An investment banking superday is the final-round assessment: usually a series of back-to-back interviews, often three to five, with bankers from analyst to managing director level, covering behavioural "fit", technical questions and market or deal awareness. Preparation means having a tight personal story, solid accounting and valuation technicals, and two or three deals you can discuss intelligently.
How do you get to a superday?
Processes vary by bank and region, but a common path for analyst and summer analyst roles is:
- Online application
- A recorded video interview or online assessment. Goldman Sachs, for example, uses a HireVue one-way video interview, which candidates commonly report as about 30 minutes.
- Sometimes a first-round phone or video interview
- Superday
Some banks also use numerical or situational judgement tests. Check each bank's careers page, because formats change.
What happens on the day?
Format
Superdays may be in person or virtual. You'll typically meet several interviewers in sequence, each for around 30 minutes, sometimes in pairs. Some banks include a short case or group exercise, but the core is one-to-one interviews.
Who interviews you?
A mix of seniorities. Analysts and associates often focus on technicals and whether they'd enjoy working with you late at night. Vice presidents and MDs often focus on motivation, judgement and commercial awareness.
How decisions are made
Interviewers typically score you independently and then compare notes. One weak interview may be survivable. A pattern of weak technicals or an unconvincing "why banking" usually isn't.
What questions come up?
Fit and motivation
- "Walk me through your CV."
- "Why investment banking?"
- "Why this bank, and why this team or group?"
- "Tell me about a time you worked under pressure / in a team / made a mistake."
Technicals
- Accounting: how the three statements link, and how a change in depreciation flows through
- Valuation: comparables, precedent transactions, DCF (see how to answer "walk me through a DCF")
- Enterprise value vs equity value
- M&A basics: accretion/dilution logic, why buyers pay premiums
- For some groups: LBO basics
Markets and deals
- "Tell me about a recent deal you've followed."
- "Where do you think interest rates are heading, and what does that mean for M&A?"
- "Pitch me a stock" (more common in some markets or divisions)
How should you prepare your deal discussions?
Pick two or three recent deals in sectors relevant to the bank or group. For each, know:
- The parties, deal size and structure (cash, stock, mix)
- The strategic rationale
- The valuation multiple paid relative to peers, if public
- Risks and whether you think it was a good deal, with reasons
Interviewers care more about a reasoned view than about obscure details.
How do you prepare your story?
Build a 60–90 second "walk me through your CV" answer that links your experiences into a clear narrative ending in investment banking. Prepare four to six behavioural stories (teamwork, leadership, failure, conflict, attention to detail) using a simple situation–action–result structure, with measurable outcomes where possible. Our guide to telling a leadership story in under two minutes covers concise storytelling.
What about logistics and stamina?
- Treat every conversation as evaluated, including lunch, informal chats and the walk between rooms.
- Prepare questions for each interviewer, specific to their role or group.
- Bring water and notes on your stories and deals, to review between rounds where permitted.
- In virtual superdays, test your set-up and keep your camera at eye level (see our video interview tips).
How should you prepare in the final two weeks?
Week 1:
- Revise accounting and valuation technicals daily.
- Write and rehearse your CV walkthrough and "why banking / why this bank" answers.
- Choose and research your deals.
Week 2:
- Do at least three full mock superdays, including back-to-back interviews to build stamina.
- Practise answering technicals out loud, not just reading answers.
- Read the financial press daily for market context.
Practising spoken answers is the step most candidates skip. An AI interviewer such as caize.ai can simulate rapid-fire technical and fit questions so you practise articulating answers, not just recognising them. Pair it with human mocks for realistic rapport and follow-ups.
What are common superday mistakes?
- A memorised "why banking" that collapses under one follow-up
- Technical answers recited without understanding
- No genuine view on any deal
- Low energy in later interviews
- Not asking thoughtful questions
FAQ
How many interviews are in a superday?
Commonly around three to five, but it varies by bank, division and region.
Do superdays include case studies?
Sometimes, especially for certain groups or in some regions, but most are interview-based.
How soon will I hear back?
Often within days, sometimes the same day. Timelines vary.
Are technical questions harder for summer analysts than full-time?
Usually expectations are slightly lower for interns, but you still need solid fundamentals.
