The text below provides a full candidate recruitment, assessment and preparation guide and practice for those applying to jobs, internships and graduate programs at Morgan Stanley.
Our website provides scientifically validated practice assessments tests, interviews and assessment centre exercises that can be used to practice and prepare for the recruitment and assessment process.
Check here for Free and Premium aptitude assessment tests and video interviews to practice and prepare for Morgan Stanley recruitment.
If you are aiming to apply to Morgan Stanley or have a Morgan Stanley assessment test coming up, our text below is the best place to start.
Not sure if you should practice to prepare for the Morgan Stanley assessments? According to research, 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude tests results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.
A recent study (Bradley et al, 2019) found that candidates who do not practise assessments, tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). This study looked at the Top 100 global employers.
In a nutshell:
How to prepare for the Morgan Stanley assessment process and tests to get the job?
Morgan Stanley uses a variety of aptitude assessment tests depending on a job role. These may include:
You may get rejected already after your aptitude tests. These tests sift out 50-80% candidates. The only scientifically proven way to get to the next round is practice.
You should practice answering questions that typically come up in interviews for banking jobs. Your answers need to flow and be timely. Avoid filler words. Your verbal communication should be convincing, filled with content that precisely answers the question asked in a succinct manner. that presents you in the best way for the job.
Prepare for your Morgan Stanley telephone interview by running mock interviews answering typical banking interview questions. For Morgan Stanley interview practice, use:
Our video interview practice platform contains predefined competency and industry questions for banking and emulates experience you will have in platforms used for employers’ interviews (Hirevue, Pymetrics, Sonru).
Always record your answers and watch them to develop your interview technique, timekeeping and words used. Repeat recordings until you feel satisfied. You may wish to create and write down a simple list of key messages for each question practiced.
Use the STAR method for your answers and practice each answer several times.
Morgan Stanley makes use of a variety of competitive exercises during their assessment center to find the right candidates. Ensure that you practice a variety of exercises including:
Hone your written and spoken communication technique. Research online, prepare and practice presentation of as many banking related business case studies as possible.
Be aware as not many get to this stage. The competition is very fierce.
Prepare for your one-on-one interview with a senior manager. Expect and practice for behavioural and competency-based questions. Aim to stand out. They have interviewed dozens or hundreds of candidates at this final stage.
Refine your technique for your final Morgan Stanley interview to showcase your:
For your final interview, use the video interview platform to practice. Record yourself answering the banking questions using the STAR method.
Continue reading to get answers to these critical questions:
Looking into assessments with Morgan Stanley, simply use your fingertips or click in the table below to practice assessments relevant to your assessment process!
Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment management and financial services company. Headquartered in Manhattan, New York, this company has offices in over 42 countries and has an employee strength of more than 60,000.
This presents not only a wealth of opportunities at whatever stage of your career you are in, but also a prestigious place of employment too! Needless to say, Morgan Stanley employs the best and so preparation for your application is vital.
So, how do we prepare for our application? First, let’s look at their mission statement and core values.
What are the Morgan Stanley Mission and Vision Statements?
Morgan Stanley’s below values and mission statement are important to understand when making a new online application as you are likely to be asked motivational questions about these in your application form. You should also refer to these in your CV/cover letter too.
You may be asked about these in your upcoming interviews too, so it’s best to know these ahead of your Morgan Stanley interviews!
Morgan Stanley Application Tip: Read the job description and webpage about the role carefully and include keywords and phrases from these in your application, CV/Resume and interview answers.
So, why should you practice to prepare for Morgan Stanley’s assessment tests?
Morgan Stanley is a top destination for graduates seeking jobs in investment banking, so you need to expect very fierce competition. There are hundreds of applications made for each available spot – so you need to prepare well and smash every stage of the recruitment process.
To simplify the process, Morgan Stanley has divided their 2023 recruitment process into five stages.
Start your Morgan Stanley online assessment preparation by watching our short video!
What is the Morgan Stanley Online Application?
The Morgan Stanley online job application is the first step of the hiring process and your first chance to set a good impression and stand out from your fierce competition on the road to get your dream career.
You can search for a keyword or go for a guided search to find and apply for available roles. To apply for a job at Morgan Stanley:
You should by no means underestimate the importance of your CV and Cover Letter. These will be used to obtain a first impression of you as a candidate, so you should use them to your benefit if you are to differentiate from the crowd.
Morgan Stanley Application Tip: For each of your experiences and skills, consider how these match the values of Morgan Stanley and requirements the job description of the role you are applying for.
