10 Biggest Investment Banking Mistakes In An Interview

The key to acing your Investment Banking Interview is to avoid the mistakes trap that students frequently commit.

We have compiled below the list of the top 10 Investment Banking Interview Mistakes.

Mistake # 1 – Lack of Preparation

This tops the list of Investment Banking Interview Mistakes. Most of the candidates are not well prepared for facing the Investment Banking interview. The problem lies with the technical questions. The candidate needs to be prepared with the technical questions, as these questions are the base for testing the candidate’s candidature.

What you can do is study and understand the concepts properly. Do thorough practice in answering the questions.

Mistake # 2 – Too Prepared

Second, on the list of Investment Banking Interview Mistakes is being too prepared. Candidates memorize the answers to the level that, for the interviewer, it becomes very easy to identify whether the candidate is speaking naturally or just giving a by-hearted story.

An Interview has to be, a conversation and not acting from Candidate’s side.

You can consider points while preparing but not the word-to-word story.

Mistake # 3 – Shorted your stories

Some Candidates tend to tell huge success or failure-based stories, which is, of course, not desired. The interviewer is not there to listen to your stories.

Formulate your answers in a short and simple manner. Always be specific and include related information in your speech.

Be polite while telling your experiences, don’t do showoff.

Mistake #4 – The way you carry yourself

If you show or look non-interested in the interview process, then the chances of your selection are zero. It is very impactful how you carry yourself or appear to the other person.

To diagnose this, you can find out the reason behind this:

1. Either you are well prepared, but you feel or look nervous.

1. Or, you are attending the interview just for the sake of, somebody said you to do so.

Diagnose the problem with you; be self-inspired and confident in your acts.

Mistake #5 – Absence of Professionalism

These are the easiest Investment Banking interview mistakes to avoid. As it is correctly said that the First impression is the last impression. So always keep in mind that you won’t get a second opportunity to make a first impression. So you should arrive in time rather sometime before the interview with proper professional attire.

Mistake #6 – Boring Answers

Sometimes the answers which candidates gives becomes so repetitive or too obvious kind of, that, Interviewer finds them boring. Hence, if you don’t have unique ideas, your are chances of getting selected reduces drastically.

Do a lot of reading and analysis, and try to find out the unique factors which set you apart from others. And then formulate all your answers.

Mistake #7 – Haphazard or no research of the company

If you are appearing for the investment banking interview and you have not done enough research on the organization to which you are applying, then, you are committing a big mistake. One should do a proper company analysis, its competitors and market position, etc.

Mistake # 8 – Poor Listener

Sometimes candidate gets so busy answering, that they tend to ignore or are unable to listen or understand the interviewer’s important clues, which may prove helpful to the candidate.

Always have listening powers, and be attentive to what the interviewer is saying.

Mistake # 9 – Minute Matters a lot

Always, be thorough with your CV. Many times candidates are not aware of the matter they have written in their CV.

Mistake # 10 – Criticizing your current organization

This is again one of the important Investment Banking Interview Mistakes to avoid. If you are looking for a job change, then you should not complain about the previous job or the employer and the surrounding. Rather relate the positive facts which will help you, if you get selected for the job role.