Stretch truth for buyside interviews?
Is it acceptable to stretch the role you played on a deal if you can talk about it intelligently? There was an analysis done at the end of the deal that was built out by associate/senior analyst, and I didn’t get to play a part besides sitting in, rebuilding. I know saying I led it will be an obvious lie, but can I say I played a role in developing and executing it? I studied it many times over and know the essence of what it is and what types of questions may be asked. Thanks
Is your name on any relevant files or email chains? It's risky because on the one hand, sure you may know the deal inside out. But finance is small. There's always the chance that you get asked for references, to which you give someone at your firm. They might get asked about how you were to work with, casually mentioning this transaction. They might have no recollection of you on it.
If you have no other transaction experience, then might be worth speaking to. But if you worked on other deals, then just speak on those.
Alternatively, you could say that dealflow has been terrible this year at your bank, so you haven't gotten full M&A exposure as you've wanted yet. However, you can speak on a deal that you bank did that you were briefly involved in. Buyside interviewers want to know that you understand why deals are done, helps that you were involved in a deal, but it could be understandable that you haven't closed on one in your first year in IB. Just a thought.
I’m at a lower volume shop and only 2 months in. We staff analysts on 1 maybe 2 deals max, and the one I got put on closed recently. Now it’ll be a pitch until the next deal kicks off. The deal was well under way before I joined as a FT analyst. Any ideas how to approach?
I was formally on deal, on all emails and calls since I joined. Just wasn’t given a ton of work since all the marketing and analysis was done by the time I got on. At a EB btw
I would suggest something like this:
"This is a transaction I had a bit of exposure to...[walk through deal]...the deal was well underway before I started at xyz firm. I was able to help with xyz work, I was really drawn to the transaction and went through the model myself on my own time, took notes on xyz, and learned xyz lesson."
Try to emphasize your learnings and the whole transaction, rather than your own your if you did minimal.
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