Morgan Stanley Behavioural Q's

Morgan Stanley Behavioural Interview Questions

A comprehensive guide to the most frequently asked behavioural questions in Morgan Stanley investment banking interviews.

Q1 Why do you want to do technology investment banking?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Express genuine interest in the dynamic, innovative nature of the technology sector.
• Connect this interest to personal experiences (coursework, news, prior roles).
• Explain why advising tech companies on strategic finance (M&A, capital raising) is appealing.
• Mention specific reasons for targeting Morgan Stanley's TMT group (deal flow, reputation, people).

Q2 Who is your favorite CEO and why?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Name a specific CEO.
• Highlight 1−2 key strategic decisions or initiatives they led.
• Explain the positive impact of these actions (financial, cultural, market position).
• Mention specific leadership qualities demonstrated (e.g., vision, execution, adaptability).

Q3 Tell me about a time working with a difficult person.

HOW TO ANSWER

• Situation: Context of the team and project.
• Difficult Behavior: Describe the specific actions objectively (unresponsive, missed deadlines, etc.).
• Action: Detail your approach - attempt direct/private communication, maintain professionalism, focus on task completion, coordinate with others to ensure goals met.
• Result: Explain how the situation was managed, the project outcome, and lessons learned about handling difficult team dynamics.

Q4 What are you most concerned about regarding banking?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Reframe 'concern' as 'challenge to manage proactively'.
• Focus on aspects like: Maintaining high performance/accuracy long-term under pressure.
• Or: Effectively managing workload and time for sustainable contribution.
• Or: Integrating intense work demands with personal well-being.
• Briefly mention your approach: efficiency, seeking advice, discipline.
• Avoid expressing doubts about willingness or core ability.

Q5 Coming from a non-finance background, what skills have you developed that are applicable to this role?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Skill 1: Analytical Rigor / Problem Solving (Example from your field - translates to financial analysis).
• Skill 2: Quantitative Aptitude (Example from your field - translates to modeling/valuation capacity).
• Skill 3: Attention to Detail (Example from your field - translates to accuracy in banking).
• Skill 4: Research / Info Synthesis (Example from your field - translates to industry/company research).
• Skill 5: Learning Agility (Example from your field - translates to mastering banking concepts).
• Mention self-study efforts to bridge technical finance gap.

Q6 What does an Investment Banking Analyst do, and why do you think you can be good at it?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Core Tasks: Financial modeling, valuation analysis (Comps, Precedents, DCF), industry/company research, preparing client materials (pitch books, CIMs).
• Purpose: Support senior bankers in transaction execution (M&A, capital raising).
• Highlight relevant skill 1 (e.g., Analytical ability with example).
• Highlight relevant skill 2 (e.g., Attention to detail with example).
• Highlight relevant quality 3 (e.g., Work ethic/resilience with example).
• Highlight relevant quality 4 (e.g., Eagerness to learn/team player).

Q7 What's one thing about you that's not on your resume?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Share a brief, positive anecdote or characteristic not immediately obvious from your resume.
• It could be a unique hobby, a surprising talent, a personal challenge overcome, or a specific value.
• Ensure it subtly reveals a positive trait relevant to work (e.g., curiosity, resilience, creativity, commitment).
• Keep it concise and professional.

Q8 What do you do outside of work?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Mention 2−3 genuine hobbies or activities you enjoy.
• Briefly explain what you like about each or what they involve.
• Show that you are a well-rounded individual with interests beyond academics/work.
• Keep it professional and avoid anything controversial or requiring extensive explanation.

Q9 Tell me a time about you being a leader.

HOW TO ANSWER

• Situation: Describe a scenario where you took on a leadership role or demonstrated leadership qualities.
• Task: Outline the objective or challenge the team faced.
• Action: Detail your specific actions as a leader (e.g., setting vision, motivating team, delegating tasks, resolving conflicts, leading by example).
• Result: Explain the positive outcome achieved by your leadership and what you learned about effective leadership.

Q10 Why you? What makes you better than the other tens of thousands of applicants?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Acknowledge the strong competition and respect for other candidates.
• Highlight 2−3 key unique selling points that differentiate you (e.g., a specific combination of analytical rigor and communication skills, unique experience with a relevant industry, exceptional resilience).
• Provide concise evidence for each point.
• Emphasize your strong fit with Morgan Stanley's culture and values, and your genuine passion for investment banking.
• Conclude by confidently stating your ability to contribute immediately and significantly to the team.

Q11 Besides yourself, who from your school should we hire?

HOW TO ANSWER

• This question tests your confidence, maturity, and ability to recognize talent in others.
• Do not say 'no one.' Choose one or two peers who you genuinely respect and believe are strong candidates.
• Briefly explain why you would recommend them. Focus on specific, relevant strengths (e.g., analytical rigor, composure under pressure).
• By confidently recommending a talented peer, you demonstrate that you are a secure, team-oriented individual - a highly valued trait.

Q12 Can you talk about a time you had to give negative feedback in the workplace?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Situation: Describe the context and the specific behavior or performance issue that needed to be addressed.
• Action: Explain how you delivered the feedback - done privately, respectfully, and focused on observable behaviors, not personality. Provide specific examples and explain the impact of the issue.
• Result: Discuss the outcome. Ideally, the individual took the feedback constructively and their performance improved. Show that your goal was to help them develop.

Q13 Who has been one of your role models?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Select a specific role model (can be personal, historical, or a business leader) you genuinely admire.
• Identify 2−3 specific qualities or achievements of this person that you respect (e.g., leadership style, integrity, strategic vision).
• Provide a brief example of how they demonstrated these qualities.
• Connect their influence to your own personal or professional aspirations.

Q14 What are your thoughts on competition within investment banking? Do you believe it is healthy?

HOW TO ANSWER

• Acknowledge that investment banking is an inherently competitive, performance-driven industry.
• Define healthy competition as a force that drives excellence, innovation, and better outcomes for clients.
• Distinguish it from unhealthy competition, which can be detrimental to teamwork and firm culture.
• Emphasize your focus on collaboration and contributing to the team's collective success, while still being driven to perform at a high level.

Q15 What is your favorite book? Tell me about it and explain why it is your favorite.

HOW TO ANSWER

• Choose a book you are genuinely passionate about and can discuss confidently.
• Provide a very brief summary of the book's core theme or plot.
• Explain why it resonates with you. Connect a key theme (e.g., perseverance, strategic thinking, leadership) to your own values or professional ambitions.
• Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and the ability to articulate your thoughts clearly.

Q16 If you could pick one person from your recruiting class to work with, who would it be and why?

HOW TO ANSWER

• This question tests your judgment of character and what you value in a teammate.
• Choose a peer you genuinely respect and briefly describe a positive interaction you have had with them.
• Focus on professional qualities such as their work ethic, collaborative nature, intellectual curiosity, or a specific skill they possess.
• Explain how their strengths would complement yours in a team setting.

Q17 Tell me about a time when, in hindsight, you feel you could've done a better job and did not meet your team's expectations.

HOW TO ANSWER

• This is a 'failure' question. Show accountability, self-awareness, and a growth mindset.
• Use the STAR method: Situation - describe the team project and what was expected of you.
• Task/Action: Explain what you did and where you fell short.
• Result/Learning: Take clear ownership of the gap, explain the impact, and most importantly share the lesson learned and how you've applied it since.