u/Least-Experience440

Hi any VA here who would like to outsourced some of their tasks?

Been working as a VA for 6 years now.

Just shoot me a DM

I’ve been trying to understand what really separates candidates who get through sell-side interviews from those who don’t.

A lot of the usual advice seems to focus on the technical side — accounting, valuation, DCFs, market knowledge, etc. But I’m curious how much those things actually matter compared with the candidate’s communication skills, commercial awareness, confidence, or ability to explain their thinking.

For those currently working in Investment Banking, Equity Research, Sales & Trading, Corporate Banking, or Capital Markets:

• What was the biggest factor that helped you land your first role?
• Which technical topics did you actually get tested on?
• Was there anything you prepared heavily for that turned out to be almost irrelevant?
• What’s one thing you wish you had known before your interviews?

And for anyone involved in recruiting — what's an immediate green flag or red flag you notice in candidates?

Would be particularly interested in hearing perspectives from people who made the jump from a non-traditional background into sell-side roles.

If you had to choose between the two, which would you pick?

A. Travel now, even if it means having little or no savings.
You believe experiences are worth it, and you can always earn the money back later.

B. Save first, travel later.
You'd rather build a solid financial cushion and travel when you can afford to do it comfortably.

Personally, I’m curious where people draw the line.

👉 Would you rather have more memories from travelling, or more money sitting in your savings account?

And if you've changed your mind over the years, what made you change it?

What would you choose: A or B?