For more CV and Cover Letter tips, check out our short video below:
Here is a breakdown of the 3 most common CV mistakes that you should avoid.
Before you make any application, have confidence in the line of business you are applying for. Research the roles available and be sure that this aligns with you.
What are the most common job roles at Morgan Stanley that I can apply to?
There are plenty of areas at Morgan Stanley that you can apply for! These include: Investment Banking, Global Capital Markets, Operations and many more. Below are many examples of the job fields and roles available at Morgan Stanley for you to further your career:
Check out the bottom of this page for more info on how you can apply to current Morgan Stanley opportunities!
Morgan Stanley Important tip: make sure that you meet the minimum requirements for experience and qualifications for your role. For example, many roles may require a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Our Top 5 Morgan Stanley Online Application Tips
Depending on the role, you may be required to take some online aptitude assessments. Keep reading to find out more about these!
Morgan Stanley use a variety of aptitude assessment tests in recruitment.
Your Morgan Stanley assessment tests will typically include:
What is the Morgan Stanley Numerical Reasoning Test?
In your Morgan Stanley numerical reasoning test, you will be presented with around 6 documents containing tables, charts and other types of data presentation. You will have 6 minutes to quickly analyze the information given and answer 18 questions.
Do not worry if you have not done math in a while! All you need is a quick recap of basic mathematics calculations, such as ratios, percentages and reading data off charts. Morgan Stanley’s numerical reasoning test is difficult – not because of the knowledge tested, but because of the time pressure and stress.
Morgan Stanley Assessment Pro Tip: Focus on managing your stress and time pressure. Practicing numerical tests is the only scientifically proven way to improve and score significantly better results in numerical assessment. Bradley et al, 2019 found that candidates who do not practise assessments, tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%).
If you are looking for Morgan Stanley-style numerical reasoning tests with answers, worked-solutions and professional score reports including personalised tips based on your performance – then we at GF have you covered.
Let’s try an example Morgan Stanley-style numerical reasoning test below:
Check if you got the correct answer at the bottom of the page.
Think you got it cracked? Try more example numerical reasoning questions with GF with worked solutions on our YouTube video:
What qualities does the Morgan Stanley Numerical Reasoning Test assess?
1. Your ability to interpret numerical data
2. Analytic skills
3. Your ability to draw logical conclusions
This test is not as difficult as it sounds, providing you have had some practice before. If you want to work in an investment bank, practicing and improving your math and logical skills is essential to succeed on the job.
To practice even more FREE QUESTIONS similar to Morgan Stanley online tests, sign-up with GF and take your FREE numerical reasoning test now!
What is the Morgan Stanley Verbal Reasoning Test?
The Morgan Stanley verbal reasoning test will examine your ability to accurately extract relevant information from a previously unseen passage of text. The test will involve critically analyzing up to 18 statements and deciding which of them are ‘true’, ‘false’ – or whether you ‘cannot say’ based on the information contained in the passage of text.
Verbal reasoning tests tend to be more difficult for non-native English speakers, but we recommend that everyone practice verbal reasoning test questions as much as possible, as this allows them to understand the specific ways in which texts are structured – and precisely what the questions are asking for.
Morgan Stanley Assessment Pro Tip: Always read the whole passage before attempting the question. Do not jump to conclusions about whether the statement is true or false until you have carefully examined the statement, and found sufficient evidence in the passage to support your claims.
What qualities does the Morgan Stanley Verbal Reasoning test assess?
1. Your ability to draw reasonable conclusions from written information
2. Your ability to analyze written information
In the real assessment, you will have around 20 seconds to answer questions like the following:
Got the answer? Check it out at the bottom of the page.
If you’re feeling confident, try another example verbal reasoning test question with worked solutions on our YouTube video:
If you are looking for Morgan Stanley-style verbal reasoning tests with answers, worked-solutions and professional score reports including personalised tips based on your performance – then GF has you covered.
What is the Morgan Stanley Checking Test?
In your Morgan Stanley checking test you will be presented with an array of numbers and you will be asked to compare the given numbers to another sheet of numbers very similar to yours. You will need to make 32 comparisons within 2 minutes of time allowance.
Test your skills with our example checking test question below:
Remember! You’ll only have 4 seconds to check the above numbers and decide whether they are “alike” or “different”. Be careful, as incorrect answers are negatively marked!
What qualities does the Morgan Stanley checking test assess?
