How to Master “Tell Me About Yourself” in Finance Interviews

Dec 16

Episode 37 | December 15, 2025

In Episode 37 of The Coffee Chat Podcast, host Ben sits down with Stephanie, a former investment banker and long-time finance recruiter, to unpack one of the most consequential interview questions in high finance: “Tell me about yourself.” Although many students view it as a simple icebreaker, Stephanie immediately sets the record straight: “It’s a very strategic question the industry asks,” she explains. Firms use it to assess four areas: cultural fit, motivation, communication skills, and your personal narrative.

Throughout the conversation, Stephanie draws on 35 years of industry and coaching experience to help candidates understand what truly distinguishes a compelling answer. Her first piece of advice: avoid thinking of your background as a chronological timeline. Instead, identify the strengths, pivotal moments, and values that genuinely shaped you. “Spend 30 minutes reflecting on who you are,” she says. “Everyone has a unique value proposition, but you have to convey it.”

To bring that point to life, she shares a memorable example from her own story, growing up on an Oklahoma cattle farm. Stephanie explains how learning about cattle prices and supply and demand alongside her grandfather sparked her earliest interest in finance. The detail is personal and unexpected, but also relevant. As Ben notes, “That’s the balance you’re looking for.”

Both speakers emphasize that crafting this answer requires disciplined preparation. Stephanie recommends a past–present–future structure:

Past: Highlight formative experiences and key strengths, not a full biography.
Present: Connect your academic work, internships, and skills (including your Financial Modeling Certification® Program training) to the role.
Future: Share the skills you hope to build, not a five-year title or exit path.

Importantly, all three layers should speak directly to the bank’s values. Stephanie encourages students to research job descriptions, firm culture, and mission statements so their narrative aligns with what the bank prioritizes, whether that’s client focus, resilience, teamwork, or technical excellence.

Of course, even strong candidates fall into predictable traps. The most common pitfalls Stephanie sees include:

Going too long: Anything past two minutes risks derailing the interviewer’s process.
Repeating your resume: “That’s not a story,” she says.
Being too generic: Banks want memorable candidates, not interchangeable ones.
Including irrelevant details: Interesting facts only work when tied back to the traits banks value.

As the episode wraps, Stephanie encourages students to approach the process with a sense of curiosity and even enjoyment. “If you’re not having fun talking about why you want to be in finance, take a step back,” she advises. Your answer should reflect excitement, humility, and an authentic desire to grow.

Ben closes with an important reminder: Interviewers can instantly tell who has done the deep reflection. Crafting this answer will take time, but it is one of the most important investments you can make in your recruiting journey.