Your question is Why Investment Banking. Take a moment with it on the right.
Talk me through your thinking if you like. When you're confident, submit your answer and I'll grade it like a real screen (7/10 or better passes).
Why Investment Banking?
Asked in the Phone Interview stage. Explain what specifically attracts you to investment banking, why the work fits your strengths and career goals, and why Morgan Stanley is a relevant platform for those goals.
The interviewer is assessing whether your motivation is informed by actual exposure to the work rather than prestige, compensation, or a generic interest in finance. They also want to hear evidence that you understand the demands of the role, including rigorous analysis, compressed timelines, client service, and repeated attention to detail.
A strong response is concise, personal, and specific. Connect one or two experiences to the skills required in banking, explain why you are pursuing the role now, and demonstrate that you have researched Morgan Stanley without reciting its website.