Interview Prep: Behavioural Questions

Why markets?

- Want to work in a dynamic environment - Want to learn about more than just equities - Really like data - Use economics

Walk me through your resume.

Been studying at UQ in finance and economics for just over a year. While I have been studying been working as a barista and tutor Exec on FMAA and have been doing competitions in my spare time Want to use my existing skills to go into markets and learn by doing as much as possible

Can you tell us about a time you worked in a team to solve a problem?

I had a group assignment about equity research in which my group were all excellent team players one of my team members had a file corrupt in which they lost all of their information on the comparators firms we were using for our relative valuation, The rest of my team had another assignment to complete that I had already finished, So I stepped up to collaborate with the one who's file was lost and regain the info we had lost In one long night of work we managed to recreate it and got full marks for that section.

Why J.P. Morgan?

- J.P. Morgan equity research was an early go-to - National leader in markets sales and trading - Want to learn about lots of asset classes - Merging of roles

Why do you think you will succeed in this role? What makes you a good fit?

- Passionate for markets: education, competitions - learning mindset: education - Responsibility and organisation: work and managing work and uni - Diligence and commitment: working really hard at my studies and extra curriculars - Teamwork: work

Which skills did you gain during your internship or past investment banking experience that will make you a good fit for this role?

-All I've got right now is my education and case comp experience Case comps: -learnt creativity and problem solving in a timely manner - teamwork - Presentation to executives and problem solving on the spot ie Q&A I look forward to learning more in an internship

How are the three financial statements linked?

-Income statement describes all the income and expenses -Cash flow statement describes movement of cash including cash income and expenses -These two combined show changes in assets in cash and non-cash ways

Why did you choose your major?

. Like maths, data and financial modelling . Markets = bloomberg . Like economics and its very applicable in markets.

Describe a situation that required you to overcome substantial obstacles or adversity. What approach did you take to overcome though? What motivated you to persist?

2 assignments due on the same day, spent my whole weekend smashing out 3403 during work breaks etc. so I could focus on the far more challenging one

What's the most important experience you've had in your career so far? Why?

CBA comp did the things got really valuable feedback learnt not to paralysis by analysis

What is your management style?

Clear and consistent Not intrusive always available Proactive effective communication

What are your best qualities?

Commitment: - Put my all into everything - If I say I'm going to do something I'll do it Methodical: - do not take decisions lightly - try to consider everything in a systematic way - doesn't mean I just strictly do things the "set way" ie. still adaptable

What is your biggest achievement so far?

Comps + top of uni

Pitch me a stock you're interested in.

Corporate Travel Management Undervalued due to market overreaction to travel bans Most of operations are domestic, which are opening up in a lot of countries. Have other revenue avenues than just international business travel: eg. event planning

Describe a time you were part of a group or team that had been working well together and a new member just joined. What steps did you take to help introduce this person and make them feel included? What challenges did you encounter? What did you learn?

Dallas at work talk to individually team gatho etc. make feel included give something meaningful to do. Challenging cuz A. introvert B. bosses son C. like 5 years younger. Sometimes it takes time for people to warm up to you but thats okay.

What are the benefits of raising equity and what are the benefits of raising debt?

Debt +: low cost, increases equity returns -: may come with conditions, financial distress costs, increased risk to equity holders, interest takes cash flow Equity +: No additional risk, no risk of financial distress, may be only option if in financial distress, no cash flow reduction, long term to generate returns -: more expensive, dilutes existing shares, potential for conflicts

Talk me through a time you were working in a team and you took the initiative to make a change.

Deloitte case comp Consulting: Reviewing the operations of CTM in COVID We thought we were reviewing their international operations they just wanted their ANZ segment Chose to keep going with 24 hours to go and adapt our solutions to australian segment eg. making faux anz segment financial statements.

What's your greatest strength?

Dilligence Flexibility

Can you tell us about a time you had to resolve a conflict at work? How did you achieve that? What happened?

Early this year I did a consulting case competition in a team of 4. On the day that is was due to be completed, one of the members with a crucial part of the solution didn't show up to the meeting. After attempting to contact him in any way we could, we had to continue the solution without his input to get it in on time. He was frustrated with me as he was at work when I called him. I understood and said that he could take on less of the workload as long as he told us when he was working next time. We came to a solution where we all still contributed and ended up being runner up.

