How to prepare on your own for the technical part of finance interviews

Technical preparation is often perceived as the most demanding stage of finance interviews. M&A, private equity, markets: expectations are high and candidates must demonstrate a solid mastery of the fundamentals.

However, it is entirely possible to prepare effectively on your own, provided you adopt a structured, progressive, and disciplined approach. The difference does not lie in the quantity of content studied, but in the quality of understanding and practice.

Read more:The importance of FIT in interviews and how to prepare it

Understanding what recruiters really expect

Before starting to revise, it is essential to clearly understand what is expected. Contrary to a common belief, technical interviews are not designed to test exhaustive knowledge, but rather the ability to reason and explain clearly.

A candidate capable of walking through a simple and structured reasoning on a DCF or an LBO will often be better evaluated than a candidate reciting memorized concepts without real understanding. The priority should therefore be given to understanding the underlying mechanisms rather than memorization.

Going back to fundamentals with rigor

Solid preparation relies on mastering the basics. It is essential to fully understand the core pillars of finance: the logic of financial statements, valuation methods, and the fundamental principles of LBOs.

Many candidates make the mistake of trying to move too quickly toward complex topics. In reality, the most frequent questions focus on simple concepts but require a fluid and precise explanation.

A good method is to ensure that each concept can be explained out loud, in a clear and logical way. If an explanation feels unclear, it usually means the concept is not yet fully mastered.

Using the right resources

Access to appropriate resources is an important lever in self-preparation. Specialized platforms such as Trainy.co offer structured content designed specifically for the expectations of finance interviews.

The value of this type of support lies in its ability to provide a clear view of expected standards, while offering concrete examples of questions and reasoning.

However, it is important not to spread yourself too thin. It is better to work in depth with a few high-quality resources than to multiply sources without coherence.

Practice: the core of improvement

Real progress comes from practice. Reading notes or watching videos is not enough: you must actively train yourself to answer questions.

This training should be done under conditions close to a real interview. Answering without notes, structuring ideas quickly, and getting used to delivering complete answers are essential steps.

With repetition, answers become more fluid, more natural, and above all more convincing. Technical skills are not only about knowledge, but also about ease of expression.

Working on delivery and pedagogy

An often overlooked aspect is how you communicate. In interviews, form is just as important as content.

A strong candidate is able to explain a technical concept in a simple and pedagogical way. This requires practicing speaking out loud, structuring answers, and avoiding unnecessary jargon.

Recording yourself can be an excellent way to identify areas for improvement. The goal is to make your speech fluid, clear, and understandable.

Prioritizing logic over memorization

Recruiters aim to assess adaptability. A memorized answer may work for a standard question but quickly becomes limited when the wording changes.

On the contrary, strong understanding allows you to adapt to new or more complex questions. In finance, concepts rely on coherent logic: once this is mastered, it becomes much easier to handle variations.

This is often where the difference lies: between those who recite and those who truly understand.

A step-by-step progression

Effective preparation takes time. It is important to progress gradually, consolidating each step before moving on to the next.

Starting with the basics, then tackling standard questions, and only then moving to more complex topics helps build lasting confidence. Skipping steps usually leads to gaps that resurface during interviews.

This structured progression is essential to avoid being caught off guard.

Identifying and addressing weaknesses

Preparing alone requires honesty. Some topics will naturally be more difficult and require deeper work.

Identifying your weaknesses and dedicating time to them is essential. The temptation to avoid difficult topics is strong, but it is precisely on these points that the difference is made in interviews.

Effective preparation is not just about accumulating knowledge, but about targeted work on areas of improvement.

Conclusion

Preparing on your own for the technical part of finance interviews is entirely achievable, provided you adopt a rigorous method. The key lies in combining deep understanding, regular practice, and clarity of communication.

Tools and resources such as Trainy.co facilitate this preparation, but ultimately it is personal discipline that determines the level achieved.

In the end, successful candidates are not necessarily those who know the most, but those who are able to reason effectively, structure their thoughts, and communicate with clarity.