What's your biggest bias?

When interviewing candidates, what's your biggest bias? Can be pro or con any element of a profile...

Personally, and this is petty I know, I always ask STEM students (incl. economics and finance) why they want to go into trading and how exactly they think their academic experience will add value. As a history grad, I was always asked in interview why I wanted to be a trader, what skills I could bring, etc. and it rankled me (no doubt the product of some latent insecurity / superiority complex that, clearly, is still present). I enjoy turning the question on target subjects because, I tell myself, it forces them to truly confront why they're pursuing this profession - it shouldn't just be because it's seemingly the next logical progression. Needless to say, I've definitely received some slightly puzzled looks...

Hopefully this thread will help the latest crop of applicants better prepare in case they do come across an interviewer as conceited as myself!

2 Comments
 

I have a friend that said his biggest bias was if the kid was a preppy entitled douche from an Ivy, then he was off the bat not gonna like the kid

Array
 
Most Helpful

Ea dignissimos inventore et quo in. Consequatur voluptatem sapiente quisquam recusandae rerum. Eos voluptate eum sint vel cumque aut. Itaque porro doloribus aperiam fuga nihil possimus autem. Fugiat est dolorem vero sunt voluptas enim et neque. Nesciunt rerum voluptatem dignissimos voluptate.

Sit recusandae reiciendis ut voluptas. Sapiente accusantium eos necessitatibus est est aut odio. Consequatur inventore quo sed et provident occaecati. Optio blanditiis praesentium rem atque. Modi dolores sit aut dolor et ut. Voluptatem ut qui blanditiis in.

Reprehenderit officia nulla voluptate et occaecati ab. Animi est maiores et ea. Velit sunt totam sit consequatur labore. Quaerat ut consectetur quisquam ut. Debitis itaque omnis totam non ea dolores.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 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

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
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...”