Finance interview prep in one week

Question

Hi everyone,

I just got invited to an investment banking interview next week and I’m starting to panic a bit. I feel okay about basic technicals, but I don’t know how to properly approach things like valuation questions, accounting walk-throughs, or quick mental math exercises. With only a week to go, what’s the most effective way to prepare? Should I focus on mastering the top technical questions, or try to cover as much ground as possible?

Any advice on how to structure my prep in a short time frame would be hugely appreciated!

Answer 1

Hey! My response would be very similar to Rita's above!

Totally get how you're feeling - it’s normal to feel overwhelmed with a week to go. Focus on mastering the core technicals (valuation, accounting walk-throughs, 3 statements, DCF) and get really solid on your story and fit questions. Quality over quantity here.

Practice mental math daily, and do mock interviews or speak your answers aloud to build confidence under pressure. You don’t need to know everything - just be strong where it counts. Feel free to reach out if you want some intensive interview practice!

Answer 2

Hi Anonymous,

I get the panic, but one week is enough to get confident 🙌. From my experience, focus on depth over breadth: nail the big technicals like how the 3 statements connect, valuation methods (comps, precedents, DCF), and a bit of LBO if relevant.

For mental math, just practice quick percentage changes and multiples, and explain your steps clearly... perfect accuracy isn’t the point. Don’t forget behaviorals: half your prep should be practicing clear, confident stories.

A simple rhythm could be mornings on technicals, afternoons on behaviorals, evenings on quick drills. By interview day, you want to sound natural, not crammed. One week is plenty if you hit the high-yield areas. You’ve got this! 🚀

Answer 3

Hey!

With only a week, focus on depth rather than breadth. Master the core technicals that come up most often, like walking through a three-statement link, explaining DCF and multiples-based valuation, and understanding key accounting adjustments such as working capital and depreciation. Practice mental math daily with quick drills so you stay sharp under pressure, and rehearse explaining your answers clearly and concisely rather than chasing every niche concept. Balance this with behavioral prep by outlining a few strong personal stories you can adapt to different questions. A structured approach of reviewing technicals in the morning, practicing mock Q&A in the afternoon, and drilling mental math in between will give you confidence and keep your prep focused.

Answer 4

Hi There!

To prepare for your investment banking interview in one week, focus 60% of your time on mastering key technicals: valuation (DCF, comps, precedent transactions), accounting walk-throughs (e.g., how depreciation affects financial statements), and core concepts like EV vs. equity value and WACC. Allocate 20% to mental math practice for quick calculations (e.g., percentages, EV/EBITDA), 15% to behavioral questions using the STAR method (e.g., “Why this bank?” with bank-specific research), and 5% to mock interviews to build confidence.

Spend 4-6 hours daily: Day 1-2 on valuation and accounting, Day 3-4 on mental math and technical Q&A, Day 5-6 on behavioral and mock interviews, and Day 7 reviewing weak areas and practicing aloud to ensure concise, natural delivery under pressure.