Build Your Technical Foundation
Work through questions across finance, valuation, behavioral, and current markets. Rate yourself to track what needs more work.
Practice with a Live Interviewer
Select your interviewer and get tested on technical and behavioral questions in real time. The AI will push back, follow up, and give feedback.
Master the Coffee Chat
Informational interviews are how most banking offers get made. Learn the framework, the right questions to ask, and how to turn a 30-minute call into a referral.
Referrals drive hiring
At most bulge bracket and elite boutique banks, a significant portion of summer analyst offers go to candidates who had meaningful conversations with a banker before applying. A referral signals that a real person vouches for your preparedness and fit — that carries enormous weight in a high-volume recruiting process.
Build genuine relationships
The purpose of a coffee chat is not to get a job on the spot. It is to learn, make a strong impression, and create a relationship that earns you a referral or an introduction to someone else. Bankers can tell immediately when a candidate is transactional. Come curious, come prepared, and focus on the conversation — not the outcome.
Do your research
Know the banker's background — where they went to school, their career path, what group they are in. Look up recent deals their group has worked on. Have two or three specific questions ready that show you read their profile carefully. Never ask something easily answered on the firm's website. Preparation signals respect for their time and genuine interest.
The follow-up is critical
Send a thank you email within 24 hours that references something specific from your conversation — not a generic template. If they offered to connect you with someone, follow up within a week. Keep in touch periodically with relevant news or updates about your application progress. The goal is to stay top of mind without being intrusive. Most candidates drop the ball here — do not be one of them.
- 1Open with a brief, confident introduction of yourself and why you reached out to them specifically — reference something about their background or their group that made you want to connect with them in particular.
- 2Spend the first half of the call asking about them — their path, what they enjoy, what surprised them about the role. People like talking about themselves and it builds rapport before you ask for anything.
- 3Never ask directly for a referral, job, or internship during the call. Let the relationship develop. A banker who feels like they are being used will not go to bat for you. One who feels like they had a genuine conversation will.
- 4Prepare at least five substantive questions. Strong questions show you have done your homework: ask about a deal they have worked on, their transition into banking, or what they look for in summer analyst candidates.
- 5Be concise and direct in your answers. Bankers work in an environment that values precision. If they ask about your background, give a crisp two-minute answer — not a ten-minute life story.
- 6Ask for one introduction at the end of the call if the conversation went well: "Is there anyone else at the firm you think I should connect with?" One warm introduction is worth ten cold LinkedIn messages.
- 7Keep a tracker of every person you have spoken with, what you discussed, and your follow-up plan. Networking is a system, not a series of random conversations.
- QCan you walk me through your path into investment banking — what was your background before and what drew you to this specific group?
- QWhat does your day-to-day look like right now — are you mostly on live deals, or is there more pitch and business development work happening?
- QWhat has surprised you most about the role since you joined — either positively or something that was different from what you expected?
- QLooking back at your first year, what do you wish you had known or prepared differently before starting?
- QWhat qualities do you see in summer analysts who convert to full-time offers versus those who do not?
- QHow would you describe the culture of this group compared to other groups at the bank or at competing firms?
- QIs there a deal the group has worked on recently that you found particularly interesting — and if so, what made it compelling from a strategic perspective?
- QHow do you think about the next step after your current role — are most people in your position going to PE, staying in banking, or doing something else?
- QWhat sectors or deal types does this group focus on most heavily, and how has that mix changed in the current market environment?
- QIs there anything specific you would recommend I focus on preparing before the interview process begins for this group?
- QAre there other people at the firm you think I should connect with to learn more about the group or about the recruiting process?
Know Where You Stand
Review your performance by category and identify where to focus before your next interview.