URGENT: Upcoming Interview

I have an IBD interview coming up with a boutique bank in less than 24 hours and I had a few questions:

In an interview, do you guys take notes on what the interviewer says?

Also, at the end of the interview, do you ask for a business card? I have heard both sides, and I was wondering what you guys believe.

7 Comments
 

Dont take notes. Just sit attentively, nod your head when appropriate and most importantly, try to think of relevant questions based upon what they mentioned during the interview.

Always ask for a card if they do not offer it to you. I always send a thank you note to my interviewers as a matter of principle, even though any decision was likely made within half an hour of you leaving the room. It is a still a nice touch.

 
Carnage

Dont take notes. Just sit attentively, nod your head when appropriate and most importantly, try to think of relevant questions based upon what they mentioned during the interview.

Always ask for a card if they do not offer it to you. I always send a thank you note to my interviewers as a matter of principle, even though any decision was likely made within half an hour of you leaving the room. It is a still a nice touch.

Agree with all this, particularly the thankyou. Handwritten thank you notes can help, and even if they've decided against you, you will be set apart from other candidates in their minds.

Another thing if you haven't done it already: go on their website and try to learn as much as you can about them. When I interviewed for my boutique internship the first question I got was "what do you think we do here?" Be prepared to answer that to the best of your knowledge, and pay attention to everything they say.

Nod, smile, RELAX, if you're prepared you'll kill it.

Good luck!

Maximum effort.
 
Best Response
kraziazi Carnage:

Dont take notes. Just sit attentively, nod your head when appropriate and most importantly, try to think of relevant questions based upon what they mentioned during the interview.

Always ask for a card if they do not offer it to you. I always send a thank you note to my interviewers as a matter of principle, even though any decision was likely made within half an hour of you leaving the room. It is a still a nice touch.

Agree with all this, particularly the thankyou. Handwritten thank you notes can help, and even if they've decided against you, you will be set apart from other candidates in their minds.

Another thing if you haven't done it already: go on their website and try to learn as much as you can about them. When I interviewed for my boutique internship the first question I got was "what do you think we do here?" Be prepared to answer that to the best of your knowledge, and pay attention to everything they say.

Nod, smile, RELAX, if you're prepared you'll kill it.

Good luck!

Oh and the business card. Seconded what was said above, ask for all the interviewers' cards if they don't give them to you.

Random note ... be nice to the receptionist. If you're feeling confident, consider striking up a conversation with them. My boutique internship had one receptionist who was the longest tenured employee and had a say in whether or not candidates (intern through MD) were hired.

Maximum effort.
 

Enim quisquam iusto doloribus et et. Voluptates rem dignissimos enim omnis nostrum.

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be”

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”