Malk Partners Associate Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process began with a 30-minute first round with two senior associates, where video was not used. This was followed by a 45-minute Zoom video call. Then there was a case study round. The subsequent rounds, the 'super day', involved more case studies and interviews with no breaks. The senior associates I spoke to were nice and professional. A few times I was cut off by them (and my answers were brief already) but I'm not sure if that is because they were rushing or if they thought I was done speaking. My interview was done within 15 minutes despite them sending a 30 min meeting invite. They requested that my video be off for the first round, which I thought was strange. Overall, it was an average experience, but I wish they provided more feedback on why they weren't moving forward/what they were looking for.

So if you get offered a first round, you will get an email with an overview of the recruiting process. Fair warning - it’s pretty intense and you need to really prepare for the interviews. I’ve also done interviews at other consultancies and IBs and this process required the most mental stamina and agility by far. Believe me, though, it is all worth it!

The interview process included a few stages. First, a Zoom call without video for some behavioral and analytical ESG questions. Next, another Zoom call, this time with video, where they went a bit deeper into the behavioral and analytical ESG questions. Then, there was a take-home assignment, a due diligence assignment, which had a 48-hour deadline but realistically took about 8-12 hours to complete; it's important to be concise and back up all your points. The final round was quite intense, about 2.5 hours long, with around 7 associates in back-to-back sessions. It started with a check-in with the lead recruiter, covering behavioral questions and your strengths/weaknesses. Then, you had to explain your thought process for the DDQ response, followed by a case question, and a Q&A with the lead recruiter. For those without a business background, preparing for the case is crucial, as it assesses quick thinking and general business operations understanding, even if it felt less relevant and didn't involve quantitative analysis. This final 'super day' felt more like a tough final exam than a casual culture fit interview. Overall, the people seemed smart and hardworking, and if you don't have a business background, focus on researching ESG issues and business/invest terms to show passion, in-depth understanding, and concise communication.