Cowen Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 105 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
12 roles · 105 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Cowen.
Cowen
Equity Research Associate
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation
Interview formats
Technical Presentation
Went through a few rounds with the head of BD, an analyst, and an associate. Had to do a stock pitch, explain my choice of sector, and discuss any news I follow in that space. It was about average difficulty.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Could you pitch a stock within our sector?
- What are your thoughts on this sector?
- What recent news have you been following related to this industry?
Cowen
Analyst
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
The interview process included in-box technical and behavioral questions. The interviews were a positive experience, with interviewers sharing their firm experiences and reasons for choosing their group. The culture seems solid. The first round was primarily behavioral.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Could you define what a fairness opinion is, and outline the associated processes?
- What is the process for a fairness opinion?
Cowen
Investment Banking Analyst
Intern Average Positive experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Lots of networking involved, started with phone calls with associates and an MD, plus an on-campus event. Then I had a screening call with an associate, followed by an online interview with an associate and an MD. It was mostly behavioral stuff but they threw in some technical questions too.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- Can you tell me about yourself?
- Why are you interested in investment banking?
- What makes you want to work for Cowen?
Cowen
Analyst
Entry Easy Negative experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interview process involves a mix of behavioral and technical questions, with a focus on assessing your fit at Cowen. It's less technical than other interviews I've experienced, with most questions drawing from a 400-question guide. The interviews are very conversational, and the interviewers are mainly interested in getting to know you.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Tell me what you know about Cowen.
- Why do you think you'd be a good fit for Cowen?
- What's your motivation for wanting to enter IB?
Cowen Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Cowen interview reports.
“If depreciation increases by $100, what impact does this have on a three statement model?”
Read reports →“What is the meaning of a greenshoe option in the context of investment banking?”
Read reports →“How do you cut a cake into eight pieces using only 3 slices?”
Read reports →“What would it imply if a company's ROE exceeded its earnings growth rate?”
Read reports →“How would you describe the Gordon Growth Method for calculating terminal value in a DCF analysis?”
Read report →“If you had two distinct companies, what would lead one to issue debt while the other issues equity?”
Read report →“What's the most precise method for company valuation, and which system tends to overvalue or undervalue the most?”
Read report →“Can you name all three types of financial valuation models?”
Read report →“Can you explain how a reduction in depreciation affects each line item across the three main financial statements?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 105 Cowen interview reports.