Business Analyst Interview Questions for the Banking Domain: Click Here
Handy if applying for business analyst intern positions. These questions are more of behavioral, so very good for the first round and for the behavioral interview of the second round.
My key observations for internship interviews at investment banks can be summarized as follows:
• Investment banks look for team work spirit and enthusiasm in the interns more than any technical skills.
• These questions, when read, look pretty easy and it always appears that you don't need to prepare for them. (which ofcourse is not true)
• Since these questions have no set answers, whatever you says directs what question will be asked next.
• If you have thought of the event to mention then you just need to concentrate on framing it elegantly.
• If you prepared for these beforehand, you never come out of the room regretting that you had a better example to quote if had been given more time to think.
• Sample space of such questions is exhaustive though the same question may be framed in many ways.
No one can have the questions that will be asked before hand but preparing for questions like these below helps in framing the answer well at interview as we already have in mind what we want to say. Remember, the worst one can do in an interview is to come for it unprepared.
Tip: Something I found very helpful in my interviews was that, while answering questions, I tried to use the same phrases and words as mentioned in the requirements of the job in the job description. You may call it a psychological treatment but it tends to indicate that you have exactly what they want. And I got calls from companies wherever I used it so I have evidence that it works!! :)
1- What's is the hardest thing you have ever done?
2- Can u give an example of a time when u came up with a creative solution?
3- Why do u want to work for this industry?
Very specific; based on what company one is interviewing with. This gives the candidate an opportunity to show why is he interested in this company above all others in the same industry. It reflects how much research did the candidate do on the company before coming here and that is an indicator good enough to measure his interest.
4- Why do you want to work in investment banking?
This was asked in all the interviews I gave till date. They wanted to know why one would prefer working for an investment bank and not a completely "tech" firm. I guess they expect the candidate to have some interest in finance even if he is going to the technical end though they don't expect any formal course work or previous experience in finance.
5- What exactly do investment managers do?
6- Present a chapter from your favorite finance book.
This looks like a tough birdie
7- Walk me through your resume?
Two of my interviews started with this question. They don't expect us to memorize our resumes but give us an opportunity to highlight the points of the resume we want to and choose the tentative topics for further questions. Effectively they say, "the ball is in your court".
8-Why should we hire u?
An indirect question that asks your strengths directly.
9-what types of activities where you involved in college?
10- Why this firm?
Same as question 3 above.
11- An example of a project that involved heavy analytical thinking?
12- If made CEO what changes will u make?
13- Favorite website?
14- Example of teamwork where the team was successful. One example where the team was unsuccessful. Why? What lesson did you learn from it.
Two of my behavioral interviews were centered most of the time around this question. I was first asked to go through the objective of the team and then how it worked or how didn't work right.
15- The most striking article in wall street journal
16- Project you enjoyed most.
Again they are asking you " From where do you want to me to ask the next question". Make sure you mention a project through which illustrates teamwork, self-initiative or something that you can stress upon later because after this the next question will be why did u enjoy this one most. And for investment banks , jut saying that you liked it because of the extensive coding it required won't get you anywhere. It is indirectly measuring that you really meant the reasons you gave for Question 4 or not.
17- Given internship, if not hired finally, give 3 reasons why this could happen and how can u prevent this.
18- If I call a person who knows you well, what will he say about you?
19- What motivates you?
20- An example of experience of failure.
21- You don't seem like a driven person. how will you handle a job in banking?
22- An accomplishment you are proud of?
23- Favorite course, least favorite. Why? Grades in each.
24- How have you modeled qith equations in the past.
25- Can you tell me a time when u handled many things at the same time?
26- Example of leadership. (Any academic or non-academic examples are equally good)
27- Example where you were not the leader of the team but you took some major initiative?
28- Questions for the firm.
This is a very important part of the interview and usually has the last 5 minutes devoted to it. The person on the other side of the table always give you a chance to ask questions partly to clear your doubts and partly to again give you an opportunity to show your interest and zest for internship in the company. Preparing for this merely requires 15-20 minutes reading the profile of the company and the dept. you are applying to.
