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What the interviewer is testing
Whether your reasons are specific and tied to your own experience, whether you understand the work and the hours, and whether the role fits a credible plan for what you want to do later.
Answer framework
- Pick two or three specific reasons tied to your experience.
- Cover the type of work: transactions, analysis, client exposure.
- Cover the learning curve.
- Connect to what you want to do later.
- Show you understand the hours and workload.
Sample answer
An outline to fill with your own experience: "Two experiences pointed me here. [Experience 1] showed me I enjoy [transaction work / analysis / client exposure]. [Experience 2] showed me [what you learned]. Banking is where I can do that work every day with a steep learning curve, and it builds toward [what you want to do later]. I have spoken with [people in the role] about the hours and workload, and I am prepared for them."
Keep it specific and tied to what you have actually done. The same story-shaped approach works for "walk me through your resume": where you started, two or three choices that led you toward finance, and why this role is the logical next step.
Likely follow-ups
Common mistakes
- Generic answers about money or prestige.
- Reasons that could apply to any job and are not tied to your experience.
- Not showing you understand the hours and workload.
- No link to what you want to do later.
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Related questions
Based on the fit questions section of the full question bank.