Fixed Income Summer Internship Interview Question

I have an upcoming phone interview for a fixed income summer internship phone interview and I have no idea what to expect. Has anybody gone through this and would like to give me some tips on what to expect and should study beforehand? Any general advice as well would be greatly appreciated!

26 Comments
 

Study bonds. Know the present value and future value formulas for a single payment and annuities. Get ready for brain teaser questions. Prepare an inspiring life story that you can pitch to the interviewer. Research the firm and know why you picked this firm above other firms.

"The code of competence is the only system of morality that's on a gold standard." - Francisco d'Anconia
 

Interviews won't be super technical at the analyst level, but you might get some bond math questions. It also depends on your background and the interviewers. Some interviewers will ask you to back up knowledge from technical classes you list on your resume (and won't ask you any if you're a liberal arts major), while others in that situation will assume you're technical and ask you only fit questions.

 

Martinghoul, are you referring to the six-piece Salomon papers?

OP, if you need those papers, PM me your e-mail address.

Snootchie Bootchies
 
zee4Martinghoul, are you referring to the six-piece Salomon papers?

OP, if you need those papers, PM me your e-mail address.

Would you mind sending those my way also?

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 
Simple As...
zee4Martinghoul, are you referring to the six-piece Salomon papers?

OP, if you need those papers, PM me your e-mail address.

Would you mind sending those my way also?

You will find Parts 1-6 here (scroll down): http://www.wilmott.com/messageview.cfm?catid=11&threadid=7633 Part 7 is here: http://www.hughchristensen.co.uk/PaperDepository/papers/UnderstandingTh…
 

What kind of position? I would suggest just focusing on the basics and knowing them cold (duration, convexity, current yields/spreads, etc.), instead of trying to skim a ton of stuff. You don't have time for that.

 

It isn't for a specific role, more like "hopefully they'll have something for me when i'm done with school"-interview :) But it is within s&t. Anyway, thanks for your answers, much appreciated!

 

If you are from a non-target they might bring you in for a quick 1/2 hour interview with an analyst which is somewhat of a "fit" interview. If you are invited back, the interview will consist of four 1/2 hour interviews w/ managing directors and senior managing directors (occasionally a VP). It is very easy to notice the four different interview styles:

1)Behavioral (Tell us about yourself/experiences) 2)Why Bear? 3)Quantitative/How do you deal w/ stress (Interviewer may act like somewhat of a hardass) 4)Ethical (What would you do in certain situations?)

They might throw in some brain teasers and/or math questions.

Also make sure you are well versed on the various roles within F.A.S.T. at Bear.

 

Is this program single-desk or rotational?

Friend of mine worked with one desk the entire summer(not sure if this is the normal experience there). Do they expect you to know specifically which desk you would like to intern on? Can you keep this open-ended?

 

I have a Fixed Income Summer Analyst interview set up with Bear. HR said they would need me for approx. 1.5 hours. I am from a non-target, although very strong school with an excellent business school. Do you think this will be mostly fit questions?

 
Closer121

Don't you mean "Are their equities separate?"

And yes, Global Equities and F.A.S.T. are separate.

Actually, he was correct in saying "is there equities seperate?". The "there" was just the wrong version.

-Grammar Police, Chief

 

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