Morgan Stanley interview questions, and how to answer
Morgan Stanley says its interviews find out who you are, what motivates you and whether you understand its business and the job. Expect its standard questions, tell me about yourself, why our firm and why this position, and have a compelling reason for the industry, the firm and the division.
Updated
- A HireVue with the application. Its summer analyst postings count an application as complete only once the HireVue is done.
- Short answers on video. Morgan Stanley's recruiters say short, concise answers are best, and don't read from a script.
- Six common questions. Its Vice Chairwoman Carla Harris explains the subtext of each one.
- Five core values. Do the right thing, put clients first, lead with exceptional ideas, commit to diversity and inclusion, give back.
- Know one or two areas well. It doesn't expect you to know every market, only to speak with conviction about a couple.
What Morgan Stanley says it looks for
From its interview preparation page and its recruiters' advice:
Who you are and what drives you
It uses interviews to find out who you are and what motivates you, and wants the real you, not a rehearsed version.
A reason for this industry, firm and division
It asks for a compelling reason for all three, and says a passion for learning and collaboration is what sets it apart.
Knowing the business
Its history, integrated capabilities, core values and how it is organized. For banking, the firm's recent deals.
How you work through a problem
It doesn't always expect the right answer. It wants to see how you work through a scenario.
From Morgan Stanley's interview preparation page and its 10 biggest interview mistakes.
How the Morgan Stanley process runs
For student programs, from Morgan Stanley's own pages. Details change by program and region.
From application to super day
Step 1
Application and HireVue
Its 2027 Institutional Equity summer analyst posting counted an application as complete once the candidate had submitted it and done a HireVue, sent by email after applying.
Step 2
Video screening
More roles, including in its North America and Asia offices, use live or recorded video in screening. Recruiters say a good video makes an assessor want to meet you.
Step 3
Interviews
Competency, strengths based, skills based or technical, depending on the job.
Step 4
Super day
A day of several interviews. One intern on Morgan Stanley's site describes six 20-minute interviews with her team, harder and more technical than her first round.
Morgan Stanley does not publish its HireVue questions, the number of super day interviews or how it scores. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
13 Morgan Stanley interview questions
The first six are the ones Morgan Stanley's own article covers, with what its Vice Chairwoman says sits behind each. The rest are our own wording.
The six common questions6 questions
Carla Harris says each has a subtext: your personality, whether you lead and whether you'll fit.
Tell me about yourself.
Morgan Stanley's common interview questions article
What a strong answer does
Not your life story. Tell the parts that match the job's key success factors, in that order. Example answer
- “Why did you leave that out of your resume?”
- “What would your last manager add to that?”
Describe yourself in three words.
Morgan Stanley's common interview questions article
What a strong answer does
Pick words from the job description that really describe you, and have an example ready for each.
What's your biggest weakness?
Morgan Stanley's common interview questions article
What a strong answer does
A weakness that isn't key to the job, and what you are doing about it. Harris warns against saying you're a perfectionist. Example answer
Why should we hire you?
Morgan Stanley's common interview questions article
What a strong answer does
What sets you apart from the other candidates, as you would put it in a cover letter. Example answer
Describe a time you failed.
Morgan Stanley's common interview questions article
What a strong answer does
Admit it plainly, then the steps you took so it didn't happen again. It tests self-awareness and maturity. Example answer
Why are you interested in us?
Morgan Stanley's common interview questions article
What a strong answer does
Show you researched the firm and its values, and that you chose it on purpose rather than as one of many. Example answer
- “Which of our core values matters most to you, and why?”
- “What would make you choose a competitor over us?”
The division and the job3 questions
Its interviewers list not researching the job and the division as the single biggest mistake.
Why this division, and why this role rather than another one here?
What a strong answer does
Explain why this seat fits your skills and goals. Saying it's a foot in the door for another job is a mistake its interviewers name.
Tell me about a recent deal Morgan Stanley worked on. What made it interesting?
What a strong answer does
For banking roles its interviewers expect you to know recent deals. Pick one and know why the client did it.
Pick an area of the markets you follow and tell me what's happening in it.
