IB Interview Q's
3 Weaknesses?
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Tell me about a time when you had to really test your analytical capabilities?
Amazon product research
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Becoming a first year associate at BGL, becoming more independent as I have seen a lot of growth already through college. Making a lot of new friends at the firm.
Tell me about a time you received difficult feedback and how did you respond?
Ben saying that I was overly critical and sometimes could come off as rude
Questions for BGL
Collin - I heard that you recently made a switch to BGL, what made you decide to switch and what are the main differences that you've experienced through that switch? If you had one word to describe the general atmosphere of people at BGL what would it be? What have you seen new hires or people in internships do in their first few months that set them apart and lead them to be more successful? Knowing what you know now, if you restarted your life and could do anything you wanted, would you take the same path?
What do you like to do in your free time?
During my free time from school I spend a lot of time biking, but outside of that I love to get some friends together and play some football or basketball, me and my friends over the summer always go down to North avenue beach and play football by the water, super relaxing and nice to be in the sun. I also love to eat so anything involving going out to eat like an all you can eat place, Gyu Kaku in Chicago is fantastic. If its a cold or rainy day out I would instead spend my time playing video games with those same friends, or working on business ideas to help keep me busy.
How do you see yourself contributing to this organization in the short term and the long term?
Familiar face for bankers in the long term as I will stay around and help the company grow its client base and pull in new deals. Not planning on becoming more relaxed and taking time off as I become more senior, instead working just as hard as I was as an analyst but with different goals in mind.
Biggest risk you have ever taken in your life?
Gap year, nothing planned, all friends leaving, mentally challenging being locked inside with my dad continuing working which left me a lot of time on my own. Overall made me very independent and after starting my Amazon company, used to just putting my head down and working.
Why sell side M&A?
I want to work in sell side M&A to work with smaller companies like mom & pop shops where I can truly be changing a family's life and they don't even know what their company is valued for. These would be the smaller deals but I think that sell side always will be more impactful for the client facing side instead of buy side where you are likely working with a large company that has already undergone acquisitions before.
What is your outlook on the stock market?
It is tough to say that the market will end negative once again, as that has only happened 4 times in the last century, but we are in a position where that could likely happen. This occurred back in the dot com bubble, and in the '74 inflation crisis, both times when interest rates were held high. Currently interest rates are held very high and technically held even higher due to the pressure added by the banking crisis. Although it appeared to have cooled down, I wouldn't be surprised if banks felt more pressure when rates are held this high and if the stock market takes a turn and people want to pull their money out due to the looming fear of the banks. Gas prices have started rising again due to the oil production cut, which could lead to a rise in inflation numbers prompting the fed to raise rates slightly again, just adding even more pressure. Just to add onto the fire, China is now trying to start its own group to abandon the dollar as the reserve currency of the world, which could lead to our Treasury yields dropping from becoming risk free and further damaging the economy with the dollar weakening. There really is not much positive outlook besides inflation potentially cooling but high interest rates don't seem to be going anywhere. build up of activity, when i get on the desk in 2024 i am thinking the deal flow will pick up by then (companies will be adjusted to the new cost of capital)
Tell me about a time you showed leadership
NFTs, learned how to graphic design and market so I could help support my teammates. Analogy of the leader being in the back of the boat instead of the front of the boat (steering the boat and pushing the team up with them to see the success of the project).
Tell me about a time you had to help a colleague
Punith mock interview
How would you coach someone on building trust?
Reliable, accountable, and honest
Tell me about a time when you were confused about a request and how did you clarify the details?
STRIDE RMD Accounting
3 Strengths?
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Biggest challenge?
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Biggest mistake?
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Common misconception?
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Difficulty in a team?
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How would you describe your working style?
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Longest work week
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Something Unethical?
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Teach me something.
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Tell me about a success
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Tell me about a time when you encountered a difficult client and describe how you handled the situation
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Tell me about a time when you had to step up
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Tell me about a time when you sought out relevant information and used it to develop a plan of action
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Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate. What about a manager?
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Tell me about something that you think you need a lot of work on
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Tell me about this Excalibur Internship
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Tell me about your biggest failure
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Tell me about your experience at STRIDE Financial
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Tell me about yourself
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What can you add to a team? What role?
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What concerns you about working in investment banking?
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What would your co-workers say about you?
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Why BGL?
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Why Industrials?
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Why You?
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Why investment banking?
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Why the middle market?
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