hey guys, do candidates ever bring in financial models (DCF) during interviews to show them as samples of work? i should mention that this will be an entry-level IB analyst position and the model that i have would be one that i made (simple model) during my hedge fund-private equity internship experience
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typically not, it's kind of a d-bag thing to do. better to talk to it if the oppty comes up in the interview (i.e., tell us about your modeling skills).
Do you have permission to send the model as a work sample to other prospective employers? If so, I would say that you do have work samples available for their review upon request, and discuss it in the interview if it comes up. If they ask for a copy, send them over a PDF copy of the model. Only send the Excel if they ask for it, and explicitly state in the email it must be kept confidential. Also, even though you have permission to send a work sample, try to "sanitize" it as much as possible by removing specific names of individuals/organizations if you think the former fund might still be working on that investment or deal.
sometimes bankers will be impressed and ask you questions if you bring in a model - if you decide to, make sure you can answer anything about the model
however, there is a big risk which would make me not want to throw a model on the table - bankers know models inside and out and can tear it apart - if they find one little mistake, that may be the end of your credibility, even though you may be able to model way better than others.
recommendation: don't bring it in to make it the primary focus of the interview
WHAT!?
No. Don't bring a fuckin model with you to an interview. For one thing, I would if a candidate bought in materials from a past job to show me, I would auto-ding them because they obviously have to fucking common sense. Say its not from a job, and its just something you did for your own personal development.... still don't bring it in. I don't know why that would "impress" an interviewer. They see models all day and you're expected to know the basic anyway... its not going to get you bonus points. If anything it just opens the door for questions that you have no way of expecting.
...yeah, yeah, yeah...But what if you REALLY need to prove your stuff, and you're a high risk/reward person. Maybe it's for a small bank, one with no training, and you don't come from a job involving modeling. Should you truly NEVER try to work in the convo that you've built your own (valuation or merger) models, and present them if they seem interested? Or at least offer to email them?
No, you shouldn't.
Nothing you've learned outside of on the job is even 50% correct.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Also, most people already in the industry wouldn't think favorably of someone who spends his/her free time creating models for fun. Not saying I didn't do it for educational purposes when I was trying to break into banking, but it just doesn't make someone think 'this is someone I could grab a beer with'.
I don't know how I came across this old thread, but to echo Marcus, never bring a fucking model to an interview. If a candidate ever did this, I would probe with much more difficult questions than the basics I would expect you to know. Not only does it make you look like a weirdo, but it is sure to make the interview that much harder.
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