University of Waterloo · Computing and Financial Management
5th year · 3.7+ GPA · 3 past internships
Hard Interview
Multiple roundsTechnicalUnexpected Questions
I pitched a toll road and we talked about traffic risk and regulatory exposure for a while. Phone screen about 20 min then in person with an associate and VP at their Toronto office. They had me walk through a DCF and pitch an infrastructure asset. The VP threw a brain teaser about estimating traffic lights in Toronto. I got the method right but not the number
Questions Asked
1.“What is ESG integration and how does it affect portfolio construction at large institutions?”
CPP Investments
Investment Analyst
Toronto, ON
Summer 2025Declined Offer
University of Toronto · Rotman Commerce
5th year · 3.7+ GPA · 3 past internships
Hard Interview
Multiple roundsSlow processPre-recordedIn-Person
Kira video first, 3 questions with barely any prep time and you only get one shot. Then in person with one of the interviewers, EV vs equity value and Sharpe ratio came up. Third round was with the team, more cultural fit but they also threw in a brain teaser at the end. Process took over a month, super frustrating because I had other deadlines
Questions Asked
1.“What is rebalancing and why do institutional investors do it?”
2.“Tell me about a sector or asset class you follow closely and why”
One interviewer asked about failing without being able to go to a supervisor, unusual framing. Phone screen first then in person with four people, 30 minutes each. Mostly fit and resume. No technical questions
Questions Asked
1.“Why did Brookfield Asset Management end up on your list?”
2.“How would you assess a company's competitive moat before investing?”
Fidelity
Investment Analyst
Toronto, ON
Summer 2026Declined Offer
University of Toronto · Economics
4th year · 3.7+ GPA · 3 past internships
Easy Interview
BehavioralVirtualFast process
Got a better offer from a pension fund that same week so ended up declining. Panel interview with the team was pretty relaxed. Covered market knowledge and why asset management
Questions Asked
1.“What factors would you look at when evaluating a corporate bond?”
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)
Investment Analyst
Montreal, QC
Summer 2026No Offer
McGill University · Commerce
4th year · 3.7+ GPA · 2 past internships
Hard Interview
Pre-recordedTechnicalMultiple roundsVirtual
VidCruiter first round then a live interview. LBO mechanics and exit multiples. Pitched a stock also
Questions Asked
1.“Explain the concept of liability-driven investing”
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)
Investment Analyst
Montreal, QC
Summer 2026Pending Outcome
HEC Montréal · Finance
3rd year · 3.7+ GPA · 1 past internship
Hard Interview
Pre-recordedTechnicalVirtual
Got matched to the fixed income team after the video screen. They wanted to know about bond duration and convexity and had me walk through a credit analysis. Waiting on next steps
Questions Asked
1.“How does a pension fund's investment mandate differ from an endowment's?”
AIMCo
Investment Analyst
Edmonton, AB
Summer 2025No Offer
University of Alberta · Finance
2nd year · 2.9-3.2 GPA · 0 past internships
Average Interview
BehavioralTechnicalMultiple roundsVirtual
I wasn't as prepared on macro as I should have been. Phone screen then a meeting with the hiring team, behavioral and conceptual questions about markets and the investment process. They asked about current events and market trends. Edmonton role, they mentioned it a few times, seemed like they were gauging whether I'd actually want to be there
Questions Asked
1.“Explain what NAV means for a closed-end private equity fund”
Oxford Properties
Investment Analyst
Montreal, QC
Summer 2026Accepted
McGill University · Commerce
3rd year · 3.7+ GPA · 2 past internships
Hard Interview
Case studyIn-PersonMultiple rounds
They emailed me a case the morning before the second round, after a standard HR screen. Had 24 hours to build a presentation on a real estate investment scenario and present it in person. Case was the whole evaluation
Questions Asked
1.“What macro factors are most relevant to Canadian institutional investors right now?”
2.“Explain the difference between a fund-of-funds and a direct investment structure.”
CPP Investments
Investment Analyst
Toronto, ON
Summer 2025No Offer
University of Toronto · Economics
4th year · 3.7+ GPA · 2 past internships
Hard Interview
Case studyMultiple roundsSlow process
Got to finals twice, no offer. First round was behavioral plus a group case. Second round was sector defense
Questions Asked
1.“Tell me about a company or investment idea you've researched and have a view on.”
2.“What is a debt-to-EBITDA ratio and what levels are typical across different sectors?”
3.“What is convexity in fixed income and why does it matter”
QuadReal Property Group
Investment Analyst
Vancouver, BC
Summer 2026No Offer
University of British Columbia · Commerce
3rd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
BehavioralMultiple roundsVirtualFast process
No case study for the intern role, surprised me. Three rounds, mostly behavioral
Questions Asked
1.“How do you stay current on capital markets and macroeconomic developments”
2.“What is a commitment pacing strategy and why does a pension fund need one”
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Investment Analyst
Toronto, ON
Fall 2025No Offer
University of Toronto · Economics
3rd year · 2.5-2.8 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
Pre-recordedBehavioralMultiple roundsVirtual
Very mission focused, barely any technical finance. Recorded video then panel
Questions Asked
1.“Explain the difference between alpha and beta in a portfolio context”
Fidelity
Investment Analyst
Toronto, ON
Summer 2026Accepted
University of Toronto · Economics
3rd year · 2.9-3.2 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
BehavioralVirtual
Pretty easy. Recruiter call then panel with manager and two team members. Market interest and stock framework questions
Questions Asked
1.“What makes Fidelity stand out to you as an employer?”
2.“How do currency movements affect an internationally diversified portfolio?”
PSP Investments
Investment Analyst
Montreal, QC
Summer 2026No Offer
McGill University · Commerce
4th year · 2.5-2.8 GPA · 2 past internships
Hard Interview
Case studyBehavioralSlow processMultiple rounds
My IRR calc was off and they caught it. Behavioral HR round then a 30 min on the spot case study about infrastructure investing. Two months and no offer.
Questions Asked
1.“Whats the difference between value investing and growth investing as philosophies?”
2.“What's the difference between absolute return and relative return mandates”
HOOPP
Investment Analyst
Toronto, ON
Winter 2026No Offer
Toronto Metropolitan University · Finance
4th year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 2 past internships
Easy Interview
Multiple roundsIn-PersonSlow process
They care about HOOPP's mission so research that beforehand. Recorded video first round, behavioral. Panel interview after, not heavily technical
Questions Asked
1.“How do you think about the trade-off between risk and return?”
British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI)
Investment Analyst
Victoria, BC
Summer 2026Accepted
University of Victoria · Commerce
3rd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 1 past internship
Easy Interview
BehavioralTechnicalVirtual
Teams interview with an supervisor, about 45 min, behavioral and light technical. Very structured, they contacted me within 2 weeks of the posting closing
Questions Asked
1.“Out of all your options, why are you most interested in British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI)”
2.“Why institutional investing versus sell-side or other finance roles?”
PSP Investments
Investment Analyst
Montreal, QC
Fall 2025Pending Outcome
University of Ottawa · Economics
3rd year · 3.3-3.6 GPA · 1 past internship
Average Interview
Case studyBehavioralVirtual
Credit case study with 30 min prep. Think it went ok. HR round before that was quick. Still waiting
Questions Asked
1.“What drew you to PSP Investments?”
2.“Explain the difference between active and passive investment management”
3.“Walk me through how you'd value a commercial real estate asset”