Handy if applying for business analyst intern positions. These questions are more of behavioral, so very good for the first round and for the behavioral interview of the second round.
My key observations for internship interviews at investment banks can be summarized as follows:
• Investment banks look for team work spirit and enthusiasm in the interns more than any technical skills.
• These questions, when read, look pretty easy and it always appears that you don't need to prepare for them. (which ofcourse is not true)
• Since these questions have no set answers, whatever you says directs what question will be asked next.
• If you have thought of the event to mention then you just need to concentrate on framing it elegantly.
• If you prepared for these beforehand, you never come out of the room regretting that you had a better example to quote if had been given more time to think.
• Sample space of such questions is exhaustive though the same question may be framed in many ways.
No one can have the questions that will be asked before hand but preparing for questions like these below helps in framing the answer well at interview as we already have in mind what we want to say. Remember, the worst one can do in an interview is to come for it unprepared.
Tip: Something I found very helpful in my interviews was that, while answering questions, I tried to use the same phrases and words as mentioned in the requirements of the job in the job description. You may call it a psychological treatment but it tends to indicate that you have exactly what they want. And I got calls from companies wherever I used it so I have evidence that it works!! :)
1- What's is the hardest thing you have ever done?
2- Can u give an example of a time when u came up with a creative solution?
3- Why do u want to work for this industry?
Very specific; based on what company one is interviewing with. This gives the candidate an opportunity to show why is he interested in this company above all others in the same industry. It reflects how much research did the candidate do on the company before coming here and that is an indicator good enough to measure his interest.
4- Why do you want to work in investment banking?
This was asked in all the interviews I gave till date. They wanted to know why one would prefer working for an investment bank and not a completely "tech" firm. I guess they expect the candidate to have some interest in finance even if he is going to the technical end though they don't expect any formal course work or previous experience in finance.
5- What exactly do investment managers do?
6- Present a chapter from your favorite finance book.
This looks like a tough birdie
7- Walk me through your resume?
Two of my interviews started with this question. They don't expect us to memorize our resumes but give us an opportunity to highlight the points of the resume we want to and choose the tentative topics for further questions. Effectively they say, "the ball is in your court".
8-Why should we hire u?
An indirect question that asks your strengths directly.
9-what types of activities where you involved in college?
10- Why this firm?
Same as question 3 above.
11- An example of a project that involved heavy analytical thinking?
12- If made CEO what changes will u make?
13- Favorite website?
14- Example of teamwork where the team was successful. One example where the team was unsuccessful. Why? What lesson did you learn from it.
Two of my behavioral interviews were centered most of the time around this question. I was first asked to go through the objective of the team and then how it worked or how didn't work right.
15- The most striking article in wall street journal
16- Project you enjoyed most.
Again they are asking you " From where do you want to me to ask the next question". Make sure you mention a project through which illustrates teamwork, self-initiative or something that you can stress upon later because after this the next question will be why did u enjoy this one most. And for investment banks , jut saying that you liked it because of the extensive coding it required won't get you anywhere. It is indirectly measuring that you really meant the reasons you gave for Question 4 or not.
17- Given internship, if not hired finally, give 3 reasons why this could happen and how can u prevent this.
18- If I call a person who knows you well, what will he say about you?
19- What motivates you?
20- An example of experience of failure.
21- You don't seem like a driven person. how will you handle a job in banking?
22- An accomplishment you are proud of?
23- Favorite course, least favorite. Why? Grades in each.
24- How have you modeled qith equations in the past.
25- Can you tell me a time when u handled many things at the same time?
26- Example of leadership. (Any academic or non-academic examples are equally good)
27- Example where you were not the leader of the team but you took some major initiative?
28- Questions for the firm.
This is a very important part of the interview and usually has the last 5 minutes devoted to it. The person on the other side of the table always give you a chance to ask questions partly to clear your doubts and partly to again give you an opportunity to show your interest and zest for internship in the company. Preparing for this merely requires 15-20 minutes reading the profile of the company and the dept. you are applying to.
1 comment:
Hi
Tks very much for post:
I like it and hope that you continue posting.
Let me show other source that may be good for community.
Source: Behavioral interview question
Best rgs
David
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