If you’re aiming to get into investment banking then you’re stepping into one of the most competitive recruitment landscapes in finance. Where you aspire to become a Investment Banker and in order to become top 1% in the world of finance. With the right tools, preparation, and mindset, you can stand out from the crowd and secure your dream Investment Banking Job.
What Investment Banks Are Really Looking For ?
It’s not just about having the best grades or the right degree. Top firms like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and boutique IB firms look for a unique combination of:
- Technical knowledge
- Presentation & communication skills
- Market awareness
- Consistency in effort
- Curiosity and proactivity
Being “good on paper” isn’t enough. You need to show the people taking your interview how you are best among all in terms of your technical skills. Use your presentation and communication skills as a powerful tool to showcase your success.
Ace the Technicals: What You Must Know
At some point, every IB interview will test your technical foundation.
If you don’t understand how a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) works or how to adjust for working capital, Investment Banking is definitely not for you.
You must cover:
- DCF, comparable company analysis, and precedent transactions
- EV vs. Equity Value
- M&A modeling basics
- LBO logic
- Accounting adjustments and financial ratios
- WACC, beta, and terminal value calculations
Interviewers aren’t always looking for perfection — but what they want is your confidence and with how much clarity you try to solve a problem.
Behavioral Rounds: Your Story Matters
Your resume gets you the interview. Your story gets you the offer.
Common behavioral interview themes:
- Leadership experience (even in student clubs or internships)
- Dealing with pressure and tight deadlines
- Mistakes made and lessons learned.
- Why investment banking — and why now?
- How you stay updated with financial news and markets.
You must be able to walk them through your resume with clarity, conviction, and relevance to finance Indicating what you have achieved in the past and what you are willing to achieve in future.
Case Studies: Think Structurally
You may be asked to:
- Analyze a business’s financials
- Recommend strategic next steps (e.g., acquire, divest, expand)
- Prepare a quick model or pitch in Excel or PowerPoint
- Solve a live case with market or deal data
What helps?
- Practicing real case studies
- Studying past M&A deals
- Reviewing public company investor presentations
- Learning how bankers frame problems and present solutions
Here the more you will practice from the past deals and case studies it will help you in solving case studies that might be asked in the interview.
Top 50 Most Asked Investment Banking Interview Questions
Download Top 50 Most Asked Investment Banking Interview Questions from here :
Who Is This Resource For?
This is perfect for:
- Final-year undergraduates targeting investment banking roles
- B-School students interviewing with consulting or finance firms
- Chartered Accountants or CFA candidates targeting M&A and equity research
- Anyone transitioning into finance or strategy roles from a non-core background
Final Thoughts: What You Can Do Right Now
- Start solving one case study per week
- Subscribe to a finance newsletter like DealBook or Finshots
- Practice your stock pitch out loud
- Download and review investor presentations
- Prepare with real questions, not theory-based notes
You don’t need to be a genius to break into investment banking — but you do need to be ready before everyone else is.
