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12 Most Common Behavioral Fit Questions

The document outlines key behavioral fit questions commonly asked in investment banking analyst interviews, emphasizing the importance of cultural fit and personal storytelling. It provides 12 specific questions along with guidance on how to effectively answer them, focusing on strengths, weaknesses, job preferences, and personal interests. Additionally, it encourages candidates to prepare unique stories using the STAR framework to illustrate their responses.

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sahsneha67
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3 views

12 Most Common Behavioral Fit Questions

The document outlines key behavioral fit questions commonly asked in investment banking analyst interviews, emphasizing the importance of cultural fit and personal storytelling. It provides 12 specific questions along with guidance on how to effectively answer them, focusing on strengths, weaknesses, job preferences, and personal interests. Additionally, it encourages candidates to prepare unique stories using the STAR framework to illustrate their responses.

Uploaded by

sahsneha67
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Behavioural Fit Questions

Intro
You've reached the behavioural/fit interview. This means that the firm believes you are smart
enough for the job. At this point, the little things matter. Fit questions are a major part of the IB
analyst interview. The focus of fit questions is to see who you are and how you would fit into the
firm's culture.

This section features 12 of the most common behavioural/fit questions you are likely to be asked
during your interviews, followed by an exclusive set of 7 bank-specific (from 7 bulge bracket
banks) behavioural questions to support you in tailoring your response to each bank and walking
out with an offer.

1. What are some of your strengths?


Going into the interview, you should have your three top strengths in mind and a story ready to
go for each of them.
When you answer this question, make sure you identify your greatest strength and explain it
clearly. Don't dance around the answer. The strength you describe must be a quality that will help
you become a great junior employee.

If you can, bring up a strength that doesn't appear on your resume but could catch attention. For
example, if you have performed in concert or theatre all your life, learning to be poised in front
of strangers and/or large groups, it may be a good strength to share.

2. What is the one word that describes you best?


Curious, adaptable, proactive, resilient. All of these are good options to use. Make sure to have
an example to back up whatever word you choose with a specific story.

3. What has been your favourite class in college and what


was your grade?
The course you name should have something to do with business/finance/economics, and the
grade you report should be a good one. If you say your favourite class was "dancing", why are
you looking to go into finance? Why do they want to hire you?

It is worth noting however, you must have a genuine justification and rationale behind claiming a
finance class was your favourite. If you do not have a compelling reason behind your answer,
interviewers will call your bluff and see through it easily.

MIM Prep Education


4. "What is the most important thing your resume doesn't
tell me that I should know?"
Talk about a skill that is unique to you (something that makes you memorable) and that cannot
be documented on a resume. Think about things like your communication skills, teamwork skills,
etc…not your math skills, which can be seen in GPA or SAT scores.
Once you decide on the quality you want to present, illustrate it with a story from your life. A
common variation of this question is "What separates you from the last person with your GPA
from your school?"

Sample answer:
Ever since my freshman year of high school, I have loved to perform. I was in the musical each
year of high school, and have had a lead role in a play each year in college. This has allowed me
to develop a comfort speaking in public situations with people I don't know or have just met. I
think that this will be an extremely valuable skill in finance, speaking with clients, on the phone,
and when presenting my work to co-workers.

5. "Tell me about a time that…"


There are countless variations of this question, from "Tell me about a time you acted with
integrity" to "Tell me about a time that you had difficulty dealing with co-workers". It is key to
have a well-rehearsed response for each of them, and a general guideline to follow.

Ideally, you can come up with 6-8 stories that cover the 30-40 basic questions, with only slight
modifications. DON'T wing it. For every potential question, map out the story using the STAR
framework.

Describe the Situation (10-15 seconds), Task (10-15s), Action (60-75s), and Result (15-30s).
Stories for these questions should be 1.5 - 2 minutes long and focus only on what's important.

6. What is your biggest weakness?


You always want to put forward weaknesses that are do not come across as fake (e.g
perfectionist), nor too damaging (inability to concentrate, inability to work hard when required
etc.). You want to put forward traits that can be overcome and show you are actively working on
them. You can mention how you sometimes do not speak out enough, or sometimes dive
head-in into new tasks without taking a step back, or are working on improving your
communication on task advancement.

7. What are you looking for in this job?


The interviewer wants to make sure you are aware of what this job entails, and what most
analysts get out of the experience. You should acknowledge the long hours and the heavy
workload while making it clear that you are ready to take on the challenge. Emphasize the appeal
of a great learning experience that you would be unable to get in any other job straight out of

MIM Prep Education


school. You can also emphasize the rare amount of exposure you have access so early on in your
career, with a strong learning curve, surrounded by fascinating and diverse people.

Explain how you relish the prospect of pushing yourself and being challenged to do your best
work in this job, and working with and learning from talented people.

8. What has been your favourite job so far?


If possible, pick a job that requires similar skills to the job for which you are applying and explain
why those skills or requirements made it you're favourite. Talk about how you were forced to
learn on the fly or multi-task or think critically, be extremely curious, work longs hours on
complex tasks, because those are all skills you will need in finance.

9. What has been your least favourite job so far?


Talk about a job where you were bored, or not challenged, or not busy. None of those things will
be the case in finance so they won't be an issue.

10. What competitive activities have you participated in,


and have they been worthwhile?
Finance is competitive. Firms are always competing for business and colleagues can even be
competitive with one another (although most won't admit it). You need to show that you are
comfortable in competitive situations, but still can act with class and show respect.

Sample answer:
I played varsity football in college. We won the conference 2 consecutive years and played at the
NCAA tournament. Working with my teammates to accomplish a common goal and beat the
competition was an amazing experience, really exhilarating.

11. If you had a million dollars that you weren't allowed to


invest, how would you spend it?
Make sure your background backs up whatever answer you give. If you have never volunteered in
your life, don't say you're going to donate your money to a non-profit and go work for them.
Have it relate to something you are interested in, and make sure that whatever you are spending
it on can cost roughly a million dollars.

12. What are you interested in?


There are two ways that you can answer this question properly and you may want to explore
both in your answer. First, you can mention things that you are interested in that are job-related
like keeping up with current events, studying for the CFA, etc. Second, you can speak about your
hobbies and your interests outside of work. The latter works great if you happen to share an
interest with your interviewer, and is what we would recommend to break the “I dream finance
in my sleep” stereotype.

MIM Prep Education


Hint: If you know the names of your interviewer you can do a little research beforehand
on LinkedIn and see if you can find any common interests so you can push the
conversation in that direction.

MIM Prep Education

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