Interview Q: Why IT -> front office?

K

konnichiwa

New member
Joined
Jun 18, 2026
Messages
0
Reaction score
0
I spoiled my last interview when I couldn't give them a good reply over the question:
"Why do you want to move from IT (outside finance) to this position (Ibank front office)?"

My actual motivation is:
1. I've found business side more interesting than technical side.
2. Money.

Some say 'never mention money', so I didn't.

I'm in mid twenties and have 1.5 yrs career as an IT Specialist.
Any advices from anyone of you who had a similar transitional experience? How did you reply to this question?
 
I think you were one of the lucky b*st*rd who was able to get an ibanking interview from IT =)
 
Don't always adhere to conventional wisdom. If you really like money, say it. I've had interviewers who told me they are in it for money and if I hadn't told them I like money too, I'd be bullshitting them. Read the situation and act accordingly.
 
" Some say 'never mention money', so I didn't. "

My experience with sales jobs has been that employers actually want you to be motivated by money because the more you make the more the company makes. I've followed the rule as well of not trying to act as if one is only in it for a paycheck but with sales that isn't always the case. Finance might be similar but you would obviously have to mention risk as well so the impression management process will be more complicated.

Also, I wouldn't take the principle of " never mentioning money " too far because if you go into the interview and act as if you are totally unmotivated by money then they will assume that you are a weak individual that doesn't deserve to be in finance and will likely be a liability to the company. Hope this helps.
 
Thank you guys!!

Any other stories, esp. from the guys who made the IT->front office transition? Thanks.
 
it will sound weird tho, before anything you need to make sure that Ibank front office always has more money..it mostly depends on how you do in ur field that makes you money and not purely the field itself...
 
I might be wrong, but I'd suggest that saying "I want this job for the money" will be about as successful as pulling out you d1ck and stroking one out in front of your prospective boss.
 
I think you can communicate that money motivates you, but it shouldn't be the prime or only motivation, because they may worry that if you're good (and they won't want to hire you if you are not good), you may jump ship after a short time if someone offers you more money. Now, you might actually do that, but you don't want your interviewers to think you will do that. Also, if you don't have a reason to want a specific kind of job (i.e. "just money"), it means that there are a wide variety of potentially higher paying jobs you'd leave for.

When I had some informational interviews some months back, someone pointed out this very issue, when I mentioned money. Another person had told me that it's ok to mention money (I come from academe, where you're not supposed to be motivated by that), so when I brought money up in the next interview, the guy told me why I should be more delicate with the explanation.

Now, when I get questions like I point out that I want a job where you can have a reasonable expectation of being able to afford to send your kids to college, but mostly I want a job where I have to be keeping up with world events and using my brain and knowlege to make judgements that help people invest their money productively. Best of all, it's how I genuinely feel, so it comes across as sincere. I think sincerity is pretty important when answering the "why X" question, because everyone knows that money as part of the equation.
 
I think it's dangerous. Very dangerous. Maybe some jobs like trading or whatever are more tolorant of the honesty, but for an analyst's role i'd say that its a poor answer.

I mean the fact is that there are a million differences between working in IT and working in a front office investment role. If 'more money' is the best answer you can think of then it seems to me that you are in trouble.

Perhaps, if you are moving from one front office role to another AND you felt that the remuneration in your last role was a big issue then maybe maybe maybe i'd mention it, but unlikely.
 
DeadCat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I mean the fact is that there are a million
> differences between working in IT and working in a
> front office investment role. If 'more money' is
> the best answer you can think of then it seems to
> me that you are in trouble.

Exactly. You should be well prepared for the interview and anticipate this question. If the best short list you come up with includes 'money' then you're in trouble.
 
Just tell them that IT is going down the toilet. Even if you dont think that, many people do, and theres a flood of people leaving IT for various reasons. It will fly.
 
If you're in career transition, there are two issues that explain it:

1) Why are you leaving your old field (keep this short, and ensure them that it's not because you've failed at your old field, maybe point out that you have a better sense of what the future is like in that field and it's just not as attractive as what you thought when you started)


2) Why you have chosen your new field. Keep the interview focused on this, why are you hungry, how are you prepared, what things are on your agenda to make yourself the best you can be in this field.

The value here is that the reasons (1) may be very different than reasons for (2). Don't confuse them, and keep the focus on the reasons for (2), except where you talk about how skills from your earlier career are transferable (assuming they are).


It takes practice and introspection to figure out these answers, but once you know them inside yourself, you can come across confident, eager, and prepared.
 
I left IT for finance after 10 years. I told them my story - I went back to college to get a degree, found I was really good at finance so I majored in that and got a MBA as well. Told them while I was pretty good at my job in IT, I would never be great at it because I was interested (and schooled) in finance, not IT. That is what floats my boat and I have a talent for that. Therefore I have the potential to be great in finance.
 
Thank you very much, guys!
Seems like I need to look deeper inside myself, and come out with a truthful answer which is also a good answer in the eyes of the interviewer.
Appreciate your help!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top