IFC investment analyst interview content: interview info?

Hi there,

Does anyone know the format/content of an IFC investment analyst interview? I will be having an interview next week but have absolutely no idea what to expect! Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Hi. How was the first round? I've just applied for an investment analyst position at IFC. Don't know what to expect. I hope they don't have aptitude tests.

 

Well, it depends. Be more specific -- what sorts of jobs are you interviewing, what's your previous experience been like and what level are you at in your career (I imagine you're still in college; correct me if I'm wrong)? The answer will vary for a new freshman who's trying to get a feel for different options vs. for someone who worked in PR for 7 years, for example, is in an MBA program and recruiting for IB.

 

I wouldn't look down on it. I'm pretty friendly with a woman who works there, somewhat high up, who concentrates in Sub-Saharan Africa, another guy who used to work there concentrating in SE Asia and I've done a deal with their Indian group. All very smart folks. They do some interesting stuff, although there's more bureaucracy simply because it's a quasi-govt agency but it's not as bad as true public sector work and you're investing rather than grant making so you want investments to be economically and market based profitable. You're basically an investor and the cool thing is that you get to go into some crazy developing nations and you have the implicit backing of the US and therefore the in-country's govt. That lends a huge advantage when you're working in developing countries because even if you're a Goldman or Exxon there's a chance someone in _______(fill in the blank developing nation) will try to screw you over. They don't do that with the IFC involved because most people don't want the wrath of the US and their own govt on them.

The woman I know who works there has also said she can lean on other US and NGO resources so, for example, she can call up the local CIA field office and get intel (not secret stuff like weapons but can ask them what's really going on) or call USAID and get help, and other NGO's such as ExIm and it's equivalent from other countries and other grant making agencies will help you fund projects. She has mentioned that most people are lifers once they spend a few years there because they like the work, it tends to attract the type of person who wants to make the world a better place (for lack of a better term), the resources are tough to give up and the work/life balance is really good (she leaves by 5 or 6 almost every day). The pay's not going to be IB level but you can make good money-she once mentioned that her salary is published in the annual report-not her name but you can look and see that a VP makes $180k, or whatever their titles and salaries are.

Long response, but I wouldn't look down on it.

 

Strikes me as a positive, actually. You can hedge yourself and say that you are interested in working in an organization like the IFC, (eg, there may be other cool private organizations you discover by then) that you are interested in international finance and you think that you will gain a lot by working there. Also, as the previous poster said, there are a lot of interesting people there who have a wide range of experience. What's the downside of saying it if it is true?

 

Tbh I was under the impression that the only acceptable types of answers to that question was working in some aspect of completely private sector finance for some reason. Or something that directly involved the firm you were interviewing for. Also, I thought the shorter hours with the IFC would be interpreted to mean I'm lazy or can't handle the hours involved in being an analyst.

 

Hi all, I have a financial modelling test for the IFC Investment Analyst position in the PPP team. Anyone have any tips on how to tackle it. I am told I have up to 8 hours to complete. Any idea how difficult or complex it is going to be? Any help will be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

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