Investment Banking assessment centers will always include individual and group case studies, which will require some preparation before you can handle those confidently
What are Investment Banking Case Studies?
A case study will consist of a question or several questions that are asked based on a client’s business. You will be given some information about the clients and your task will be to answer those questions, and justify what advice you would give to the client. Most case study exercises happen during the assessment centre day, i.e. you will be given the materials and prepare on the spot. Occasionally, some banks give candidates the case study materials beforehand and you will have some time (usually one night) to prepare.
Why Investment Banking Case Studies?
Interviewers want to put candidates into a "real" business environment to test their capability of handling real work. The case study exercise is a great way to test candidates’ analytical skills, creativity, presentation, communication and people skills! That is why case study usually weights much more than any other interview or test during the investment banking recruitment process.
What are typical Investment Banking Case Study questions?
- Your client A wants to get your opinion on which company they should acquire from 4 companies and why
- Company B needs to raise capital – and they come to you to ask should they raise debt or equity, and what’s the best way to do it
- Company C comes to ask you whether they should expand through acquisitions or organically?
How to prepare?
There are only few ways to practice case studies: (i) make sure you read the business news often and (ii) practice as many as possible.