Customer Reviews

Vault Guide to Finance Interviews, 4th Edition

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you absolutely have no idea what "finance" is, you might want to check out this book at your local friendly public library. Otherwise, check out other finance career guides. This book is a waste of time and much of the stuff is either inaccurate or not useful at all. I know because I sit on the other side of the table at finance interviews: I'm a seasoned interviewer. (In fact I'm better at recruiting at doing my real job... Sigh.) Let me tell you this: yes, I (and my fellow Wall Street interviewers) will ask some of the basic questions you'll see in this book, but we are lookign for honest, personal answers, not canned ones. Also, we look for *common sense*. Trust me, all successful candidates demonstrate common sense, and also each person's uniqueness ("what makes you sparkle"). Then, for the difficult questions you'll likely encounter, you won't find in this poorly written, poorly edited book. It'll likely confuse you. Instead, read the Wall Street Journal, read up on finance topics that interest you, and beef up your basic math skills if they are lacking at the moment. Again, we want smart people who can think, not someone who just fits into a formula. Of course, many people who do get finance jobs are formula kind of people, but do they get paid a lot? I bet not.

While many of the examples presented often arise in interviews, a majority of those given are among the most basic and simplistic questions you might be asked. You need to be prepared to be hit with far more in-depth and probing questions during the interview process. If you have no idea what to expect, this book will get you started. But for most people considering a career in finance, it will provide little benefit.
And a skimpy 150-page paperback, list-priced at $, (or for that matter, ANY book) really shouldn't have full page ads interspersed throughout; What is going on with that?
This book feels like the author churned it out in a weekend. It is more akin to a supplement that a magazine or newspaper might issue, than an actual book.

I am studying an MBA at IESE's Business School in Barcelona, and this book has been key to help me succeding in getting a Summer Internship in Investment Banking. It is clear, concise, and covers most of the issues asked in Finance interviews. It is a must read for anyone with real interest in Investment Banking and without previous experience in this industry

The Vault Guide to Finance Interviews is an essential read for any college student trying to start off his or her career with a high powered job in the world of banking or investing. This is particularly useful for those seeking a job in the investment banking field, trading, equities research, or anything closely related to Wall Street.

The guide helps by telling what sort of unpleasant surprises to expect from the interview process. If you haven't had any interviews or hadn't attended an interviewing class or workshop, you will be surprised after reading this book how intense some of these interviews can get. The Vault Guide tries be a good coach with some good behavioral tips to navigate those stressful moments.

The bulk of this book is a review of general finance skills - everything from DCF's, CAPM, financial statements, to derivatives, PE ratios, and bond pricing. The material is extremely comprehensive and should only be a review of what to know. Don't read this expecting to learn finance because there is too much information in too little space. The final part of the Guide has a few common brainteaser questions and suggested solutions to properly answer them.

The Vault Guide is not an answer to getting a Wall Street job, but it's a good starting point and a necessary tool in your arsenal of interview preparation. I suggest using this as a guide to find your weaknesses and obtain other books such as "How Would You Move Mount Fuji?"

I'll be working for Morgan next year and I really credit this book. I had only taken a couple finance classes two years ago so this was a nice refresher. It provides a great summary of all the equations and relationships that you need to memorize for i-banking interviews. Read it carefully but also stay up on your WSJ. You'll need to talk current events and not just formulas.

Some of the info in the book I learned at college, but it is a very useful guide. Most of the sample interview questions in the book are really asked in banking interviews. I recommend it to anyone applying for investment banking positions.