What would a M&A banker ask in an interview?

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konnichiwa

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Guys,
I have a M&A interview coming up, and while I have been preparing for it (thru vault mainly), I would appreciate if anyone, who've been thru M&A interviews, could bombard me with the questions they can recall.
I am applying for Analyst position, and am in IT but with CFA L1.

Btw, I did consult the thread below and it was really enlightening! I just wanted to see if I could get more questions...
http://www.analystforum.com/phorums/read.php?1,431230,page=1

Thanks!
 
I was asked "whats 99 X 99" and "how many ping pong balls can you fit in a 747"
 
I guess you wanted the interviewee to answer somewhat like this?

99*99
=(100-1)*(100-1)
=100^2 - 2*100 +1^2
=10000-200+1
=9801
 
This is all you need to know:

http://www.leveragedsellout.com/2006/07/a-call-to-arms/
 
The interviewer asks, "how many ping pong balls can fit into a 747?"

Bateman responds, "Who gives a flying fuvk?"
 
Numi,

Just my way of trying to buy time. LOL.

Seriously this would be a tough question to reason through. I heard there is a book out there filled with these types of interview questions, but I don't remember the name.
 
The question of how many ping-pong balls fit in a 747 is actually a pretty typical case interview question, where the person is more interested to hear your train of thought and your ability to walk someone through your logic and your results. The actual number is secondary, unless of course you are significantly off the mark -- but usually if you maintain an open dialogue, the interviewer will help you stay on track. For what it's worth, the answer is about 7.2 million ping pong balls.

I've actually heard from one or two people that folks who seem completely caught off-guard answering this question may be docked, simply because it's become such a cliche interview question. I feel like most people who go through undergraduate recruiting have heard of it.
 
Oh yeah...see also: http://www.vault.com/nr/main_article_detail.jsp?article_id=19309&cat_id=0&ht_type=10

It's much more likely to see the 747 question in a banking interview than a consulting interview. While the case interview is very characteristic of consulting interviews, consultants assume you've heard the question before, whereas most bankers would just rather throw you a curveball because they can.
 
Thank you guys!
Btw, the book might be one titled like "how to move mount fuji..."

thanks numi. i bought that guide and read the brainteasers in there. there was a very interesting one, esp. cuz i got it right, and it goes like:
"You got 12 balls. Only one ball out of 12 is either lighter or heavier than the rest.
[Otherwise they all look the same]. You got a balance and can make up to 3 weighings.
Is it possible in 3 weighings to find out the odd ball? Is it also possible to find out whether the odd ball is lighter or heavier than the rest?
If yes, how?"

Btw numi, Are you M or F?
ive read quite a few of your posts, and i like your style of communicating :)
 
exemplaria, the leveragedsellout blog is a great read (esp being an asian myself)!
i am just wondering, what are guys like these gonna do in their forties...
 
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