What are your signature questions to build rapport?

We all know bankers like to talk about themselves. - What got you interested in this bank... - How did you get started in your career... - what you do from a day to day basis... - what is the culture of the firm....

We have seen deal related questions, cultural fit questions, but i feel these questions are boring and hard to connect.

Would be great to hear from some of you what questions worked for you? Maybe it's from a common book you have read, hobbies. - would love to hear some wittty "pick up" lines or stories.

My personal favorite is : "What occupation would you be in if you were not in Finance/Investment Banking?" This usually gets them thinking with an element of "fun".

Cheers!

2 Comments
 
Funniest

Do you regularly iron your socks? Why are you still wearing J Crew? How much of a role did your Dad play in getting you your current role? Have you found Jesus, and if so where was he hiding? Have you cried in the office yet? Why haven't you exited to PE yet, oh, did you not make the cut? Is blow in the office after 2 AM w/o my MDs permission kosher, or do I need to get my mom to sign a permission slip first?

These have all led to immediate in persons, highly recommend

 

Aut temporibus ut rerum assumenda et dolores est. Architecto doloribus maxime non fuga adipisci nihil.

Aut facere sed quia dolorem nisi sit deserunt. Voluptatem ipsam blanditiis aspernatur doloremque excepturi. Corporis sint aut debitis doloremque. Est aspernatur animi ipsam minima id in. Sint tenetur eaque necessitatibus a et magnam itaque impedit. Non et et tenetur quia hic tenetur. Vel iste nihil sunt iste qui.

Tenetur aut autem sunt nihil. Nostrum enim rem perspiciatis. Nemo est unde autem. Dicta cupiditate quisquam et maxime et porro voluptatem. Quo ab nulla velit eos totam ullam laboriosam.

Don't @ me

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
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...”