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Free finance interview guides

Plain-English guides to investment banking, private equity, hedge fund, restructuring and consulting interviews. Each one lists the questions that come up most, what a strong answer covers, and a quick quiz.

Investment banking interview questions, with what a strong answer covers

The most common investment banking interview questions: fit, accounting, enterprise value, valuation and M&A, with the key points interviewers listen for and a free practice quiz.

Accounting interview questions: the three statements, explained simply

How the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement link together, plus the classic 'depreciation goes up by $10' walk-through and a free practice quiz.

Enterprise value vs. equity value

What enterprise value and equity value mean, how to bridge between them, which multiples go with each, and the interview questions that test it.

How to walk through a DCF (and the questions that follow)

A clear answer to 'walk me through a DCF', plus WACC, terminal value and the follow-up valuation questions banks ask, with a free practice quiz.

LBO interview questions and a worked paper LBO

How a leveraged buyout works, what makes a good LBO candidate, and a step-by-step paper LBO with MOIC and IRR, plus a free practice quiz.

Merger models and accretion/dilution, explained

How to tell if an acquisition is accretive or dilutive, the P/E shortcut, the cost of cash, debt and stock, and the M&A interview questions that test it.

Private equity interview questions

What PE interviewers ask: how funds work, LBO logic, paper LBOs, case studies and 'would you invest?', with key points for strong answers and a free quiz.

IRR and MOIC cheat sheet for interviews

Memorize these IRR benchmarks to estimate returns in your head during PE and LBO interviews. Includes a full table and a free practice quiz.

Hedge fund interview questions and how to pitch a stock

How to structure a stock pitch (thesis, variant view, catalyst, valuation, risks) plus markets questions on rates, shorting and portfolio risk.

Restructuring interview questions

Chapter 11 vs Chapter 7, recovery waterfalls, the fulcrum security, liability management and more, with key points and a free practice quiz.

Consulting case interviews: structure, math and recommendations

How to structure a case interview (MECE, profitability, market entry), do case math quickly and land a clear recommendation, with practice cases.

Market sizing questions, with worked examples

How to answer market sizing (guesstimate) questions top-down or bottom-up, with handy numbers to memorize and worked examples.

Behavioral and fit questions for finance interviews

How to answer 'walk me through your resume', 'why banking', your greatest weakness and the STAR questions, with what interviewers listen for.

The investment banking recruiting timeline, year by year

When to start preparing for investment banking: what to do freshman, sophomore and junior year, how networking works, and how return offers happen.

Brain teasers and mental math for finance interviews

Common brain teasers and mental math questions from banking and trading interviews, with answers and the reasoning interviewers want to hear.

Bulge bracket vs. elite boutique vs. middle-market banks

How investment banks are organized: bulge brackets, elite boutiques and middle-market banks, coverage vs product groups, and who does what on a deal team.

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