Networking interviews with investment bankers are invaluable opportunities for finance professionals. However, many people struggle with deciding what questions to ask during these short meetings. Asking thoughtful, engaging questions shows your interest in the field and the firm, while also allowing you to gather useful insights. This article provides investment banking candidates with strategic questions to ask during networking interviews, helping them make the most of these crucial opportunities. There will be tips on questions tailored to different investment banking roles and firms. With thoughtful preparation and research beforehand, networking interviews can significantly increase your chances of landing investment banking offers.
Ask about their career path and day-to-day work
One of the best questions to ask investment bankers is about their own career progression and typical day-to-day work. This shows your interest in learning more about the job itself. Be sure to ask follow-up questions about what they enjoy most and find challenging about their role. For junior bankers, you can ask how they got into banking straight out of undergrad and their motivation behind that. For senior bankers, ask about their career path over the years and how their role has evolved. You’ll gain crucial insights into different banking positions and hierarchies. Tailor your questions based on their specific role – ask M&A bankers about deal execution or equity researchers about stock analysis.
Learn more about the firm’s culture and values
Along with the work itself, gaining an inside look into the firm’s culture and values is invaluable. Every bank’s culture is unique, so get a sense of what that bank prioritizes and looks for in employees. Ask what the work environment and team dynamic is like on a day-to-day basis. You can ask how the bank navigates recessions or economic uncertainty. For junior employees, ask what training and mentorship are like. Above all, aim to understand whether the culture is a good fit for your personality and work style. The insights will help you determine which firms to focus your applications on.
Ask for tips on excelling in recruitment and early career
Networking interviews present the perfect opportunity to get pro tips from industry insiders on acing the recruitment process and hitting the ground running as a junior banker. You can ask what skills and experiences they look for in promising candidates. Also ask for their advice on excelling in banking interviews, both technical and behavioral ones. For junior employees, ask what helped them thrive in their first year on the job. Senior employees can provide powerful insights on positioning yourself for promotions and long-term success. This advice will give you an edge over other applicants.
Tailor questions to the firm’s specialty area
Thoughtful questions tailored to the firm’s niche demonstrate your research and interest. For bulge bracket banks, ask M&A bankers about recent marquee deals they have advised on. Boutique banks tend to specialize, so gear your questions around their focused industry like TMT, FIG or energy. Askabout trends they are seeing, challenges in the space, and their outlook. For banks with large equities arms, you can ask equity research analysts about companies under their coverage. This niche research will impress bankers and help you determine good fit.
Well-researched, engaging questions are key to maximizing networking interviews with investment bankers. Ask about their career progression, firm culture, recruiting tips, and specialty area. The insights will strengthen your applications and help determine good fit.