What to Expect at an Investment Banking Superday (And How to Prepare)

What a Superday Actually Is

A superday is the final round of IB recruiting. You will have 4-6 back-to-back interviews, each lasting 30-45 minutes, with different members of the team — from analysts to managing directors. It is physically and mentally exhausting, and that is partly the point.

Every interviewer submits independent feedback. You need to pass all of them, not just most.

What Each Interviewer Tests

Junior bankers (analyst/associate): Technical skills. Expect accounting, valuation, and modelling questions. They will test depth — if you say you know DCF, they will push until you cannot answer.

Mid-level (VP): A mix of technical and behavioural. They want to know if you can handle the workload and communicate under pressure. Expect "walk me through a deal" or "tell me about a time you worked under pressure."

Senior bankers (MD/partner): Fit and commercial awareness. They rarely ask technical questions. Instead: "Why this firm?", "What is happening in the markets?", "Tell me about yourself." They are deciding whether they want to work with you at 2am.

One Week Before

• Research 3 recent deals the firm advised on. Know the details: size, sector, rationale.
• Research your interviewers on LinkedIn. Note shared backgrounds and deal involvement.
• Run through your top 10 technical questions until the answers are automatic.
• Prepare your "tell me about yourself" (90 seconds), "why this firm" (specific and genuine), and "walk me through a deal" (if applicable).
• Prepare 3 thoughtful questions for each interviewer.

On the Day

Dress: Dark suit (navy or charcoal), white or light blue shirt, conservative tie. Polished shoes. Minimal accessories.

Arrive: 10-15 minutes early. Not 30 minutes early — that is awkward for the team.

Body language: Firm handshake. Eye contact. Sit upright, lean slightly forward. Do not fidget, tap, or look at the clock.

Energy management: You will have 4+ hours of interviews. Eat a proper breakfast. Bring water. The energy dip usually hits around interview 3-4 — anticipate it.

Five Things That Kill Candidates

1. Inconsistency across interviews. If you tell one interviewer you love M&A and another you are excited about capital markets, they will compare notes and notice.

2. Running out of energy. Your fifth interview needs the same quality as your first. Treat each one as a fresh start.

3. Not having questions. "No questions" signals disinterest. Have 2-3 prepared for each person, tailored to their seniority and background.

4. Badmouthing anyone. Do not criticise previous employers, universities, or other firms. Even subtle negativity is a red flag.

5. Asking about hours or compensation. Never in a first-round or superday. These conversations happen after you have an offer.

After the Superday

Send a brief thank-you email to each interviewer (or the recruiting coordinator) within 2 hours. Reference something specific from the conversation. Keep it to 3-4 sentences — not a paragraph.

Then write down every question you were asked while it is fresh. This is invaluable for future preparation, whether for this firm or another.

Take Your Preparation Further

Download our free Interview Day Checklist for the complete preparation timeline from one week before through post-interview follow-up. For 50+ behavioural questions with STAR framework answers, see the Behavioural Question Bank.

Ready for personalised feedback? Book a 1-on-1 mentoring session with an experienced IB/PE professional.