Companies, Deals & Trends

Read the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Bloomberg daily. Follow deal announcements and earnings releases in sectors you are targeting. Have two to three recent deals you can discuss in detail, including rationale, valuation, and structure.

Common questions include: tell me about a recent deal, what sectors are you interested in, where is the M&A market heading, and pitch me a stock. Prepare thoughtful answers that demonstrate analytical thinking, not just headline awareness.

Have at least two to three deals prepared in depth: the strategic rationale, approximate valuation, deal structure, and your opinion on whether it was a good transaction. Choose deals relevant to the bank or group you are interviewing with.

Stock pitch questions are common, especially at elite boutiques and in equity-focused roles. Prepare one long and one short pitch with a clear thesis, supporting data points, valuation analysis, and key risks. Show you can think like an investor.

Industry knowledge differentiates prepared candidates. If you are interviewing for a specific group (healthcare, TMT, energy), research recent sector deals, regulatory trends, and key drivers. Generic knowledge is sufficient for generalist pools.