Interview Preparation

It is a good idea to remind yourself why employers conduct interviews in the first place. This will provide you with the context to prepare effectively, helping you to focus on relevant skills and determine the impression you want to make. With this in mind, remember that we generally use interviews as a tool to find out more about who you are and what motivates you; see if you understand our business and the role for which you are interviewing; and assess your potential to perform the job and explore what you could bring to the organization.

• Your motivation to work in the financial services industry at an investment bank; why are you interested in Morgan Stanley in particular?
• Your academics; why have you chosen to pursue your particular course of study?
• Your involvement in school organizations; what does it entail? What do you get out of it?
• Your hobbies and interests; why are you involved? What skills are you acquiring?

your story

• Know your resume. Be able to articulate everything you’ve listed without reading or referring to it.

• Have confidence and be yourself. Know your strengths and be able to articulate your developmental areas.

• Answer each question the best you can. We do not always expect candidates to have the right answer during an interview; we are equally interested in seeing how you work through a scenario.

• Most of our interviews are competency based, so think about aligning your key skills with relevant examples. Be prepared to provide instances from past experiences to demonstrate why you would be an ideal candidate.

• Present a diverse background of experiences by highlighting relevant jobs, projects, coursework, and extracurricular activities.

your interests

• Have a compelling reason for why you want to work in this industry, our Firm, and the particular division.
• Passion is imperative. Understand and demonstrate how the position you are interviewing for aligns with your interests.
• Demonstrate your interest by asking the interviewer questions that will enhance your understanding of what we do and the job you’re interviewing for. Be sure the questions are relevant and specific. Avoid generic questions such as, “What is the culture like at Morgan Stanley?”
• Do more than state your interests; express your knowledge gained from experience and education and how you can leverage that in the role.

YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

• We all have a personal brand. Be sure to know what your own brand is and what makes you unique.
• Envision the impression you want to make. Your interviewers are meeting several candidates; how do you want to differentiate yourself and be remembered?
• Present yourself professionally. Be conscious of your body language, maintain eye contact, and let the interviewer finish his/her thought before you respond.
• We know you may be nervous; try to collect your thoughts before you speak. Take your time to answer questions, and communicate concisely.
• Practice interviewing, whether in front of a mirror or with another person. Get comfortable speaking about yourself, but avoid sounding too rehearsed.
• Be genuine, enthusiastic and stay true to who you are.

OUR FIRM AND INDUSTRY

• Familiarize yourself with Morgan Stanley’s history, principles and core values.
• Learn how Morgan Stanley is organized and know who the Firm's management and key senior leaders are.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest financial news and Morgan Stanley’s positioning in the marketplace.
• Understand the basics of how government regulation affects the financial industry.
• Understand the financial crisis: what happened and why?
• Choose one or two areas of the industry that you can discuss with knowledge and enthusiasm. Candidates are not expected to be versed in all areas of the markets, finance and economics.
• Understand what professionals at your level do in the industry and at Morgan Stanley. Refer to online resources and publications (see “Recommended Reading”).