Interview Questions: Softballs

Make sure you can answer questions regarding depreciation and LIFO/FIFO as they pertain to the Big 3 fin statements...

I wouldn't worry too much.

There will probably be a third round, particularly if this is a major NY investment bank that starts with a G, which tends to have 2nd round interviews over the phone, mostly to figure out placement. If that's the case, in particular be prepared for a last minute phone call at 4PM next week where they want you to fly out to NYC for an interview the next day. The check-in lady will ask you if you'd like to upgrade to 1st class for $100 and look at you like you're crazy when you say no on a ticket "you" just spent $900 on. You'll have four to six interviews, including possibly a lunch interview if portfolio management is a particularly high touch group (I honestly don't know.)

There will be technical questions in the final round interview, but it's Portfolio Management, not trading, not quant analytics, maybe not even research (I am unfamiliar with the specifics of your group). Wouldn't be a bad idea to study up on any courses you've listed on your resume and definitely CAPM.

This will probably not be as stressful as the S&T interviews you read about. They might ask difficult questions, but the interviewers will probably be nicer and friendlier than the traders. And there's definitely going to be a strong fit component. So it's really best to just be yourself, be honest, and smile.

I'm way out of my normal area on this (Markets-side Quant Analytics), but if I had to guess, that's a rough idea of what you can expect over the next couple weeks.

Thanks Illini. It's not for a position in NY, but I'm told there is another round where they'll bring in the finalists for a face-to-face. I was just figured with such easy questions they had possibly already made up their minds on me at least for this round.

All my phone interviews were really chill. Maybe I had an unusual experience, or maybe interviewers are uncomfortable grilling you over the phone. I wouldn't stress too much. If they seemed overly nice and you're not the son of the CEO or something, that's a good thing.