How to talk about a gap year in investment banking interviews

Hi,

don’t worry, a gap year doesn’t have to be a red flag if you present it well. Be honest and explain that you took the year for personal reasons and worked on developing new skills, even if the side project didn’t succeed. Focus on the experiences you gained, such as project management or entrepreneurial insights. Highlight any self-improvement or learning you did during the year. Most importantly, be confident and positive, framing the gap year as a valuable experience.

Good luck – you’ve got this! 😊

Hey there, 
that's a valid concern, but don't worry too much – a gap year isn't automatically a red flag in IB interviews if you handle it correctly. The key is strategic honesty. Briefly explain the personal reasons professionally, making it clear they are resolved, then quickly pivot to the startup project.

Focus on framing that startup experience positively, even if it didn't succeed. Emphasize the initiative you showed, the practical steps you took, and valuable skills you gained, such as resilience, problem-solving, or project management. Learning from setbacks demonstrates maturity, which banks value.

Connect this experience back to your interest in finance, perhaps mentioning how it gave you real-world business insights. Deliver your explanation confidently, presenting the year as a period of valuable growth and learning rather than something you need to excuse. It's all about owning your narrative.

Great question and you're definitely not alone in this! Many candidates have non-linear paths, and how you frame your gap year can actually turn it into a strength!

A gap year can actually work in your favor if you own the story. Rather than apologizing for it, show that you made a conscious choice, took a risk, and learned from it, even if things didn’t go as planned.

IB teams value maturity, self-awareness, and grit. Framing your year as a time of exploration that clarified your goals shows that you’re intentional about your path now. That can be more compelling than a “perfect” résumé.

Hi There!

Taking a gap year isn’t a red flag in itself — it’s all about how you explain it. If you can show that the time was spent intentionally and that you gained skills or perspective from it, interviewers will usually respect the decision. Focus on what you learned from working on your startup idea, even if it didn’t lead to something big. You likely developed resilience, problem-solving skills, and a stronger understanding of business fundamentals, which are all relevant in investment banking.

Be concise and confident when addressing it in interviews. You don’t need to over-explain or justify every detail — just show that the year helped you grow and made you more focused on your career goals. Being honest about the experience, while tying it back to your motivation for banking, can actually make you more memorable and relatable as a candidate. Many successful people have taken non-linear paths, and how you talk about it matters more than what happened.

Hey

When explaining a gap year in investment banking interviews, it’s important to be transparent and thoughtful about how you present it. Start by briefly mentioning the personal reasons for the gap, then focus on the side project or startup you worked on, even if it didn’t succeed. Highlight the valuable skills you gained during that time, such as resilience, initiative, and problem-solving, which are highly relevant to banking. Emphasize how this experience helped you grow personally and professionally, showing maturity and self-awareness. 

Finally, connect the dots by explaining how the gap year clarified your career goals and strengthened your commitment to investment banking. This approach turns a potential red flag into a compelling part of your story.