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Merrill Lynch India Technology Services Investment Banking Interview Questions and Answers

Updated 9 Dec 2015

Merrill Lynch India Technology Services Investment Banking Interview Experiences

1 interview found

I applied via Referral

Interview Questionnaire 

5 Questions

  • Q1. Macroeconomics (exchange rate stuff, bit of discussion on monetary policy),
  • Q2. Puzzles(a lot of them)
  • Q3. Derivatives (asked me to price a digital option w/o using term 1 quant stuff)
  • Q4. Deal valuation(in IBD interview), discussion on retail sector(in almost all the rounds since I had worked for online retail firm Amazon.com)
  • Q5. Financial Ratios (last chapter of finacc course)

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: I believe they were looking for a lot of enthusiasm, strong desire to join their company and of course an aptitude for finance
Tips: I believe the key is to stay confident because that is what the banks look for. Any signs of panic might kill your chances. There is no right or wrong answer when asked for your view on some issue or market. What they just expect is that you should be able to give reasons for whatever your view is.

Skill Tips: I guess prior knowledge of financial derivatives is a must. It might get a bit difficult otherwise, given the fact that people start talking in terms of delta, gamma and vega right from day 1
Skills:
College Name: IIM Bangalore

Interview questions from similar companies

I applied via Referral

Interview Questionnaire 

4 Questions

  • Q1. Questions on finance
  • Q2. Questions on economics
  • Q3. Personals
  • Q4. Current affairs

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Other Interview
Experience: I think they were looking for, team fit + strong background in terms of achievements (indication of hard work I guess)

what went right – could explain current affairs and implications
what went Wrong – poor knowledge about all ibanks and MS in particular
Tips: Brush up on news, about the company and personals

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: What went right was :Eco
Tips: Brush up finance

Skill Tips: Patience, hard work, persistence, PPT/Excel
Skills: Presentation Skills, Hardwork, Patience
College Name: IIM Bangalore

Interview Questionnaire 

12 Questions

  • Q1. Why finance
  • Ans. 

    Finance offers a dynamic and challenging career with opportunities for growth and learning.

    • I have a passion for numbers and analyzing financial data

    • I enjoy problem-solving and finding creative solutions to financial challenges

    • I am interested in the global economy and how financial markets operate

    • I want to work in a fast-paced and competitive environment

    • I am excited about the potential for career growth and advancement ...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Roles of Last Year Interns
  • Ans. 

    Last year interns played various roles in different departments, including research, analysis, and client management.

    • Last year interns were involved in conducting market research and analysis to support investment decisions.

    • They also assisted in managing client relationships and preparing presentations for clients.

    • Some interns were involved in financial modeling and valuation of companies.

    • Interns also supported the inv...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. How I feel about working late hours
  • Ans. 

    I am comfortable working late hours when necessary.

    • I understand that investment banking can be demanding and requires long hours

    • I am willing to put in the extra effort to meet deadlines and deliver quality work

    • I am able to manage my time effectively to ensure that I am productive during late hours

    • I am committed to the success of the team and the clients we serve

    • I have experience working late hours in previous roles and...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. Call and Put option
  • Q5. Payoff Diagram of options
  • Ans. 

    Payoff diagram of options shows the profit or loss of an option at different prices of the underlying asset.

    • The diagram is a graph with the price of the underlying asset on the x-axis and the profit or loss on the y-axis.

    • The payoff diagram can be used to analyze the risk and reward of different options strategies.

    • Examples of options strategies include long call, short call, long put, short put, and straddle.

    • The payoff ...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q6. Financial account – LIFO FIFO
  • Q7. Which is best under inflationary environment
  • Ans. 

    Investments that perform well under inflationary environment

    • Real estate investments

    • Commodities like gold and silver

    • Inflation-protected bonds like TIPS

    • Stocks of companies with pricing power

    • Alternative investments like infrastructure and private equity

    • Avoid cash and fixed-rate bonds

  • Answered by AI
  • Q8. What is India’s GDP
  • Ans. 

    India's GDP is $2.7 trillion as of 2020.

    • India is the world's sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP.

    • The country's GDP growth rate has been steadily increasing over the years.

    • India's major industries include agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

    • The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on India's economy.

    • The government has implemented various measures to boost economic growth.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q9. What is the world’s GDP growth rate?
  • Ans. 

    The world's GDP growth rate varies year to year and is influenced by various factors such as global economic conditions, political stability, and technological advancements.

    • The world's GDP growth rate was 2.9% in 2019

    • The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decline in the world's GDP growth rate in 2020

    • China has been a major contributor to the world's GDP growth rate in recent years

    • The world's GDP growth rate is expe...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q10. What happens to net income after one year?
  • Ans. 

    Net income can increase or decrease depending on various factors such as revenue, expenses, taxes, and investments.

    • Net income can increase if revenue increases or expenses decrease

    • Net income can decrease if revenue decreases or expenses increase

    • Taxes can also affect net income

    • Investments can also impact net income

    • Net income is calculated by subtracting expenses from revenue

    • Net income is an important metric for evaluati

  • Answered by AI
  • Q11. If an unbiased coin is tossed 5 times, what is the probability of getting 5 heads?
  • Ans. 

