Merrill Lynch Investment Banking Analyst Interview Questions & Reviews

Post an Interview

Web: www.merrilllynch.com | HQ: New York, NY

Connections

Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 3 ratings

3.0

“Average” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 3 ratings

Positive	100%
Neutral	0%
Negative	0%

See who your friends know who've worked at Merrill Lynch and could give you an inside look.

See who your friends know who've worked at Merrill Lynch and could help you prep for an interview.

Hide Filters

1–3 of 3 Merrill Lynch Interviews

Sort by

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2010 (took 4 weeks)

I submitted my application through the BoA-ML website in November, and received a response in late December. I was selected for a phone interview with three bankers, and after scheduling the 3 phone interviews, had them in early January.

The 3 interviews largely involved the same few questions phrased in different manners and followed similar structures. They started by asking me about myself, what I did in school, why I was interested in investment banking; then followed up with some technical questions on my accounting knowledge; and finished up with certain brainteaser questions and invited me to ask them questions.

Examples of questions are:
Run through your resume briefly.
Why do you want to work in investment banking?
Give an example where you demonstrated leadership in an unexpected situation.
What is the effect on all of a company’s financial statements if its depreciation increases?
How would you determine the number of tennis balls on an airplane?
Assuming it is now XX:XXpm, what is the angle between the minute and hour hands on a clock?

Overall it was a good experience, the bankers were friendly and very willing to answer the questions I had in great detail. I was selected for the next round of face-to-face interviews, which will be held in mid-February.

Interview Questions

How would you explain the causes of the recent economic crisis to a layman?

View Answers (1)

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Jan 2009 (took 3 days)

I needed to answer repeatedly why I chose Investment Banking and if I was applying for other types of positions as well. They were really trying to hear a commitment to the field of Investment Banking.
I also needed to know a lot about Merrill Lynch, who the competitors are, and what differentiates them.
There were several basic accounting and corporate finance questions. I didn't need to get really detailed but I had to be able to talk at a high level to prove that I understood what Investment Banking was, reasons that companies need to raise capital, ways that companies can raise capital, why companies want to go through mergers and acquisitions and what value an investment bank brings to the table in the advisory process.

Interview Questions

Walk me through your resume.

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Jan 2007 (took 2 days)

Typical banking interview. Why do you want to do banking? Why the firm? Some technical questions (how would you value a Company? What are the benefits / strengths of the basic valuation methodologies) and then fit (what do you do for fun? are you a hard worker?)