You have been assigned as the lead on a project involving employees from multiple teams. This is a unique opportunity and you want to ensure it is a success. However, the deadline is very tight given the amount of work involved. Your responsibilities include coordinating efforts across the various team members, as well as working with the client to ensure you meet their needs. What steps would you take to ensure the success of the project?

End of day wrap-up sent to everyone, meetings whenever we need but not when we dont. talk to the leaders of each team on a regular process. dont be afraid to let individual team talk to the client if required.

Please describe a time when a teacher or manager questioned a decision you made and you had to explain the reasoning reasoning behind that decision. Please describe your thought process and the outcome. Looking back, would you have done anything differently?

Extra shot jug summer, go through lots of extra shots Could be a waste of money but I stuck to my guns Turns out we needed it lol. Could have let someone else take care of it later right before we ran out but i saw it coming

What leadership experience or extracurricular activity on your resume is most important to you? Why?

FMAA sub-exec: - Great opportunity to develop my leadership skills and work in a large team - Great opportunities meeting lots of interesting people and learning from them - Giving back to the UQ community

Your teacher assigns you to a group to complete an important class project. The classmates in the assigned group all know each other really well, but you do not know any of them. How can you ensure that you work effectively with the group?

Get in early, start making contributions early. Get to know you chat , team dinner etc. Communicate with each person individually, not just as a group.

What is it about your past experience that has made you want to work for division X?

In terms of experience I have none But basically i like uni and the CBA comp

You have just submitted a critical monthly report on behalf of the team to your manager. You realize there is a mistake on a part of the report that is rarely reviewed. What would you do?

Let them know It is much better that the mistake gets pulled up as quickly as possible especially if it is going to a client Much better that it gets picked up on and its unlikely that a good manager would reprimand you for telling them.

What does division X do?

Market maker in the derivatives market Sales are client focused Traders execute trades

Talk me through a time you were working in a team and someone wasn't pulling their weight.

My first ever group assignment at uni, I had someone disappear after two weeks As much as I would like to help everybody contribute and had endeavoured to do so earlier by asking if he needed help, encouraging him and working with him in the library, there comes a point where theyre a lost cause and the task still needs to be done My other remaining two group members and I spent two days at the library and ended up getting full marks.

What unique experiences and expertise could you bring to our team?

Numeracy skills pretty good aye Committed to working under time pressure -****ed up schedule -hospo Creativity and problem solving -case comps committed to the community -FMAA

Tell me about an asset class you're interested [this is asked in securities interviews].

Really interested in FX Really volatile: changes every second So many competing factors very macro what happens that really affects in one day may not at all affect it in the next.

Can you tell us about a time you've acted as a leader?

School fete I was the "switch" volunteer to fill absenses 3 people didn't show up for the yabby racing stall Instead of putting pressure on the volunteer coordinators to fill the absenses, I found extras myself from various places around the school that had extras. Help teach these people what to do on the stall and ran it and closed for the rest of the day.

What does leadership mean to you?

Servant leadership is really important: needs of the group before your own.

What do you typically do if you disagree with someone's idea?

The key is why. Explain why I think the way I do and be. open to changing my mind.

Talk me through how division X fits into the firm? (Eg. How does compliance strengthen the firm? How does the finance division protect the assets of the firm?)

They make money They provide hedging solutions and other market solutions to clients clients may also use IB services

What interests you about current affairs now? Why?

This year has been a time unlike any other and markets are behaving very differently than they have in the past. Equities are way more volatile, FX has acted in very strange ways, and the risks associated with fixed income are higher than ever. The way different government responses to the public health / economy trade off has also been fascinating.

What has been your greatest challenge? How did you overcome it?

Transitioning from school to uni: - New job, new city, most of my school friends moved away - I was concerned I wasn't going to adjust especially to travel time - Worked really hard to make it work: learnt how to manage my new schedule, budget appropriately, - Ended up being top of my degree first semester while working two jobs

Can you talk about your experience of changing your approach quickly to achieve a goal?

the 30 babyccinos incident Unexpected order for a hell of a lot of drinks that are really challenging: basically 20 minutes worth of work in a rush team work management, started a sort of production line, got them out as quickly as possible Had two people on that order one person on those, which we never do ended up being used as a promotional opportunity for the company.

Describe a time when you received difficult feedback. How did you respond?

use the SWEP example you pulled out of your ass