25 Investment Banker Interview Questions

Walk me through a DCF valuation — what are the key drivers and sensitivities?

How do you approach a pitch when you have 48 hours to prepare?

Describe the most complex transaction you've worked on.

How do you manage a live deal while also preparing new business pitches?

What's the difference between EV/EBITDA and P/E multiples — when do you use each?

How do you approach valuation for a pre-revenue company?

Describe your experience with LBO modeling.

How do you handle a client who is not happy with the deal process?

What's your approach to due diligence coordination across multiple workstreams?

Describe a deal that fell apart — what happened and what did you learn?

How do you think about capital structure when advising on a transaction?

Describe your experience with equity or debt capital markets transactions.

How do you build credibility quickly with a new client's management team?

What's your approach to managing junior analysts on a live deal?

Describe your experience with cross-border M&A — what adds complexity?

How do you approach negotiating deal terms on behalf of a client?

What's your view on current market conditions — rates, multiples, deal flow?

Describe your experience with fairness opinions or board advisory work.

How do you approach industry research for a new sector mandate?

What's your process for running a competitive sale process?

Describe how you've managed regulatory or antitrust issues in a deal.

How do you approach the relationship with private equity sponsors?

What's your experience with restructuring or distressed transactions?

Describe how you've developed junior team members.

What makes a great investment banker?