Although you’re more likely to be asked why in your investment banking interview, this question is worth considering, because if you don’t use the answer during any interview, you’ll at least use it in your cover letters.
When all banks seem to be carbon copies of each other, how should we answer this question?
Well, you could take the easy way out and just bring up the same things every student does for every bank in every interview. Almost verbatim from some crazy Vault Survey or D-grade investment banking interview guide, students will say;
“Work with the smartest people, access to world-class training, program rotation, steep learning curve, real accountability, meritocracy, entrepreneurial culture, and top-tier transaction experience” or some variation of that.
But if you want to stand out and make it sound like you’ve really thought about this question, first mention three specific things about the bank that you love. For example, a particular training program that only they have, or a group focus on certain types of deals.
The smartest way to find this information is to ask the banks’ own analysts why they joined the analyst program and why they like working there.
Not only is this method painless, since you only have to attend a networking event or email an alumni, but it can also lead to real ‘insider’ reasons why you can’t make it to a website. recruitment, for example, an initiative recently implemented at the bank.
Bonus marks up for grabs with this interview question
You will give a 10/10 answer if you relate your reasons “why work for Goldman Sachs” to an experience you mentioned in your story and/or a banker you spoke to.
Combining good research with thoughtful self-analysis like this will convince bankers that you really want to work for them.
What else do you need to squash the question of why Goldman Sachs?
Regardless of what a bank’s analysts may tell you, it is prudent to mention that you are drawn to the bank by the people you have met there, followed by their names and the stories of how you know them. This alone can put you in the “inner circle.”
Feel free to list 3 standard reasons for wanting to join them at the bottom of your answer. The best way to offer this as a budding good sycophant is to say “and obviously Goldman Sachs works on the leading deals, has the best in the world of TMT and offers world class training.”
As you can see, these apparently Tough investment banking interview questions aren’t so hard once you have inside tips. on how to answer them. Get more free advice on banking interview questions now, including the very popular why investment banking interview question.
