How can you answer industry-specific questions during a Q&A session?

1 Research your audience

Before you enter a Q&A session, you should do some research on your audience and their background, interests, and expectations. This will help you anticipate the type of questions they might ask and tailor your answers accordingly. For example, if you are presenting to a potential client, you should know their industry, competitors, financial situation, and goals. If you are interviewing for a job, you should know the firm's culture, values, and recent deals. The more you know about your audience, the more you can demonstrate your relevance and value.

2 Review the key topics

Another way to prepare for a Q&A session is to review the key topics and concepts related to your subject matter. You should refresh your memory on the fundamentals of investment banking, such as valuation methods, financial modeling, deal structures, and market trends. You should also keep up with the current events and news that affect your industry and sector. You should be able to explain the rationale behind your analysis, recommendations, and opinions using relevant data and examples.

3 Structure your answers

When you are answering a question, you should follow a clear and logical structure that helps you communicate your points effectively. A simple structure you can use is the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. You should start by briefly describing the situation or context of the question, then explain the task or objective you had, then describe the action or steps you took, and finally summarize the result or outcome you achieved. This will help you showcase your problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.

4 Be honest and humble

Sometimes, you might encounter a question that you don't know the answer to or that is beyond your scope of expertise. In this case, you should not try to bluff or make up an answer that might be inaccurate or misleading. Instead, you should be honest and humble and admit that you don't know the answer or that you need more information or time to research it. You can also try to redirect the question to a related topic that you are more familiar with or ask for clarification or feedback from the questioner. This will show your integrity, curiosity, and willingness to learn.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?