Using Paper For Hard Technicals

Is it acceptable to use paper to figure out some of the harder technicals during an interview or is this generally frowned upon?

I know that for me, it is easier to diagram the flow of a transaction through the statements on paper before explaining.

8 Comments
 

Just ask them in the interview. If they say yes, then yes. And if they say no, no. They probably won't say no, though.

And I don't think it would be frowned upon.

 
Best Response

If you need to use pen and paper (and sometimes you will), then use it. Even if the interviewer expects you to know how to do the question off the top of your head, it's better to write it down, take a little longer and get it right than to try to figure it out without writing everything down and getting it wrong.

In fact, there are many technical questions where an interviewer would expect you to write stuff down, for example, a question with multiple parts and specific numbers. This is why you always bring your padfolio that you bought at the campus bookstore for $50 bucks along with a pen/pencil and paper to interviews (besides the part where you will never, ever use it again after that, so you might as well get your use in.)

 

or you could just use a jackknife and etch your thought process into the table.
... or your leg so they'll think you're tough and can handle the pain that comes with IB hours

Remember, once you're inside you're on your own. Oh, you mean I can't count on you? No. Good!
 

Et corporis ut consequatur totam. Qui qui quasi velit quia ullam. Est sint odio aperiam consectetur. Consequatur ut maxime neque rerum laudantium qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”