"Failure" Questions Flashcards
What’s your greatest fear about investment banking?
Seeing a deal I worked on extensively for months eventually fall through. I understand that a large transaction can collapse due to a variety of factors beyond anyone’s control. One of my concerns is pouring hundreds of hours into a deal, taking risks, and making sacrifices for its success, only to see it fail because of something unforeseen or someone else’s mistake.
What’s your “Plan B” if you can’t get into investment banking this year?
If I don’t secure a position in investment banking with your firm this year, I’ll pursue a career in quantitative trading, aiming for top firms such as Citadel and Jane Street. I am already well-versed in various coding languages and plan to further develop my skills through the General Assembly bootcamp to strengthen my portfolio.
That guy over there has a 4.0 from Wharton/Harvard – why should I hire you over him, given that you’re much less impressive?
While he does have impressive credentials, at a bank, you want someone who is smart, can do the work, and is easy to get along with. I’ve done well in school and am constructing a financial data scraping tool right now, and I have great recommendations from my previous experiences. When I’m not doing something finance-related, I’m running my events planning business and training for a martial arts tournament. So although he may be more qualified on paper, in banking it comes down to real-world experience and what kind of camaraderie you have with everyone. I’m confident that I excel in both of those areas – and since I’m not from a privileged background, I’m even more motivated to succeed than someone who is.
Let’s say your MD is meeting with a client and you have been invited. As he’s presenting, you notice a mistake in the materials – do you point it out?
No. I would not point it out unless it comes up, in which case I would only speak up if the MD directly asks me about it. In that case, I would just briefly acknowledge it and move to a different topic.
Why did you delay your graduation?
The truth is, I didn’t realize until later in my college career that I wanted to pursue investment banking seriously. Initially, I was exploring other career paths. It wasn’t until I met one of my mentors, Gianfranco Ide, at the Baruch Private Equity Club that I seriously considered banking as a viable career path. His guidance and recommended resources made me deeply invested in the field. By late junior year, I began applying to positions, but as I engaged more with industry professionals and attended networking events, I understood that I needed more time to fully prepare and gain the necessary knowledge. Delaying my graduation was a difficult but strategic decision to give myself the best chance of securing a summer 2025 analyst position. Over the next year, I dedicated myself to learning as much as possible—purchasing courses, studying guides, and networking extensively, all while balancing a part-time job and maintaining my health. I was fully determined to make the most of this time and break into the industry.
Why did you get a C in ECO 4000?
I received a C in ECO 4000 because I underestimated the course requirements, particularly a coding project that was a significant portion of the grade. Having prior coding experience, I expected the project to be easy, even though it was in a language I wasn’t proficient in. I assumed I could quickly learn it and left the project until the last minute, but I struggled more than anticipated and was unable to complete it on time, resulting in a poor grade. The experience taught me to never underestimate a task, regardless of how confident I may feel about it. I applied this lesson during an interview with PJT Partners. Despite the Excel assessment being focused on basic formulas and practices I was familiar with, I chose to refresh my skills and do some practice exercises. This preparation paid off, as the assessment was more challenging than expected, and the extra practice helped me perform well.
Why did you NOT receive a return offer from your internship?
I did well in my internship and received my return offer, I just realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do.
You graduated last year and don’t have anything listed on your resume since then – what have you been doing, and did you participate in recruiting last year?
Last year, I participated in some interviews, but I wasn’t fully prepared due to a family situation. I had to prioritize working to support them, which temporarily took my focus away from recruiting. However, I remained committed to my banking career by continuing to educate myself through courses like Wall Street Prep and participating in programs such as the Build Fellowship. Once my family’s situation stabilized, I was able to dedicate myself fully to my career goals and dive into banking with renewed focus and energy.
Why are we your first choice? Wouldn’t you like London or Chicago more?
New York is the financial capital of the world, offering unparalleled opportunities compared to other cities. The best deals and connections are made here, which is why it’s the ideal place to start my career. Additionally, New York is my home—my friends and family are here, so naturally, it’s my first choice.
