Banks sporadically hire at the analyst and associate level to replenish losses from attrition and firings as well as for expanding or starting a new team.

When recruiting off-cycle, the process is even more random and far more dependent on the network and work experience variables noted above. 50% of the time, job postings for analyst and associate will not show up on job boards or even the company’s internal jobs page. Instead, interviews will be granted to these four candidate buckets:

1. Candidates who have reached out to VPs and MD’s via coffee chats
2. Friends of current analysts and associates
3. Headhunter referrals (for experienced hires, rarely entry level or Year 0 analysts)
4. Internal candidates

As such, the best way for a candidate to position themselves for an interview is to reach out to multiple bankers continuously and diplomatically. Each impression needs to be polished, as word spreads quickly and aspiring bankers may find themselves blacklisted.

The greatest window of opportunity is between 0 to 1.5 years after graduation, as these candidates are good year 0 investment banking analyst candidates. Afterwards, there needs to be sufficient work experience in corporate finance to justify an experienced hire spot (year 1 or year 2 analyst). After 3 years out, chances become very slim, although investment banks will offer leeway to internal candidates.

The ideal candidates for investment banking are corporate finance professionals at Big 4 accounting firms, analysts at private equity firms and equity research. Sales & trading looks for buy side firm analysts and internal market risk employees (with strong quantitative skills).

For associates, investment banks will hire from private equity funds and Big 4 corporate finance teams – however, candidates will lose a promotion – as in a VP from Deloitte will start as an associate.

Investment Banking Phone Interview

The phone interview is usually reserved for out of town candidates and will be conducted with junior staff (analyst/associate) most of the time. However, sometimes an MD will join the call if the process is accelerated.

The phone interview is easy to prep for – candidates should have a print out of common behaviorals and technicals and practice before the interview.

As a side note, it is common misinformation that once a candidate lands an interview, everyone is equal regardless of how poor they rank in the screening process. This is a falsehood – any weaknesses pertaining to grades, school and work experience will be attacked and it is an upwards battle, especially if strong junior team members take on an immediate unfavorable bias as they perceive a lack of meritocracy in the process.

As far as interviews go, phone interviews will not be as in-depth technically as these concepts are more difficult to communicate over voice alone. Questions should focus around fit, especially pertaining to why investment banking and why that office. The idea is that if the bank likes the candidates, it is then worthwhile to fly them over for an in-person interview.

Sometimes the phone interview is an HR screen and most questions will be behavioral. However, for some elite boutiques, the HR has been instructed to ask technical questions as well, which may mix up unprepared candidates.

Investment Banking In-Person Interview

Investment banking interviews are usually multistage, with analysts and associates (the occasional Vice-President) conducting the first round, although it is not rare to see an MD make the trip out.

First Round Investment Banking Interview

The first round is usually on campus, and will be two rounds of 30 minutes to an hour. The junior staff will tend to ask technical questions while the relatively more senior staff will focus on fit – primarily work experience and why banking. Success in both also require the candidate to come across as an OK person.

Although MDs will ask fewer accounting and academic finance questions, they are big fans of asking open ended market questions that test a candidate’s thought process and general macroeconomic awareness.

“What sector would you bet on right now?” and “Where do you see the economy going?” do not have a wrong answer, provided that the reasoning is supported by evidence steeped in industry knowledge.

Second Round Investment Banking Interview/Superday

The second round is a half-day or all-day process which most bankers refer to as the Super Day. Candidates will meet over 10 bankers throughout the day back-to-back with some banks offering a candidate reception after (which is also an interview). The questions to be expected should be in the same format as the first round.

The candidate reception is meant to screen candidates for professionalism and maturity. Bankers are looking for social candidates who are pleasant to be around with a good sense of discretion. Bankers, assisted by HR, note which candidates were smiling and listening to their peers and bankers (as they would with a client), drinking moderately and not trash talking other candidates.

Sometimes HR will put in esoteric tests such as a bucket with only two lobster tails and 10 candidates – rest assured that whoever takes a lobster tail will be +1 lobster and -1 job opportunity. The idea behind this test is to screen out discourteous candidates or candidates who are carried away by the glitz of the occasion.

Final Round Investment Banking Interview

After the Super Day, offers are either handed out that day/next day (otherwise rejection/waitlist) or final candidates are brought back for a panel interview or one-on-one interview that involves the Group Head/primary Managing Director that they may work under. This is a formality and once more a candidate only has to come across as an OK person without obvious red flags.

At most banks, technical questions will be looked at on a gradient with a soft pass-fail where performance is judged relative to other candidates. Prestigious banks ask tougher technical questions and will cut anyone who does not have a strong grasp of corporate finance.

However, there is much more leeway in “failing” the technical interview as opposed to the behavioral interview. If a negative impression is made and a banker does not like the candidate, that process is over unless there is an override from someone more senior.

Post-interview, it is best practice to send a thank you email with a tailored response to the conversation shared between each particular banker. However, from anecdotal experience, failing to follow-up has never influenced a hiring decision, but it is important to follow-up for the candidate’s own mental health as sometimes bankers forget to reject candidates