In this blog, we bring to you an insightful podcast conversation with one of our recently placed candidates, Nishant. A graduate from the Investment Banking Program, Nishant shares his journey, challenges, and the support he received from Jobaaj in securing a role at Tres Vista as a Financial Analyst. Nishant's story serves as an inspiring example of how the right guidance and support can help freshers break into the industry.

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Podcast Conversation:

Podcaster:
Hi Nishant.

Nishant:
Hello ma'am.

Podcaster:
So how are you?

Nishant:
I'm good. What about you?

Podcaster:
I'm great. So can you please give me a brief introduction about yourself, like your educational background, any work experience, or internship experience?

Nishant:
Okay, sure. So my name is Nishant, and I was born and brought up in New Delhi. I did my graduation in BBA from GYMS. Moreover, I joined an Investment Banking Program, where I learned financial modeling and investment banking. I worked on several practical projects related to financial modeling. I also completed a financial accounting and analysis course from IIM Bangalore. Additionally, I did a two-month summer internship at Planet Track Globals, where I learned a lot about MS Excel and overall Microsoft tools.

Podcaster:
Great! And in which company have you been placed, and for what role?

Nishant:
I have been placed in Tres Vista as a Financial Analyst.

Podcaster:
Okay, great. So, as you mentioned, you're a fresher. How do you feel being placed in such a reputed company and for such a great role?

Nishant:
Honestly, it feels great! I was searching for a job for about four to five months, and everyone was asking for an MBA or CFA degree, so I was confused about what path to take. I was considering whether I should give my CAT exam or just keep applying for jobs. Then I got a response from Vishakha ma'am regarding this opportunity at Tres Vista. I felt lucky to be placed here.

Podcaster:
And may I know who was connected with you from Jobaaj’s placement team?

Nishant:
Vishakha ma'am.

Podcaster:
Okay, and how many rounds were there in your interview?

Nishant:
There were three to four rounds. The first round was a technical one, where they asked aptitude questions, logical reasoning, and verbal reasoning. After that, I had a resume screening call. Then there were two interview rounds—first was technical, and the second was a mix of technical and HR questions.

Podcaster:
Okay. So, how do you feel Jobaaj helped you secure this position, and what were the main points that they helped you with?

Nishant:
First of all, I shared this platform with all my friends since they were unaware of it. They only knew about platforms like Naukri.com. I must say I had a great overall experience. Vishakha ma'am guided me throughout the journey. She was always there to support me and give me the right advice.

Podcaster:
Did she help you with interview preparation as well? How did she guide you?

Nishant:
Yes, she did. She told me exactly what things they would likely ask and how to prepare. She also kept me updated about everything from the HR team.

Podcaster:
Was she communicating between you and the company clearly and transparently?

Nishant:
Yes, ma’am. She was always clear and transparent with her communication.

Podcaster:
Great! So, as you mentioned, your friends didn’t know about Jobaaj. Would you suggest this platform to other candidates and students?

Nishant:
Definitely, ma'am. I’ll surely share it with them.

Podcaster:
And how would you rate Jobaaj’s services out of 10?

Nishant:
10, ma’am.

Podcaster:
That's great!

..............

Don’t miss the full conversation—watch the podcast now and get inspired by Nishant's journey!

 

General interview questions answered by Nishant during his selection process

Can you explain a financial model you have worked on in the past? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Sample Answer: During my investment banking program, I worked on building a financial model for a hypothetical company. The model involved projecting future revenue, analyzing historical data, and estimating financial outcomes. One challenge I faced was ensuring the accuracy of assumptions, especially in projecting market trends. I overcame this by conducting thorough market research and validating assumptions with industry benchmarks.

How do you approach financial analysis, and what tools or software do you use?

Sample Answer: My approach to financial analysis begins with understanding the company’s financial health, followed by analyzing its financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. I use tools like MS Excel, where I build financial models, and advanced Excel functions like pivot tables and macros to handle large datasets efficiently.

Can you describe a time when you had to analyze financial data and present your findings to a group? How did you ensure clarity and accuracy in your presentation?

Sample Answer: During my internship, I was asked to analyze a company’s financial performance and present the findings to senior management. I ensured clarity by organizing the data into easy-to-understand charts and graphs. I also double-checked my calculations for accuracy and rehearsed my presentation to make sure I could explain complex data simply.

How would you approach building a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for a company?

Sample Answer: To build a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model, I would start by projecting the company's free cash flows for the next 5-10 years. I would use historical financials and assumptions about revenue growth, operating margins, and capital expenditures. Next, I would calculate the terminal value using either a perpetuity growth method or an exit multiple. Once the cash flows and terminal value are established, I would discount them back to the present value using the company’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Finally, I would sum the discounted cash flows and terminal value to determine the company's enterprise value.

Can you explain what an LBO (Leveraged Buyout) model is and how you would build it?

Sample Answer: An LBO model is used to evaluate the acquisition of a company using a significant amount of debt. To build an LBO model, I would start by analyzing the target company’s financials to understand its historical performance and forecasted cash flows. Then, I would determine the appropriate debt structure based on the company’s credit profile. Next, I would forecast the interest expenses and debt repayments over the investment horizon (typically 5-7 years). I would also calculate the internal rate of return (IRR) and multiple on invested capital (MOIC) to assess the returns from the deal. Sensitivity analysis is also important to test how changes in key assumptions (e.g., exit multiples, interest rates) affect the deal’s outcomes.

How do you calculate the weighted average cost of capital (WACC), and why is it important in financial analysis?

Sample Answer: The WACC is the average rate of return a company is expected to pay to its shareholders and debt holders, weighted by the proportion of debt and equity in the company’s capital structure. To calculate WACC, I use the following formula:
WACC = (E/V * Re) + [(D/V * Rd) * (1 - Tc)]
Where:

  • E = Market value of equity

  • V = Total market value of equity and debt

  • Re = Cost of equity

  • D = Market value of debt

  • Rd = Cost of debt

  • Tc = Corporate tax rate

WACC is important because it’s used as the discount rate in DCF models to calculate the present value of future cash flows, which helps in assessing the company's valuation. A lower WACC indicates a less risky company with cheaper capital, while a higher WACC suggests a more risky company with more expensive capital.