Leland+ for Investment Banking

Behavioral Interviews & How to Tell Your Story

Landing an investment banking offer starts long before the technical questions—your behavioral responses and personal story often determine whether you even move forward. In this session, you’ll learn how to craft a compelling narrative that highlights your motivations, showcases your strengths, and aligns with what banks actually look for in candidates. We’ll break down common behavioral questions, effective frameworks, and the biggest pitfalls that sink interviews, plus how to tailor your story whether you’re coming from finance, consulting, engineering, or a non-traditional background. You’ll leave with clear strategies, practice prompts, and a structured approach you can use to walk into interviews with confidence and tell a story that sticks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Writing

Many people have asked me a set of questions frequently. These questions will answer some of your questions quickly!

Technical Interviews & Core Finance Concepts

Technical interviews are where candidates rise or fall, and mastering the fundamentals is essential to getting an offer. In this session, you'll learn how to approach the most commonly tested finance concepts—from valuation and accounting, to financial statement analysis and market drivers—in a clear, structured, and interview-ready way. We’ll cover typical technical questions, what interviewers listen for in strong answers, and how to avoid the common mistakes that signal inexperience. Whether you’re starting from scratch or sharpening your edge before first-rounds, you’ll walk away with frameworks, study priorities, and practice tactics to approach technicals with confidence and communicate like a future banker.

Positioning for IB and Buy Side

Breaking into investment banking or the buy side requires more than strong technical skills—it requires clear positioning. In this session, a top Leland coach and IB expert Adam B. will break down how to shape your story, experience, and skill set to appeal to both IB and buy-side recruiters.

How to Craft a Standout Resume for Investment Banking

After this session, you will know how to structure an investment banking resume that clears the initial screen and holds the attention of a recruiter who reviews hundreds in a single cycle. The coach will cover how to quantify deal exposure and financial skills without overstating your experience, how to tailor your bullets for bulge bracket versus boutique targets, and how to position non-traditional backgrounds so they read as assets rather than gaps.

Networking Log

Keep track of all your coffee chats in one place! This tool allows you to record conversation notes, follow-ups, and next steps so you can maintain organized and professional outreach.

Quantitative Finance Career Guide

A starter guide for careers, skills, and companies related to quantitative finance.

How to Network Like a Pro to Land IB Interviews

Breaking into investment banking isn’t just about technical skills—it’s about building relationships that get you in the door. In this session, you’ll learn proven networking strategies that help candidates turn cold outreach into meaningful conversations, develop strong connections with bankers, and convert touchpoints into interview opportunities. Led by Jonathan S., a former Wells Fargo investment banker and experienced coach who has helped candidates land roles at top firms, this workshop will teach you how to craft effective outreach messages, manage informational interviews, and confidently position your story. Whether you’re early in recruiting or trying to level up your current approach, you’ll leave with actionable tactics you can start using immediately to stand out in a crowded pipeline.

How to Stand Out in IB Recruiting

Investment banking recruiting is intensely competitive, and standing out requires more than strong grades and technical skills. This session breaks down how banks actually evaluate candidates, what differentiates top applicants, and how to position your background to signal readiness from day one. You’ll learn how to refine your resume, tell a compelling story, network strategically, and avoid common mistakes that quietly hurt your chances.

Access the Hidden Job Market

My best advice on how to network for a job

The Investment Banking Behavior Interview: Prove Your Value

Investment banking behavioral interviews test more than fit—they assess judgment, resilience, and whether you’ll add value on day one. In this session, you’ll learn how to structure compelling stories, highlight impact under pressure, and answer common questions with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re preparing for first rounds or superdays, you’ll leave with a repeatable framework to stand out in behavioral interviews.

What You Need to Know About Investment Banking Technical Interviews

Preparing for investment banking technical interviews can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure which concepts interviewers actually prioritize. This session is designed for candidates targeting IB roles who want a clearer, more focused way to prepare for the accounting, valuation, and financial modeling questions that frequently appear in interviews. You’ll learn how bankers evaluate technical responses, which core topics consistently come up, and how to structure answers so you sound confident and precise under pressure.

Preparing now for IB Summer Recruiting

IB summer recruiting moves quickly, and the strongest candidates are the ones who prepare with intention well before applications open. The groundwork you lay now can dramatically shape your outcomes later. In this session, we’ll cover how to sharpen your technical skills, craft a resume that stands out, network strategically, and understand what banks are truly looking for in summer analysts. If you want to enter recruiting season focused, confident, and ready to compete at the highest level, this is where it starts.

How to Crush your Finance Behavioral Interviews

In finance interviews, technical skills get you in the room—but behavioral answers often decide who gets the offer. Your ability to tell clear, confident stories about leadership, resilience, and impact can make all the difference. In this session, you’ll learn how to structure powerful answers, anticipate the questions firms consistently ask, and turn your experiences into memorable, results-driven narratives. We’ll break down what interviewers are truly assessing and how to respond with clarity, confidence, and credibility. If you want to walk into your next finance interview prepared to stand out, this is where to start.

What Top Investment Banking Candidates Do Differently: Strategy, Positioning & Interview Edge

In this session, you will learn how to position yourself as a compelling investment banking candidate before you ever walk into an interview. We will cover how to build a deal experience narrative that holds up under pressure, how to differentiate yourself in a crowded applicant pool, and what interviewers are actually evaluating when they ask behavioral questions.

How Candidates Actually Land Elite Boutique Offers [4/30/2026] (Recording)

Elite boutique investment banking offers are highly competitive, and the candidates who break through are intentional about how they position their experience and navigate the process. This session is for students targeting firms like Evercore, Lazard, and PJT who want to understand what actually differentiates successful applicants. You’ll learn how to build a focused recruiting strategy, position your background to signal strong fit, and approach networking and interviews in a way that leads to real traction. Join live to hear how an experienced coach evaluates candidates targeting elite boutiques and the patterns they see across successful applicants. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions about your own recruiting approach and get real-time guidance typically shared in 1:1 coaching sessions.

What Top Investment Banks Are Looking For

Many candidates aiming for investment banking roles aren’t sure what actually differentiates applicants in a highly competitive process. This session is designed for students and early-career professionals who want to understand how top banks evaluate candidates beyond GPA and technical skills. You’ll learn what qualities banks prioritize, how to position your experiences effectively, and how successful candidates prepare for both networking and interviews.

Where Should You Apply? Finding Your Fit in the IB Landscape

​Not all investment banks—or banking roles—are created equal. From bulge brackets and elite boutiques to middle-market firms, each has its own recruiting process, culture, and career trajectory. In this session, you’ll learn how to evaluate your options and identify the firms and groups that best align with your goals, background, and interests. ​In this panel, Jonathan S., Yudhajit D., and Jared B. will break down the different types of investment banks, what each looks for in candidates, and how to strategically target your networking and applications for the best chance of success. Whether you’re just starting to explore investment banking or narrowing down your list for recruiting season, this event will help you confidently map your path into the right firm for you.

Master List of Investment Banks for Networking

This resource provides a curated list of investment banks that candidates can target for networking outreach. It is designed to support systematic networking efforts and help prioritize firms during recruiting.

Investment Banking Week (September 8-11) Kickoff

​Join us for Leland's Investment Banking Week (September 8–11) Kickoff! Come hear from top IB experts Katharine J, Jonathan H, and Isha A. who have helped candidates break into leading Wall Street firms and excel in their roles.