What a strong answer does
Morgan Stanley says to choose one or two areas you can discuss with knowledge and conviction. Depth beats breadth. Example answer
Technical questions4 questions
Its interviews can be technical, and super day questions get harder. Say how you think as you go.
Walk me through how the three financial statements link together.
What a strong answer does
Start from net income and follow it through cash flow to the balance sheet, then check that it balances. Example answer
How would you value a company?
What a strong answer does
Name the main methods, when each fits and which you would trust for this kind of business. Example answer
Pitch me a stock.
What a strong answer does
For equities and investment management. One thesis, two reasons, one risk and the price where you'd change your mind. Example answer
You don't know the answer to a technical question. What do you say?
What a strong answer does
Morgan Stanley's interviewers say not to pretend. Ask them to elaborate, or offer to follow up, even in your thank-you note.
More to prepare with
Mistakes Morgan Stanley's interviewers name
Not researching the job or the division
They call it the single biggest and most common mistake.
Padding the resume
Everything on it is fair game. If you list a language, expect to prove it.
No questions for the interviewer
They always ask. Build one on something said in the interview, and avoid asking what Morgan Stanley does.
Being too casual
Even after rapport with recruiters, they are assessing how you would carry yourself in front of clients.
Reading from a script on video
Its recruiters call it the most common bad habit. Use a sticky note at eye level instead.
How to prepare for Morgan Stanley
What Morgan Stanley's own pages tell candidates to do.
Before you apply
Learn the firm
Its history, integrated capabilities, five core values, how it's organized and its senior leaders.
Before the HireVue
Rehearse on camera
Read the video tool's rules on time limits and retakes. Practice, watch it back and keep answers short.
Before interviews
Know your resume cold
Be able to explain every line without looking, and have stories from jobs, projects, classes and activities.
After each one
Send a real thank-you
Short, but more than thanks. Restate your pitch, and answer anything you couldn't in the room.
Morgan Stanley's own interview advice
On morganstanley.com and its campus job site. Read them before you practice.
Interview preparationStudents and graduates
Why it interviews, how to tell your story, what to research and the types of interview to expect.
Morgan Stanley: interview preparationCommon interview questionsCarla Harris on six questions
What the interviewer is really asking in tell me about yourself, weaknesses, failure and why us.
Morgan Stanley: common questions10 biggest interview mistakesSenior interviewers' list
From not researching the division to pretending to know an answer.
Morgan Stanley: interview mistakesTips for video interviewsRecruiters' advice
Setup, lighting, camera height, no scripts and short answers for recorded interviews.
Morgan Stanley: video interviewsSummer analyst posting2027 Institutional Equity, New York
A 10-week program with a week of training and four rotations. The application counts as complete once the HireVue is done.
Morgan Stanley: the postingSay your answers out loud, then tighten them
Soreno's AI interviewer asks the questions one at a time, follows up when an answer goes vague and scores every answer. Free for 7 days.
Questions people ask
Does Morgan Stanley use HireVue?
Yes, for student programs. Its 2027 Institutional Equity summer analyst posting said an application is complete only once you submit it and complete a HireVue, with instructions emailed after you apply.
What questions are in the Morgan Stanley HireVue?
Morgan Stanley doesn't publish them. Its recruiters say recorded video is where you show your motivation and knowledge of the markets, and that short, concise answers are best.
What does Morgan Stanley look for in an interview?
Who you are, what motivates you, whether you understand its business and the job, and what you could bring to the team. It asks for a compelling reason for the industry, the firm and the division.
What are Morgan Stanley's core values?
Do the right thing, put clients first, lead with exceptional ideas, commit to diversity and inclusion, and give back. Carla Harris advises reading up on them before you interview.
What is a Morgan Stanley super day?
A day of several interviews with the team. Morgan Stanley doesn't publish a set number. One intern on its site describes six 20-minute interviews that were harder and more technical than her first round.
Do I need to know everything about the markets?
No. Morgan Stanley says it doesn't expect candidates to understand every sphere of markets, finance and economics, but to pick one or two areas to discuss with knowledge and conviction.
What should I do if I don't know an answer?
Don't bluff. Its interviewers suggest asking them to elaborate, or saying you don't know and would like to come back to them. Answering in your thank-you note is acceptable.