Why did you apply to work for Morgan Stanley?
The hiring managers at Morgan Stanley want to know precisely why you want to work for their firm. The goal of your response is to provide a compelling answer that highlights what excites you about this specific company and the opportunity.
Before your interview, take some time to learn more about Morgan Stanley's business principles, values, mission, and goals. These statements and principles will outline what makes the company an exciting potential employer. You can also visit the news page or resources page from the firm's website to read more about what efforts Morgan Stanley's been recognized for recently or any awards the company has received.
Avoid giving a general response that fits any company. Instead, ensure that the details of your response are particular to Morgan Stanley and the opportunity.
There are many places you could work, and the hiring managers at Morgan Stanley want to know why they are the stand-out employer for you. Genuinely consider why you want to work for this organization over one of its competitors. Then, take the time to carve out a unique reason that reaches beyond the surface. A surface reason would be because you know someone who works there. A compelling reason is that the company's business principles or mission resonate deeply with you.
The average HireVue interview takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. This one-way video interview typically includes 3-5 questions. Depending on the HireVue parameters set by Morgan Stanley, the asynchronous interview platform will generally give you 30 seconds to prepare a response and up to 2 minutes to answer each question. It's important to note that HireVue stops recording as soon as your time limit is up, so it's better to run under time than overtime.
"I chose to apply to Morgan Stanley for many reasons. In addition to its positive reputation in the finance industry, I appreciate that Morgan Stanley puts efforts into closing the gender gap in the financial sector. This company's programs have trained thousands of women to upskill and pursue lucrative careers in finance. Morgan Stanley knows that empowering women makes sense for the economy and the finance industry's growth. This awareness is one of the most compelling reasons I want to become a part of this team. There will be many opportunities for me to contribute while being able to proudly say that I work for an organization that supports women in finance."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I want to work for a company whose values are aligned with my own with a consistent track record around excellence – people, systems, processes - integrity, and social responsibility.
I want to work with people I respect, who will challenge me and support me in my endeavors and growth.
I want to work on issues I care about and where I can contribute with my skill set and experience to be of value to someone or to an organization.
Morgan Stanley meets all these criteria
Marcie's Feedback
It's great that you talk about how your values align with the company's values. What kinds of issues do you care about? Can you mention a few? Also, consider briefly reiterating some of the skills and experience you have that make you a good match for the role and the company. Nice job!
Anonymous Answer
A surface reason would be that I know someone who works there. A compelling reason is that the company's business principles or mission resonate deeply with you.
I choose MS for many reasons. MS is one of the most reputable in the finance industry. Also, I appreciate MS puts efforts into closing the gender gap in FI and training thousands of women and lets them stand as a leader in FI and win lucrative careers. MS knows empowering women is crucial for the economy and the finance industry's growth. this awareness is one of the compelling reasons. As a female, I want to be part of this initiative and be one of them myself one day.
Marcie's Feedback
Awesome! Your answer is strong and any interviewer will be impressed with the reasons you give for wanting to work for the company. Mentioning your desire to be a women leader in finance is also impactful and memorable. Great job!
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