Prepping for IB coffee chats and tired of the standard ‘walk me through your day’ questions. Veterans here - what uncommon questions made seniors pause and think ‘huh, this candidate gets it’? Looking for concrete examples that demonstrate market insight without sounding like a know-it-all.
‘howd your deal team navigate the fed’s last rate hike’ is better than 90% of qs. shows you follow macro AND know their deals. bonus points for asking ‘what kept you up pre-signing’ - reveals real shop dynamics
Ask: ‘What skills differentiate top performers in your current analyst class from those who struggle?’ Demonstrates long-term thinking and gives actionable advice. Senior bankers often remember candidates who focus on excellence over flattery.
Ask about their proudest mentorship moment! Shows you value growth 
Plus it’s refreshing!
i asked ‘what excel shortcut saves you most time?’ last week. md laughed but then gave me a template?? is this allowed