10 Biggest Investment Banking Mistakes In An Interview

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

We have compiled below the list of 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. Candidate needs to be prepared with the technical questions as these questions are the base for testing candidate’s candidature.

What you can do is study and understand the concepts properly. Do thorough practice of 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 interviewer it becomes very easy to identify that whether candidate is speaking naturally or just giving by-hearted story.

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

You can consider points while preparation 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 off course not desired. Interviewer is not there to listen to your stories.

Formulate your answers in 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 like non-interested in the interview process then the chances of your selection are zero. It is very impactful that how you carry yourself or appear to the other person.

For diagnosing 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

This is the most easiest of 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 second opportunity to make first impression. So you should arrive in time rather some time 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 your unique ideas, you are chances of getting selected reduces drastically.

Do lot of reading and analysis, try to find out the unique factors which sets you apart from others. And then formulate your all 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 proper company analysis, its competitors and market position etc.

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Mistake # 8 – Poor Listener

Sometimes candidate gets so busy in answering, that they tend to ignore or 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 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.

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