Hi all I will have my interview in 11 days! I am an engineering major, although I participate in the investment committee in my school, my knowledge in finance is very limited. But due to my GPA (non target) and some business coursework I guess thats what brings me an interview.
So this what I am planning to do:
1. Vault i-banking and finance interview
2. part of Vault citi guide
3. WSO
Please tell me what else I should do. I have a very strong quantitative background and I heard citi is very technical, so I hope its a lot of math. But any other tips? This is a job I wish to have but have never thought can actually get there.
Thanks so much guys, I can't stress how helpful you all are.
Brian
Do you have a good memory? Are you a quick learner? check out damodaran.com...you'll have more than enough info to work with. Best of luck!
Always know abotu what's going on in the market.
Most likely they will ask you why Citi, be careful with the answer as they are hurted the most from subprime.
As for technical questions, there's a really good post on this website.. search for - interview questions or technical questions.
Investopia is really good if you want to find out what the terms mean.
My interview with Citi was very fit oriented, didn't get any technical questions. However, I don't think I will get an offer either.
Anyway, gl!
Ling~
thanks guys, Ling what kind of questions did they ask you? Thanks!
Citi was the only place that asked me a brainteaser (although it required knowledge probability and expected values to solve the brainteaser...). They were also very technical heavy (as mentioned previously).
My friend, on the other hand, got the most retarded questions and the easiest interview I've ever heard of in my life. One question was: Which position gets paid the most in professional football? (you likely will NOT get this question, so don't worry about it).
hey thanks b. I study Industrial Engineering so I have a good background with probability. Anyway, what else did they ask besides technicals? Do I need to know the market fairly well?
I have never gotten a market question in my life. My friend who interviewed for Lehman last year got asked about the return of the S&P over the past year, but Lehman does a "one firm" interview, so it's a bit different. I've been asked about my interest in banking, and had to use market examples to defend what I was asserting... but I've never been outright asked questions about the market (what is the stock price of this... what is this rate... what was the return on this index... etc.) I think it's important to know major news and be able to speak about a few deals to reinforce interest, but I think it can only be 'bonus points'. I don't think they'll specifically ask for it.
Also, by "technical", I do not mean quant-heavy or a lot of math. A lot of it just had to do w/ accounting or finance concepts/formulas that needed to be understood/memorized.
thanks a lot b. Sorry I might be a little stupid here, but how should I study for the interview? I am willing to pull all nighteres since I really really want this and I am someone who work very hard. And I just want to make sure I cover every aspect be4 the interview. Thanks so much!
There are a billion guides out there that work well. For technical questions, specifically, I really like the following site:
http://www.ibankingfaq.com/category/interviewing-technical-questions/
I believe it is the site of ex-banker, who also posts here. It's important to note, however, that memorizing the answers to these questions will not suffice. I don't think the list is an all-exhaustive, as it doesn't fully explain the reasoning behind each answer. I would research via other sources the answer to any question that you don't completely understand. I used the site more to affirm that my existing knowledge was sufficient, rather than to acquire new knowledge. In other words, it's important to understand the conceptual ideas behind the answers, so make sure that you understand the reasoning behind each answer.
I found it hard to prepare for fit questions (which I argue are equally, if not more important - technicals can prevent you from getting a job, but probably can't get you the job, whereas fit will get you hired). For the most part, I became conditioned to the fit questions through repeated interviews, as sooner or later, the questions all start to sound the same.
Also know what's going on in the world (a macro-economic POV). Examples include: "Tell me what you think the Fed is likely to do at its next meeting, and how will this affect bond prices?" (this was asked last year, so the answer was not so obvious). "Tell me about a major recent event or development, other than the subprime crisis (and anything related to the subprime) that affects banking."
hey b thanks again. The website seems really useful. I'm actually interviewing with the quantitative analysis position. And it says,
Good analytical and computer skills (C/C++/Java/Unix preferable) are required. Strong interpersonal, writing and speaking skills are also important. While a background in finance or economics is helpful, we believe that an analyst with exceptionally strong quantitative skills can come to a deep understanding of the financial markets.
My java skills are not very strong. And it says that you don't need much knowledge in finance, maybe I am wrong?
b, do you think what I am studying is right?
Thanks so much again!
I think I interviewed for that position - it's quant trading, right? They have a written math exam - it's like 20 q or so and they don't expect you to finish it. The stuff on there is the kind of math from high school math competitions...
There's a programming part too so you better know your data structures and C++/Java. Definitely don't need to know much about finance, and you also get asked a lot of brainteasers so make sure you prepare for those.
In terms of market questions, I didn't get any at all. I did get asked if I traded on my own, but that was about it. Overall a highly technical interview - brush up on your probability, study those brainteasers, and as for the math, if you're an engineer I think you'll be fine.
I assumed that you were interviewing for IBD, as you are posting in the IBD forum. My advice does not apply to Quantitative Analysis, and I would not be the best person to ask about that interview.
hey b I apologize if I get this wrong. But I thought this position belongs to the "research division" and shouldn't it be IBD too?
I am confused...thanks
can someone please tell me if I am studying the right thing...
thanks so much!
Research is actually its own division, sometimes clustered under capital markets along with S&T, but distinct from IBD. The research forum is here: //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/equityresearch
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