An LBO is the acquisition of a company using a significant amount of borrowed money (debt) to meet the cost of acquisition.
Let’s talk about how to actually use that guide—plus the three things the PDF won’t teach you.
You can find various versions and summaries of these materials through these sources: Official Guide: Full access is available through the Breaking Into Wall Street website The "400 Questions" Guide:
While a single PDF might seem convenient, true success comes from a multi-faceted approach. Here is a summary of key resources:
The Breaking Into Wall Street (BIWS) Investment Banking Interview Guide is a comprehensive, structured program focused on mastering behavioral "fit" questions and technical financial concepts like accounting, valuation, and modeling. The guide emphasizes conceptual understanding over rote memorization, providing tailored study plans ranging from 4 hours to 1 week, alongside 17+ Excel-based case studies. For more details, visit Breaking Into Wall Street Breaking Into Wall Street An LBO is the acquisition of a company
HireVue (digital asynchronous interview) or a 30-minute phone/Zoom call with an analyst or associate.
Begin networking and polishing your resume before setting foot on campus.
[ Valuation Methodologies ] | ----------------------------- | | [ Intrinsic ] [ Relative ] | | (DCF) --------------------- | | [ Public Comps ] [ Precedent Trans ]
Technical questions separate the truly prepared from the pretenders. You need to know accounting, valuation, and corporate finance concepts cold. The following tables break down the critical concepts you must master. Here is a summary of key resources: The
In-depth study including all technical quizzes, case studies, and advanced modeling. Breaking Into Wall Street Available PDF Resources
Technical questions are binary: you either know them or you don't. Wall Street interviewers expect flawless execution on core accounting and valuation concepts. 1. Core Accounting & The Three Financial Statements
Complete mock technical tests to ensure fast, accurate calculation skills under pressure. If you want to focus your practice, tell me:
High interest expense on new debt, printing a high volume of new stock, or excessive intangible asset amortization. Begin networking and polishing your resume before setting
An early interest or experience that drew you to business or finance.
If you cannot afford the $200-$500 price tag for the official course, here are your options:
To help me tailor advice for your upcoming interviews, tell me:
Technical questions test your financial and accounting knowledge. Prepare to answer these topics inside and out.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to answer questions about leadership, failure, and teamwork. Part 4: Networking and the Recruitment Process