How I would land an investment banking role again in 2025

Author

Jason Lum
February 28, 2025

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How I would land an investment banking role again in 2025

1) Apply Early! Well before deadlines

Applications are done on a rolling basis. Interviews take place even before the application deadline

2) 80% of my focus now is on landing investment banking interviews rather than interview prep

1,000s of students I have talked to are stressing about technical and behavioral interview prep for 1st rounds & super days

I ask how many high finance interviews they have in the pipeline at most say none or 1-2 tops

When I deep dive into their networking efforts, applications, and resume they are rarely in a position to land investment banking interviews in the first place

Invest the time into networking early & consistently, gain relevant experience, and send out 30+ quality applications early on

Once you have built up your candidate profile and are 8/10 confident you will get 2-3+ interviews then you can shift your focus to behavioral prep 1st then technicals

3) Do Mock Interviews

Investment banking interviews in 2025 (+ since pandemic) have changed

400 IB questions are basic cookie cutter questions and interviewers are changing up those common questions to throw candidates off

Ex: $10 decrease in depreciation instead of an increase for the 3 financial statements

Or are asking advanced questions that you will never come across in online free resources

3 Ways a change in tax rate would impact the DCF,

If you buy $100m in PPE, 4 year life of asset, $50m with debt (½ PIK / ½

Cash interests), $50m with cash. Walk me through 1st year impact. 2nd year? etc.

You need to nail min 9/10 technicals questions to move on otherwise they will select more prepared candidates

PS. Eager to land your dream investment banking role this year in 2025?

Watch our new free recruitment training video below to excel at recruitment

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