciate any insight. Thx

4 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some key areas to focus on for your upcoming M&A and debt advisory internship interview:

  1. Financial Modeling and Valuation:

    • Ensure you are comfortable with three-statement modeling, DCF (Discounted Cash Flow), and comparable company analysis (comps).
    • Practice building models from scratch and running valuations using different methods.
  2. Industry Knowledge:

    • Stay updated with the latest business news. Regularly read sources like WSJ, Financial Times, and Dealbook (NYTimes) to understand current market trends and significant transactions.
    • Follow industry-specific news and updates, especially those relevant to M&A and debt advisory.
  3. Technical Skills:

    • Brush up on your accounting fundamentals, as these are crucial for any finance role.
    • Familiarize yourself with databases like CapIQ for running comps and transaction searches if you have access.
  4. Behavioral Techniques:

    • Be prepared to discuss your previous experiences coherently and concisely. Highlight any relevant projects or coursework from your finance degree.
    • Practice common behavioral interview questions and have clear, structured responses ready.
  5. Networking and Informational Interviews:

    • If possible, set up informational interviews with alumni or professionals in the field to gain insights into the bank and its operations.
    • Understanding the specific focus areas of the bank (e.g., whether they have a dedicated M&A group) can give you an edge.
  6. Additional Resources:

    • Review materials from Mergers & Inquisitions (M&I) for more in-depth insights into M&A processes and interview preparation.
    • Utilize WSO posts and forums for additional tips and advice from those who have gone through similar interviews.

Good luck with your interview in Milan!

Sources: How to prepare for summer ASSOCIATE internship, If I don't get a banking offer, what's the next best thing?, In Search of Wisdom, Former MS M&A / KKR here to field questions, Interview with a Forecasting Analyst

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
Most Helpful

First of all relax. If you enter the interview with the same all caps urgent mentality you will not perform well. Know that you will probably mess up your first interview, that's just how life is. You get better and more confident with reps.

If you're confident on the technicals that's fantastic. I'd focus on coming up with an articulate and tidy response to why IB and why XYZ bank. Record yourself and listen to it (cringy but it helps). Be aware that you may get competency questions and have a few situations in mind. Finally, do two things. First, have a deal on-hand that the bank is tied to that you can reference if needed (and also maybe another deal in the market that you find interesting - at the time of writing the 7/11 situation is quite topical). Second, have some good questions to ask at the end of the interview.

Good luck

 

Thanks for the advice, do you think there is a particular topic they might ask for, as they also work on refinancing/arranging debt agreements etc?

 

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