Confidence and preparation go hand-in-hand.
Types of Interviews
Most investment banking interviews have two main parts:
- Behavioral questions: your story, experiences, and fit.
- Technical questions: accounting, valuation, and finance concepts.
Both matter. A strong candidate can clearly explain their path and also show that they have done the work to learn the basics.
Behavioral Preparation
A simple way to prepare is to write out 4 to 6 stories that show different parts of who you are: leadership, teamwork, resilience, initiative, and dealing with conflict.
- Why investment banking?
- Walk me through your resume.
- Tell me about a time you led a team.
- Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned.
Practice answering these out loud with a friend or in front of a mirror. Focus on being clear and structured instead of memorizing a script word-for-word.
See my behavioral study notes →Technical Preparation
For technical questions, you should be comfortable with:
- Basic accounting (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement).
- How the three statements connect.
- Valuation methods: comparables, precedents, and DCF.
- Simple questions about interest rates, risk, and return.
You do not need to know everything on day one. Start with one topic at a time, and review questions in small batches each week.
See my technical study notes →Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Speaking too quietly or rushing through answers.
- Over-apologizing for gaps in experience instead of explaining what you did learn.
- Pretending to know something when you do not: It is better to say “I am not sure, but I think…”
- Forgetting to ask thoughtful questions at the end of the interview.