It’s the same with investment banking. Your interviewer wants to know that you fully understand what will be required of you if you’re hired, and what investment bankers do. Investment banking is known for its high-pressure environments, long working hours and established hierarchy. Graduates and juniors can expect to have a working week significantly longer than average, extensive workloads and last-minute requests from senior staff. There’s also a steep learning curve for new employees, as they learn to scrutinise data and rapidly develop soft skills so they can communicate effectively and concisely. This means the question “Why investment banking?” is a good way for an interviewer to work out whether you’re aware of the structure and style of this work. They can also use it to understand whether you are committed to the role and the industry, or if you aren’t aware of the full range of challenges involved. People looking to get a job in investment banking are highly likely to repeat the same sorts of things in response to this question. These might be answers that focus on:
Having opportunities to learn; Enjoying a fast-paced environment; Having great mathematical skills; Wanting to work with motivated people.
These responses might be relevant for you but, while they’re not wrong, they are quite vanilla. That means your answer, and you as a candidate, are unlikely to stand out to the interviewer. You may also find it challenging to answer this question as your answer needs to showcase your knowledge of yourself, the role and the industry as concisely as possible. This can be difficult, but thinking ahead and working through the steps in this article are two of the ways you can prepare yourself. You also need to show you’ve thought personally about the answer. The question is why you want to work in investment banking – not why someone else thinks you should, or what you’ve been told about the industry or your abilities. Your interviewer wants to know why investment banking appeals to you as an individual, so you need to provide a specific and unique answer.
1. You Understand the Industry
As mentioned, investment banking is a fast-paced, often high-stress field. People working in investment banking are often responsible for closing financial deals that affect entire economies and industries. You’ll be working on mergers, acquisitions, IPOs and a whole host of other high-level financial industry activities. Your interviewer wants to see that you understand the scale, power and impact that investment banking has, so they can feel assured you fully comprehend the realities. You’ll report to senior staff and receive last-minute requests from them, have a large workload and be learning new information and skills every step of the way. You’ll need hard skills in understanding data, financial analysis, trend-watching and market prediction, as well as soft skills like time management, attention to detail and effective communication. In answering this question, your interviewer wants to see that you’re aware of the nature of the role and you’re prepared to take on the challenge.
3. You Understand Yourself
Importantly, this question helps the interviewer see whether you can connect your education and work experience with your current ambitions. They want to see that you know why you are interviewing for a position in investment banking, and that you have a clear understanding of yourself and what’s important to you. They also want you to demonstrate that you can see how your skills and attributes could work well in the industry. You’re applying for this role for specific reasons – this question is a way for them to find out what those reasons are.
What Not to Say
There are a few things you should avoid when answering this question:
Don’t say you’re in it for the money. Despite this being the financial industry, your interviewer wants to know money isn’t the most important thing to you when applying for a job. Avoid saying that you want to use this role as a stepping-stone to another role. Your interviewer may feel that hiring you could be a wasted investment. * While mathematical skills are important in this role, don’t say you want the job because you’re good at maths. There are many other parts to working in investment banking, including crucial skills like negotiation. Don’t say that you think it would be interesting. This answer is too vague and imprecise, especially for investment bankers who are used to dealing with facts and figures. Don’t only say “I want to learn”. While this is important, saying this and giving no other reasons could give the interviewer the impression you are only in the role to receive an education, rather than giving anything back to the organisation. Be careful not to talk for too long when answering this question. As with all your answers during an interview, keep them concise and to the point, but be prepared to answer any follow-up questions. It’s very important you provide accurate information in this answer, so don’t lie. You might be tempted to make something up to help you look good – for example, that you invested in some shares when you were younger and made a fantastic profit – but this is a bad idea. Your interviewer is very likely to leave the interview and conduct further online research about you.
This might be an internship, your degree, an event, a hobby or a person you know. You can then add details about why the role of a graduate in investment banking interests you, highlighting specific skills you would like to learn or employ. Make sure to indicate you understand what working in investment banking is like, such as mentioning the hours, fast-paced environment or motivated colleagues. Prove that you are suited to these conditions with firm examples. Your answer should be relatively concise, so spend some time practising with a friend or family member to help you keep it short and feel confident in what you’re saying.
Example Answer 1
The experience you’ll gain in the financial industry is second-to-none, making investment banking an exciting choice if you have strong mathematical, analytical and financial skills. Answering the question “Why investment banking?” is difficult because it’s very open. But it’s important to remember your interviewer is looking for how well you understand the industry, the role you’re applying for and yourself. The most successful candidates will be able to construct a unique and developed answer. To get to that level, consider the following:
The growth and development opportunities available to graduates in investment banking; Learning about structuring M&A deals, strategic advisory services, and other aspects of investment banking; The transactional nature of the business; The educational experience and world-class training; Developing a fuller, more well-rounded business acumen; How your previous hobbies and past activities demonstrate your interest in finance.
Common mistakes can be easily avoided: don’t say you’re in it for the money or because it’s interesting. Avoid only saying it’s because you want to learn and remember not to talk for too long.
