The main thing is to know how they all work, not necessarily build one from the ground up. The typical how the 3 statements work together, how a DCF works, stuff like that. This is at least just at the interview stage.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 
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I'd say it depends on what level you are. If you're a sophomore I'd say they won't really expect you to know all that much other than basic accounting and technicals. As a junior I'd say know pretty much what a dcf is, and know how to build a comps and precedent and the DCF from scratch.

I'd also say it depends on which group you will be / are applying to. If you are doing M&A, you have to know M&A modeling; if you're in restructuring, knowing about LBOs would probably give you a head start (and the basic 3 that I mentioned above, of course).

Just my $0.02. Someone that is actually in the industry may be able to give you a better insight.

 
A Smith:

I'd say it depends on what level you are. If you're a sophomore I'd say they won't really expect you to know all that much other than basic accounting and technicals. As a junior I'd say know pretty much what a dcf is, and know how to build a comps and precedent and the DCF from scratch.

I'd also say it depends on which group you will be / are applying to. If you are doing M&A, you have to know M&A modeling; if you're in restructuring, knowing about LBOs would probably give you a head start (and the basic 3 that I mentioned above, of course).

Just my $0.02. Someone that is actually in the industry may be able to give you a better insight.

You don't exactly do a lot of LBOs in restructuring. You would deal with LBOs more in Lev Fin.
 

The only people that have ever asked me for a SWOT analysis are the weakest senior bankers. I doubt you'll be doing those very often.

Regarding the comment above mine, I've also done capital structure optimization modeling for investment grade companies.

There are also ad hoc models/analyses that don't really fall into a defined category.

 

Yeah. I took it upon myself to throw together a SWOT and I got ripped apart. It's "monkey work." As for the ad hoc models, depending on your industry focus you could run into some that are 100x more complex than a DCF. I ran into of huge portfolio of leveraged leases with twisty debt & ownership profiles that was humbling to say the least.

 

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