Moelis Behavioural Q's

Moelis & Company Behavioural Interview Questions

A comprehensive guide to the most frequently asked behavioural questions in Moelis & Company investment banking interviews.

Q1 You come into the office, and your associate is missing - you cannot call him or speak to him. You have questions about starting a deliverable due very soon because you have never done one before. What do you do?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Assess Urgency & Check Resources: Confirm deadline, check email/drive for instructions/templates.
• Seek Precedent: Look for examples of similar deliverables on drive; ask nearby analysts.
• Seek Targeted Help: If precedents insufficient, politely ask another Associate/VP/Sr Analyst for specific guidance or example (explain situation briefly).
• Start Working: Begin deliverable based on available info, tackle known parts first.
• Document: Note any assumptions made or questions for when your Associate returns.

Q2 If you are in a sell-side engagement with a client and you had to create a pitchbook for a client meeting what things would you add in the pitchbook?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Executive Summary: High-level overview of the company, investment highlights, and transaction rationale.
• Company Overview: Detailed description of the business, operations, management team, and market position.
• Industry Analysis: Market trends, competitive landscape, growth drivers, and challenges.
• Valuation Analysis: Summary of valuation methodologies (e.g., precedent transactions, comparable companies, DCF) and derived valuation ranges.
• Potential Buyers: A list of strategic and financial buyers, with rationale for their interest.
• Transaction Process & Timeline: Proposed steps, key milestones, and anticipated timeline for the sale.

Q3 Why should we pick you over a similar candidate with background in an undergraduate business school like Wharton or Stern?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Acknowledge the strong backgrounds of other candidates.
• Highlight unique strengths from your background (e.g., diverse academic perspective, specific project experience not common in business schools, exceptional problem-solving from your field).
• Emphasize transferable skills like analytical rigor, intellectual curiosity, resilience, and a proven ability to learn quickly.
• Express high motivation and a strong commitment to learning and contributing immediately, despite the non-traditional background.
• Focus on your unique value proposition rather than denigrating others.

Q4 Where does Moelis stand in your process? How do you make a decision on the bank you are going to join?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Be honest but diplomatic. Express that Moelis & Co. is a top choice for you.
• Reinforce your interest with specific reasons, such as the firm's strong deal flow, lean team structure, and entrepreneurial culture.
• Outline a structured decision-making framework based on key factors.
• Mention the quality of people and culture as a primary consideration.
• Also include the quality of the learning experience (deal exposure, level of responsibility) and the firm's platform and reputation.

Q5 For associate interviews: what are the things you have done or will do at your MBA program that will prepare you for the associate job?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Structure your answer around three pillars: academics, extracurricular activities, and recruiting/networking.
• Academics: Mention specific, relevant coursework like Corporate Finance, Valuation, and M&A.
• Extracurriculars: Highlight leadership roles in the investment banking or finance club, participation in case competitions, and any relevant projects.
• Preparation: Discuss your proactive networking with alumni, attending firm information sessions, and dedicated technical preparation.

Q6 What's the day-to-day job like as an associate?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the step-up in responsibility from the analyst role.
• Key responsibilities include managing and mentoring analysts, taking ownership of financial models and presentations, and serving as the day-to-day project manager on deals.
• Mention increased client interaction and supporting VPs and MDs in executing transactions and sourcing new business.
• Emphasize the role's focus on both execution and team management.

Q7 If you were given $1M today, how would you think about paying off your student loan vs. investing in a certain stock?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Structure your answer as a financial analysis. Compare the interest rate on the student loan (a guaranteed, risk-free return if paid off) with the expected risk-adjusted return from investing in the market.
• Mention other factors like the tax deductibility of student loan interest and your personal risk tolerance.
• A sound conclusion would be to pay off high-interest debt and invest the remainder.
• Present a concise stock pitch. Start with a brief company overview.
• Provide a clear investment thesis with 2−3 key drivers.
• Mention valuation, briefly touching on key metrics and why the stock is attractively priced.

Q8 How do you think about our model compared to a bulge bracket for your career?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Demonstrate your understanding of the elite boutique model (e.g., Moelis & Co.) versus the bulge bracket model.
• Highlight the advantages of the boutique model that appeal to you: leaner deal teams leading to more responsibility, direct exposure to senior bankers and clients, and a pure-advisory focus without the conflicts of a balance sheet.
• Contrast this with the bulge bracket's strengths (global brand, broad product offering) but frame your preference for the boutique model as a better fit for your specific career goals of rapid learning and hands-on experience.

Q9 Discuss a project you worked on with a high degree of quantitative rigor. Describe your role on this project.

HOW TO ANSWER

• Situation: Describe the project and its objective, emphasizing why a quantitatively rigorous approach was necessary.
• Task: Clearly define your specific role and the analytical responsibilities you were assigned.
• Action: Detail the specific quantitative methods you used (e.g., financial modeling, statistical analysis, data science techniques). Explain your process and how you ensured accuracy.
• Result: Explain the insights or conclusions derived from your analysis and how they contributed to the project's success or informed a key decision.