    The probability of getting 5 heads in 5 tosses of an unbiased coin is 1/32.

    • The probability of getting a head on a single toss of an unbiased coin is 1/2.

    • The probability of getting 5 heads in a row is (1/2)^5 = 1/32.

    • Each toss is independent of the previous toss, so the probability of getting 5 heads in a row is the same as getting any other sequence of 5 tosses.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q12. If 2 people are sitting around a round table, and each has to place coins on the table after other does, and the one who places the coin last wins, would you like to go first or second?

Interview Preparation Tips

General Tips: Study finance basics – options, futures basics, Be very very thorough with your CV, know your strong points and try to bring them up during interview and Be very confident
Skills: Banking, Finance
College Name: NA

I applied via Referral

Interview Questionnaire 

1 Question

  • Q1. Finance related questions

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: I think they were looking for Basic understanding of financial accounting, confidence.
My experience of working on valuation of Oil & Gas projects, financial modelling helped a lot
Tips: My confidence in answering questions related to finance and Read thoroughly two chapters 11 & 12 of “Financial Accounting” book by RNS

Skill Tips: Curiosity, “can-do” attitude, Gyaan on derivatives, basic excel skills, willingness to learn in a sometimes chaotic environment
Skills: basic excel skills, Curiosity To Learn
College Name: IIM Bangalore

I applied via Referral

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Technical Interview
Tips: DO YOUR RESEARCH – company website, annual reports, quarterly conference
calls, analyst report.
• Study Corp. Fin and FRA (mainly), brush up on Econ, CCFS, Capital Raising.
• Big on Culture – READ THE BOOK “Culture of Success” (LRC has copy)
• Speak to people current and ex-employees of Goldman (the firm, culture,
interview process, growth areas)
• Practice mock interviews – we had one first round at ISB, six 40 minute one on
one interviews in London, followed by 3 30 minute 2 on one interviews the same
day. (Equal split between personal/fit interviews and technical interviews. One
current affairs interview, one entire interview on details of a deal – Technical
Section question 5).

Round: HR Interview
Tips: Huge on teamwork – LIKE LEADING BY CONSENSUS.
• Read Wetfeet, Vault Goldman Profiles.
• Client and firm first priority – over personal/wife/girlfriend.
• 14 principles of Goldman Sachs – KNOW THEM ALL.
• Sell yourself – especially your strengths that are applicable to this line of
business.
• Goldman employees not arrogant, soft spoken, treat you as an equal in the
interview. Came out of there with more respect for them than when I went in.
• You will work your @ss off, so don’t have any reservations about that. I was told
that as an Associate I would be required to come in Saturdays and Sundays….
The first 6 months as an Associate – will be the most hardworking person in firm.
• Don’t EVER ask them about pay, bonuses etc. They will compensate you well.
• Have insightful questions for them at the end of the interview. Have ENOUGH of
them. You will have many interviews, with interviewers comparing notes later,
you don’t want to be asking them all the same questions.

Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

I applied via Referral

Interview Questionnaire 

4 Questions

  • Q1. Interest in IBanking
  • Ans. 

    I am highly interested in Investment Banking as it aligns with my passion for finance and provides an opportunity to work on complex financial transactions.

    • Passionate about finance

    • Excited to work on complex financial transactions

    • Interested in the fast-paced and dynamic nature of Investment Banking

    • Desire to work with top-tier clients and provide them with valuable financial advice

    • Strong analytical and problem-solving sk...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Questions abt work experience
  • Q3. General talk abt Mumbai
  • Q4. Then asked to give a small presentation on the case they give – defend your viewpoint

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: 1st interview was with Markets head.
Tips: Smooth talking, had already attended a few interviews so standard responses to questions

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: This interview was with senior folks from Corporate Finance team.
They were looking for Interest in IBD, ability to take on long hours, communication skills .
Kept talking and was well versed in the working of IBD through past experience.

Skills: Verbal Communication Skills, Work Experience, Interest In The Job
College Name: IIM Bangalore

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: Technical on paper test questions:(dis was only for 12 among d 26 shortlisted ppl after apti...others directly had interviews)
5 wer selected in this test who wer nw sent for interviews
TECHNICAL INTERVIEW: (pls list the questions asked in all the rounds)
26 shortlisted after apti (14 directly for interviews & 12 had one more technical on paper test...mentioned above)
der wer min 2 technical rounds for each of them...max were 5

