Behavioural Interview Guide - Investment Banking

Behavioural interviews are a critical component of the investment banking application process. They help firms assess whether candidates have the right motivation, personality, and soft skills to thrive in the high-pressure banking environment.

Expect questions that evaluate your interest in corporate finance, understanding of the firm, and essential traits such as communication, resilience, and teamwork. Success in these interviews comes down to thorough preparation and structured responses.

In this guide, we’ll break down the different behavioural interview formats, how each trait is assessed, and how to prepare effectively.

📋 Behavioural Interview Format


Typically conducted in-person, these interviews delve deeper into your fit for the role than HireVue interviews and are usually run by a VP or senior associate. They assess skills such as leadership, problem-solving, and resilience. Expect detailed follow-up questions about your experiences, challenges, and decision-making under pressure. Most banks will have two behavioural interviews conducted by separate assessors.

🔥 Key Question Areas

Personal Overview 👥

These initial questions start the interview by trying to get to know you and see how you articulate your background and ‘narrative’. Expect questions such as:

• Walk me through your resume.

• Why did you choose your major/s?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Interest in Investment Banking 💼

Firms want to ensure you’re passionate about investment banking and not applying randomly. They typically assess this through:

‘Why Investment Banking?’

Have a well-prepared, personal response. Mention what excites you about the industry and showcase your motivation (i.e. steep-learning curve, etc.). Do NOT mention money or earning potential.

No excuse for poor preparation—this question will come up in every interview!

General Knowledge of the Industry

• Can you explain what an investment bank does?

• What’s the difference between ECM and DCM?

• Can you name a recent M&A deal that interested you?

• Which major asset classes do you track, and how have they performed?

• What’s a current event that could impact financial markets?

Other relevant experiences

Following financial news—be prepared to discuss recent market trends.

Relevant internships or leadership roles.

Participation in finance clubs/competitions.

Interest in the Company 🏢

Interviewers want to see that you’ve done your research and have a clear reason for wanting to work at their firm vs. others. Avoid generic answers and highlight firm-specific qualities.

How to prepare:

• Research the company’s history, culture, and deals.

• Understand what differentiates the firm from competitors.

• Use specific examples when answering, e.g., “I admire [Firm’s] strong presence in [industry] and its recent advisory role in [deal].”

• Use GradIQ company profiles to gain insights.

• Research employee experiences on Glassdoor and Reddit.

Key Behavioural Traits 🧠

Clear and concise communication is essential in investment banking. Firms assess whether you embody key behavioural traits by asking about your experiences. Most successful candidates use the STAR method to approach these questions.

✅ Resilience & Work Ethic


Investment banking is demanding, and firms look for candidates who can handle long hours and high-pressure situations. Expect questions like:

• “Tell me about a time you faced a major challenge and how you overcame it.”

• “Describe conflicting priorities and how you solve them.”

• “Give an example of a time you worked long hours to meet a deadline.”

• “Tell me about a time when you had to be creative to solve a problem.”

• “Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something you had never done before. How did you react? What did you learn?”

• “Tell me how you prioritise things when you are multitasking. How do you manage your time?”

• “Tell me about a time when you made a mistake. How did you handle this experience?”

✅ Teamwork & Leadership


IB roles require working in teams and taking initiative. Expect:

• “Tell me about a time you led a team.”

• “Describe a time when you had to resolve a conflict in a group.”

• “Describe a time when you had to speak up in a difficult or uncomfortable environment.”

• “Tell me about a time when you had to say ‘no.’”

• “Please tell me when you are working on a cross-functional project, how you collaborate with others, and what difficulties you encountered.”

• “What would you do when a coworker is not delivering?”

✅ Problem-Solving & Attention to Detail

Bankers need to think critically and spot errors. Interviewers might ask:

• “Tell me about a time you had to analyze a large set of data.”

• “Describe a situation where attention to detail was crucial.”

🗨️ Questions to Ask Back

Beyond answering interview questions, it's crucial to come prepared with inquiries for the interviewer about the company and their personal experiences. This approach not only provides you with valuable insights into the firm and the role but also offers an opportunity to demonstrate your genuine interest and potentially strengthen your candidacy through further discussion.

Questions you might like to ask an interviewer include:

• How does the firm provide feedback and development for its interns and grads?

• What are the plans for the company over 5-10 years?

• How do you see the company evolving over the next few years?

• What is the culture like within the company?

• What made you stay at the firm as long as you have?

• What advice would you give to someone who wants to perform well in this role?

• Can you share more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this position?

🔢 Preparation Tips

✔ Tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and experiences.


✔ Prepare structured responses using bullet points for common questions.


✔ Practice answering aloud to improve fluency and confidence.


✔ Conduct mock interviews with friends or a coach for feedback.


✔ Be authentic. Interviewers value honesty and self-awareness over rehearsed answers.

🏁 Final Thoughts


Behavioural interviews are your opportunity to demonstrate that you're a great cultural fit for an investment bank. Assessors want to know if you are a safe pair of hands and if they would like to work with you when the days get long and demanding.