Firm
Houlihan Lokey interview questions
Superday Room's question bank has 40 questions that candidates reported from Houlihan Lokey interviews, from recruiting for summer analyst classes of 2027. 5% of them are behavioral; the technical questions are led by restructuring and distressed m&a (14), accounting (10) and technology banking (4).
What do Houlihan Lokey interviews cover?
Restructuring and distressed M&A leads the technical questions candidates reported from Houlihan Lokey interviews (14 of 40), and 5% of all of them were behavioral. By topic:
| Topic | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restructuring and distressed M&A | 14 | 35% |
| Accounting | 10 | 25% |
| Technology banking | 4 | 10% |
| Valuation | 3 | 8% |
| DCF | 2 | 5% |
| General brain teasers | 2 | 5% |
| Behavioral | 2 | 5% |
| Other topics | 3 | 8% |
Where candidates named the round, they reported 1 from superdays, 15 from first rounds and 7 from second rounds. The rest didn't say.
What questions have candidates reported from Houlihan Lokey interviews?
Three of the 40, each labeled with the round when the candidate named it:
- Walk me through the impact on the three financial statements when a company records $10 of PIK (Payment-In-Kind) interest expense. Assume a 25% tax rate. First round · SA 2027
- What is a net working capital peg? Superday · SA 2027
- What is the difference between an operating lease and a financing lease? First round
Practice all 40 out loud in Superday Room, with an answer key for each: they're part of the Recruiting Season Pass. See Houlihan Lokey's questions in the app →
What does Houlihan Lokey ask at the superday?
Candidates reported 1 of the 40 questions from Houlihan Lokey superdays, the final round. The most common topics among them: accounting (1). What happens at a superday →
Who does Houlihan Lokey hire?
Interns, financial analysts and associates. The firm, headquartered in Los Angeles, says its “primary concern is not where our employees went to school or which subject they studied” (Houlihan Lokey, checked October 30, 2026).
When does Houlihan Lokey recruit?
Extern expects summer 2028 applications to open in November 2026, a projection from the previous cycle (Extern, as of October 9, 2026). Its sophomore Investment Banking Insight Day had an application deadline of October 19, 2026, for New York (November 10) or Chicago (December 3), according to Extern. The full 2026–27 timeline →
Most banks start with a first round, often a recorded video interview, before the superday: see HireVue interviews and what a superday is.
How should you prepare for Houlihan Lokey interviews?
Start with the topics that come up most in Houlihan Lokey's reported questions. Each link has free questions with short answers:
Superday Room isn't affiliated with Houlihan Lokey or any bank. These questions were reported by candidates after their interviews; Houlihan Lokey hasn't reviewed or confirmed them. Firm names are used only to say where questions were reported.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Houlihan Lokey ask in investment banking interviews?
- Superday Room's question bank has 40 questions that candidates reported from Houlihan Lokey interviews, from recruiting for summer analyst classes of 2027. 5% of them are behavioral; the technical questions are led by restructuring and distressed m&a (14), accounting (10) and technology banking (4).
Sources
- Superday Room, “Superday Room question bank: questions tagged by the firm and interview round candidates reported”, counted October 29, 2026.
- Houlihan Lokey, “Careers and Internships”, checked October 30, 2026.
- Extern, “Investment Banking Internships 2028: Which Banks Are Hiring and When to Apply”, updated October 9, 2026.