- You are given course dependencies
A->B,C
B->D
C->A
D->nothing
The above dependencies mean...if you want to take course A...you should take courses B and C first....To take B,Course D must be taken first....D is an independent course and can be taken without any prior requirements.
Now you are told these dependencies.Come up with an appropriate data structure to represent these dependencies.Then write a code that finds out all the courses that the student can take up...in this case the student can first take course D because its independent.Now that course D has been taken he can next take up B as it depends on B alone...But the courses A and C can never be taken because they depend on each other...So here all the courses that can be taken are B and D.
After i wrote the code....he asked for all possible test cases
-Given an array of length N....It can be filled with nos. only from 1 to N....find which nos are repeated in the array
-Given pointers to two nodes in a binary tree....find their least common ancestor...each node has pointer to only the parent node...not the left and right child..
-In a binary tree(Not necessarily a BST)...suppose the weight of any node is defined as the product of the key value of the node and the level of the node(Root at level 1)...find the node with maximum weight in the binary tree
-A sorted array of size n is right circularly rotated k times and this rotated array is given to you as input...Find out the value of k in log n time .
-There are some processes running at time T....and there are processes running at time T+30.
You have to find out
1)Which processes died at time T+30,which were alive at time T
2)Which are the new processes at time T+30,which were not there at time T
3)Which are the processes that were there at time T and are still running at time T+30
What data structure will you use to represent the process lists and write code to find out the answers to the 3 questions above
-Given a binary search tree...and a target sum...starting at the root...which all paths add up to the target sum?...if there are multiple paths....return the path with least no. of nodes.


College Name: Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai [ VJTI ]

Interview Questionnaire 

6 Questions

  • Q1. Introduction o f myself(based on resume)
  • Q2. Probability puzzle
  • Q3. Write algorithm for a coding problem statement
  • Ans. 

    Algorithm to find the largest number in an array

    • Initialize a variable to store the largest number

    • Loop through the array and compare each element with the current largest number

    • If the element is larger, update the largest number variable

    • Return the largest number

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. Finance questions based on recent happenings
  • Q5. Questions on Logical, Verbal & Quantitative Aptitude
  • Q6. Why DB is agood choice?
  • Ans. 

    DB is a good choice due to its scalability, reliability, and flexibility.

    • DB allows for easy scaling of data storage and retrieval.

    • It provides reliable data management and backup options.

    • DB can be customized to fit the specific needs of an organization.

    • Examples include MySQL, MongoDB, and Oracle.

    • DB is widely used in various industries such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce.

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Interview
Experience: They are essentially looking for enthusiasm and courses you have taken.
Tips: One must know one's courses properly.  Read newspaper

Round: Interview
Tips: They spoke about general things and asked me what other interviews. Also, they storied speaking about why DB is a good choice.

Skill Tips: Know your content better. A little bit of economics and a bit about stock markets. Practice some puzzles and probability questions. Brush tip courses on Accounting, economics,marketing and maybe one core course
Skills: Finance fundaes, Presentation of facts in Resume, CGPA
College Name: IIT Madras

Skills evaluated in this interview

Interview Questionnaire 

1 Question

  • Q1. Questions on Current Affairs & Puzzles

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: resume shortlisting
Experience: The profile offered is not solely based on number crunching; rather, it is also focused on building industries by buying and selling market commodities. You are judged on your drive or excellence in any field, and on how good you are at convincing the panel.
Tips: Your resume will be scrutinized thoroughly and whatever you write in it must be well thought out.

Round: Interview
Experience: The interview is more like a conversation and you should try to direct it in the direction you like.
Tips: For puzzles: Approach important, not final answer,think aloud,take cues from interviewer,do not panic! They look for the ability to show that you can create an impact. Have knowledge on current affairs and happening around you- Overview + details about a few topics,take a stand on issues. Watch economic & political debates. Read blogs by economists, journalists as well as economic Times and magazine and discuss topics with friends.

Round: Interview
Tips: Have good appearance and posture,be professional and confident,know your resume well,relax and be yourself!

Skill Tips: "Need to be aware of the current affairs. One should know the top 5 headlines of the day before the interview and also on the day of the interview. As far as DB is concerned, there is no written test and CAT preparation should suffice. Even DB has a buddy program for shortlisted candidates. Brush up Probability & Statistics.""
Skills: Domian excellence, Ability to convince
College Name: IIT Madras

I was interviewed in Jun 2017.

Interview Questionnaire 

5 Questions

  • Q1. Java oops
  • Q2. Programming -prime number, factorial etc
  • Q3. Oracle question - joins etc
  • Q4. Communication check , tell me about yourself ?
  • Q5. About my Cdac project?

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Subjective Technical
Experience: Theory questions were asked in this round, like basic fundamental definition in java, oops, etc
Tips: should know all the basics of core java and Oracle.


Round: Technical Interview
Experience: Theory questions were asked in this round, like basic fundamental definition in java, oops, etc
Tips: should know all the basics of core java and Oracle.


Round: HR Interview
Tips: Be confident and be clear about what you say about your hobbies.

College Name: Shri Shankaracharya Engineering College, Bhilai

Merrill Lynch India Technology Services Interview FAQs

What are the top questions asked in Merrill Lynch India Technology Services Investment Banking interview?

Some of the top questions asked at the Merrill Lynch India Technology Services Investment Banking interview -

  1. deal valuation(in IBD interview), discussion on retail sector(in almost all the...read more
  2. derivatives (asked me to price a digital option w/o using term 1 quant stu...read more
  3. macroeconomics (exchange rate stuff, bit of discussion on monetary polic...read more

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