Carolyn Puente HIA COMP- Vault Guide Summary Vault Guide to Finance Interviews The Vault Guide to Finance Interviews is not a guarantee, but a good starting point for those interested in getting a high powered job on Wall Street, giving inside advice for thorough interview preparation. As noted by the title, this is particularly useful for those seeking a job in the investment banking field, trading, equities research, or anything closely related. The majority of this book is written as a review of general financial skills, including a comprehensive look at everything from DCF's, CAPM, financial statements, to derivatives, PE ratios, and bond pricing. It even comes complete with a full finance glossary for terms to brush up on if you’ve never heard of them before. However, I would emphasize that the material is only a review of what to know; it should not be read in anticipation of learning finance because there is too much information in too little space. What this guide is better at, however, is coaching potential interviewees with some good behavioral tips to navigate stressful moments in interviews that you will be tested on. The Vault Guide helps by telling what sort of surprise questions to expect from the interview process, which if you haven't had any interviews or attended any interviewing workshops, might surprise you with their level of intensity. For instance, the entire final chapter of the Guide is devoted to the common brainteaser questions and suggested solutions to properly answer them. The most popular example they use is, why are manhole covers round? First brainstorm- is there a structural reason? Why not a different shape? The answers they provide include the fact that it’s safer because there are no corners, as well as that it’s more transportable, as one person can roll it. The most important thing is to maintain a level head, as interviewers are watching to see how you respond under pressures like the ones you will face in the finance world. Some of the major “do’s” highlighted in the book include stressing the point that you are a hard worker with an ability to handle a lot of work and pain. Have ready examples of times when you’ve used problem-solving skills or quantitative analysis to succeed in a tough situation. Finally, emphasize being a team player. The investment industry requires working closely with others, interviewers like to know that you’ve had previous experience with teamwork. Finance interviews, like everything in life, require practice. By working through many of the questions they provide, doing your research on the company you are interviewing with, and practicing your answers, The Vault Guide promises to prepare you to do your best in a hard interview. I would strongly recommend this guide to all college students looking to master the art of financial interviewing.