Investor Relations Interview Questions (And Example Answers)

Updated 30 September 2022

Investor relations professionals are typically responsible for carefully facilitating clear communication between an organisation's corporate management team and its investors. When looking for a new position in investor relations, it can be useful to prepare yourself by researching some commonly asked interview questions. Planning answers in advance can help you to feel more prepared and confident in your delivery on the day of your interview. In this article, we explore some of the most popular investor relations interview questions, tips for structuring your response and example answers that might inspire your own.

Types of investor relations interview questions

During your interview, it's common for the interviewer to ask a wide range of investor relations interview questions to get a well-rounded view of your personality, skills and capabilities as a candidate. Typically, the interviewer begins with some general questions to open the interview and get to know more about you. Following this, they may then ask some questions related to your background and experience before moving on to more in-depth and industry-specific questions. Here are some explanations and examples of questions that the interviewer may ask you:

General questions

During the first section of your interview, the interviewer typically asks some general questions to put you at ease and get to know you a little better. Asking some general questions about your personality, ambitions and what attracted you to the position allows the interviewer to assess whether you might be a good fit for the company. People often refer to these questions as 'icebreakers' since they help to open the interview and create a relaxed dialogue between the interviewer and the candidate before naturally moving on to the job-specific questions. Some examples of general interview questions include:

Tell us about yourself.
How did you hear about this position?
What attracted you to our company?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your biggest weakness?
Why are you leaving your current position?
How would your colleagues describe you?
What are you looking for in an employer?
What are your career goals?
What qualities make you a good team player?
How do you like to spend your free time?

Experience and background questions

Interview questions that focus on your previous work experience and background allow you to describe your most relevant skills, professional background and relevant qualifications that make you a great fit for the position. These questions can help the interviewer see how you might fit into the company and whether you're a suitable candidate for the role. Interviewers might ask general questions regarding your background or focus on specific aspects of your CV and career history. Here are some examples of experience and background-related questions that might help you prepare before your interview:

What is the most meaningful work experience you've had that might help you succeed in this role?
Do you have any experience in leading a team?
What skills did you develop in your previous role that might help you in this position?
Can you share one of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career and the outcome?
What techniques do you apply when handling time-sensitive projects?
Do you prefer to work independently or as a team?
Is there anything not listed on your CV that may be relevant to this position?
What is your biggest professional achievement to date?
How do you cope when working under pressure?

In-depth questions

Once the interviewer knows more about your personality and professional background, they may ask you some in-depth questions about the specific job role you applied for. These questions are often scenario-based and allow you the opportunity to describe how you've handled specific workplace situations during your career. The interviewer may also ask how you might handle potential hypothetical scenarios if you're successful or ask questions that test your industry-specific knowledge. Here are some examples of in-depth interview questions that interviewers may ask:

Tell me about a time that you exceeded your manager's expectations in your previous role.
Describe a situation where you were unhappy with your performance and how you improved.
What is a hedge fund?
Can you describe three types of financial statements?
Tell me about a time you had a particularly heavy workload and how you handled it.
What techniques do you use when dealing with a challenging client?
Describe a successful deal you worked on with a client and the thesis behind the deal.
Tell me about a time when you needed information from a client who was slow to respond and how you handled the situation.
Describe a scenario when you persuaded someone to see your point of view.

Investor relations interview questions with example answers

Here are some examples of questions that a hiring manager may ask you during an investor relations interview and examples of how you might answer them:

1. How did you hear about this position?

This question provides a fantastic opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and show the interviewer that you're passionate about what it does. Employers use this question to assess your motivations for applying for the role. They can also learn how candidates learn about job vacancies. If you discovered the position through a mutual connection, such as a current employee of the company, it might benefit you to mention this to your interviewer. Answer to this question in a way that showcases why you're excited about the role and passionate about your career.

Example: 'I heard about this position from Meera Patel, who I worked with before she joined your company two years ago. She told me about the vacancy as she felt that I would be a great fit for the team and have the right personality to work closely with the clients this company serves. She sent me the application, and I knew she was right. When reading the job requirements, I felt I could fulfil each one. I'm a well-organised and detail-oriented person, and I am a great communicator. I would love to help lead some of your exciting upcoming projects.'

2. What skills do you consider the most valuable in an investor relations role?

Interviewers ask this question to assess whether you understand and possess the relevant industry-related skills that the job requires. This is another question employers commonly use to see how well you understand the company and what it looks for in an employee. You can prepare for this question by researching the company and highlighting the key skills listed in the job description. Describe which skill in particular you think is the most important for the job and how you could apply it to the role.

Example: 'I use many skills when managing my daily tasks, but I think one of the most valuable for this role is my excellent communication. In investor relations, team members spend a lot of time communicating with stakeholders, various members of the management team, colleagues and other company departments. Effective communication, whether written or verbal, ensures that all parties fully understand expectations and requirements clearly. Efficiency in communication allows time to complete other necessary tasks promptly.'

3. How do you ensure financial models are relevant and updated?

Many investor relations professionals enter into the role from different business functions, so interviewers often ask this question to ensure that candidates understand the role's financial requirements. The role can often be very accounting oriented, so you can use this opportunity to demonstrate your expertise in this field. As another key aspect of this role is presenting and communicating financial information to clients and colleagues, the interviewer might use this question to assess how well you can explain information in a way that's easy to understand.

Example: 'When drafting financial models, it's important to plan and determine the goal of the model and how the end user might use it. I start by outlining the key inputs, outputs and processes and create a logical structure for organising the model. I keep the models simple enough for clients to understand while ensuring that I include all necessary information and consistently format the spreadsheets. I avoid using hard values where possible and instead input using formulas to ensure the model is both reliable and transparent, regularly checking for accuracy and fully integrating cash flow statements and balance sheets.'