Interview Question: Why are you Interested in Finance?
"I want to make a lot of money" doesn't seem like a good answer, so how do you all answer this question?
Why Do you Want to Work in Finance?
This is a critical interview question that you will be asked in almost any intern interview or change of career interview.
How to Answer "Why this" Questions
Why do you want to do finance or investment banking? Why this firm? Why are you a good fit? Research the firm beforehand - what their "About Page" focuses on, what values and principles they abide by. Tailor these answers for each firm or industry and practice them.
When approaching this particular "why" question - you should tailor it to a story of how you became interested in finance. You should not reference "money" as an answer. That is implied - while some people may like it - there is low reward to that answer.
Undergrad Answer
If you are still in school it should bridge the gap from you major, your extra-curricular experiences, or your background to why you are interested in working in finance.
Sample Answer for Finance Major
I first became interested in finance when my father taught me about his own personal investing habits. While he was talking about his own personal portfolio, something sparked my interest which led me to want to learn more about the markets. This interest eventually led me to want to puruse finance at XYZ university. At XYZ university I joined our student investment club which helped me learn more about the finance world and the markets. I found that I was excited to learn about the different connections that exist in the market which led me to want to pursue finance for a career.
Sample Answer for Non-Finance Major
My interest in finance started in my entry level economics class. I was tasked with taking a macro-economics class in the pursuit of my political science degree. The professor had us do a mock portfolio challenge and invest based off of macro-economic data only. This excersize made me very interested in the dynmaic nature of the markets which led me to want to puruse some element of finance in my career so that I could connect my interest in politics and the economy with my career.
Change of Career
If you are coming out of a different career looking to get into finance, you should be able to tell a story that bridges the gap between what you were doing and why you are interested in finance.
Sample Answer for Change of Career
After graduating XYZ university, I began work in the pharmaceutical industry working for XYZ company. Throughout my time at the company, I did R&D on drugs - several of which were ultimately sold off to different companies. Eventually the company that I was working for was sold to a larger conglomerate. Through this process with the company, I became interested in M&A processes and wanted to be involved in purchase and sale of the company rather than just developing drugs to be sold. This led me to puruse my MBA in the interest of moving into the sell side of finance, specifically investment banking.
Preparing for investment banking interviews?
The WSO investment banking interview course is designed by countless professionals with real world experience, tailored to people aspiring to break into the industry. This guide will help you learn how to answer these questions and many, many more.
Models & bottles
With the truth.
Is it really that hard to bullshit through this question? So many people ask this question on here. Put yourself in the shoes of somebody who actually likes finance and then think about it.
Answer for yourself.
It's your interview
Your job
Your shot
no the trick to answerin this questin is not to say anything. then after a while u say "why are u interested in finance?"
"High level of responsibility at entry level..." "Constantly learning and exposed to current information daily, etc."
read M&I, their story format works pretty good. you can start with a broad interest in capital markets and talk about how past internships led you to investment banking because its more fast paced / markets oriented than other areas of finance.
This doesn't work in all areas obviously but here's one answer I often give in trading interviews as a math major. "I love the fact that finance is one of the few fields that clearly quantifies the utility of your work."
Fast-paced environment where there is no true perfect set of information. New data is constantly coming in to affect decisions, and I'm motivated by staying on the cutting edge of whats going on in the markets.
Why finance? (Originally Posted: 10/04/2011)
I'm a junior in finance + economics and I started thinking that if I were an engineer or would aim for medical school or something at least when I graduate I would be valuable. How many more managers can this world handle? I know a guy with CFA/MBA who is unemployed. Do you think an engineer with 8 years of experience and a masters degree would have such a hard time finding a job?
Every MBA program says it produces best leaders. What are those business undergrads who do an MBA going to lead? Can't produce a real product, not an engineer, can't create software, hardware or anything physical, chemical, electrical, fucking anything really. Your only choice is to join a big company that OTHER people with those skills built and do budget planning. Or you can manage THEIR money along with other million funds that people like you created.
On the other hand I can't see myself doing anything else. I can't see myself as a lab rat and definitely not anywhere near the operating table but I wish I could gain some other skills in my undergrad rather than learning supply and demand for 4 years and then do an MBA if I really wanted to learn the finance side of things. Anybody with similar thoughts?
But, they can bullshit.
You could always start a service company where you don't really have to build anything... or if you have a good idea for something, you could find the necessary funding and pay people to make it for you. Then you could deal with the business aspects.
Professional degrees are for people who seek to have a stable and reasonably comfortable income over the long run. The reality is that most people can get a MBA easily (barring the T-10 MBA programs at HBS etc). Hell, even my former teacher in high school went on to get a MBA, and is still a teacher! My view is that unless you graduate from a target b-school, the MBA doesn't make much of a difference and won't help you get a job in 'high' finance.
You need to understand that investment bankers and traders do not 'create' products, but merely provide sophisticated financial advice / liquidity to the markets. In Gordon Gekko's words, the quote 'I create nothing. I own.' clearly encapsulates the idea. Just like Ari Gold, we take a small slice of the pie and accumulate the pieces. With respect to the general MBA-holder, you need to understand that most MBA holders aren't entrepreneurs, they are managers. You do not need to learn how to manufacture a fucking car to run Ford, you get the technician to do that job. Your job is to run the company by providing a solid vision and develop your business in emerging markets, make current processes more efficient etc. You do more planning relative to execution on the ground, painting the broad strokes rather than screening the small details.
Being in finance comes with its fair share of risk/reward. If you perform well, you get to rain lightning and crap thunder as a BSD. However, poor performance may see you out the door faster than you can react to the news.
Just my two cents' worth.
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