Why shouldn’t we hire you?

This is one of those reverse psychology questions—they’re not trying to trap you, they’re testing your self-awareness, humility, and how you handle being put on the spot.

The best way to answer is to acknowledge a real potential concern, but frame it in a way that shows you’ve already thought about it, and that you’re actively working on it or turning it into a strength.

So you might say something like:

“Well, if I had to name a reason, I’d say I don’t come from the most traditional background for this role—I didn’t start in investment banking or come through a formal analyst program. That said, I’ve been very intentional about closing that gap. I’ve done financial modeling courses on my own, I’ve worked in fast-paced, high-stakes environments, and I’ve actively sought out exposure to investment-focused work. So while I may not come from a classic IB path, I believe the combination of my experience and the steps I’ve taken to prepare make me well equipped to ramp up quickly and contribute.”

This works because you're being honest about something they might already be thinking, but you're flipping it into a sign of initiative and adaptability. That’s what they really want to see—not perfection, but clarity and resilience.

Because you might be looking for someone with a very specific background and both my studies and my work experience so far have been very diverse

Because you do not want to hire someone who will take over your job some time. ;)