The Morgan Stanley checking tests are designed to assess your ability to check written or numerical material.
These are often used in banking roles where you will have to deal with large amounts of information on a daily basis. These tests will assess your:
Morgan Stanley Assessment Pro Tip: Make sure you are in the right mindset before taking this test. Remember that the only obstacles in this test are your stress and the time limit. What you need to do is calm down, and then work quickly through the examples.
How to prepare for the Morgan Stanley checking test?
Practice. The best way to develop your ability to work under pressure without losing focus or accuracy is to become more familiar with these tests.
Keep calm and find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Ensure that you have a good connection to complete these tests.
For practice Morgan Stanley-style checking tests with answers, worked-solutions and professional score reports including personalised tips based on your performance – then GF has you covered.
What is the Morgan Stanley Logical Reasoning Test?
The Morgan Stanley’s logical reasoning test consists of 20 questions with at least 5 objects of varying shapes and spatial arrangements which follows an underlying rule. You will have 5 minutes to identify this common rule of the sequence and determine what object comes next in the sequence.
The main difficulty with Morgan Stanley logical reasoning tests is that there is no prerequisite knowledge required and there is no limit to how abstract these patterns and trends can be; both two- and three-dimensional shapes will differ in: size, arrangement, movements and colors.
However, the test is not as difficult as it seems. By having a look at Morgan Stanley’s-style logical reasoning tests, offered by GF, you will get familiar with the format and level of difficulty of the questions. A lot of patterns are repetitive and follow similar logic, so by practicing you will grow in confidence and be better-suited to take your real test.
What qualities does the Morgan Stanley Logical Reasoning test assess?
If you are looking for Morgan Stanley-style logical reasoning test with answers, worked-solutions, progress tracking and professional score reports including personalized tips based on your performance – then GF has you covered.
Have a go at an example question below!
Morgan Stanley-style Logical Reasoning Test Example
You will have ONLY around 45 seconds to notice that:
Assessment Pro Tip: Some people find it easier to cross out all the answers that do not follow the pattern you have identified, in order to find the right answer. It might also be helpful to try to follow the pattern with your fingers on the desktop, to save time drawing the diagrams on paper.
Try your best to solve this next logical reasoning test on our YouTube video!
For more FREE QUESTIONS similar to Morgan Stanley aptitude tests, sign-up with GF and take your FREE deductive reasoning test now!
If you have successfully passed the online tests stage, depending on the job position you have applied to, you will be invited to a telephone or On-demand Video interview which will last approximately 45 minutes.
This interview will be competency based (CBI) and questions will be focused around your CV and personal motivations. Review your CV and prepare examples of situations where you demonstrated the key skills and core values that Morgan Stanley will be looking for.
Discuss scenarios when you have put clients first, lead with exceptional ideas, shown commitment to diversity and inclusion, given back to communities and have done the right thing.
Think of more than one example of each of these. This can include volunteering work, valuing honesty, innovative projects, and respecting individuals and different cultures.
Morgan Stanley telephone interview tip: Find a quiet space where you will not be disturbed. Leave a note in your sight to be reminded about the acronym STAR – Situation, Task, Action and Result. Every time you answer a question, make sure to talk precisely about each of these points. Make sure there is a logical flow between situations you describe under S, T, A, R.
Morgan Stanley On-demand Video Interview
Morgan Stanley may ask you to sit for an on-demand video interview depending on the requirement of the job position you have applied to.
Now what is an On-demand Video Interview?
The Morgan Stanley on-demand video interview is a video-based interview where you are required to look at the questions pre-recorded by your interviewer and record yourself answering those questions.
Check out our short video crammed full of all the info you need to know about video interviews:
This interview is just as real as the face-to-face interview therefore, your body language, expressions, tone, appearance, etc., will be paid attention to in the same way as it is in a face-to-face interview. You will get a few seconds to prepare your answer after seeing the question.
Morgan Stanley on-demand video interview mainly consists of competency-based and behavioural questions. Think about the projects you have previously worked on – whether they are from your professional experiences, education, passions, sports or personal experiences.
To know some great tips on how to pass Morgan Stanley video interviews:
How to practice for the Morgan Stanley Video Interview?
In order to be completely prepared to face anything that comes your way in the Morgan Stanley video interview, it’s important that you practice your answers. For that matter you can record yourself or see yourself while answering a particular question.
One of them is likely to be more skills-based, and the other competency-based.
Morgan Stanley’s final interview tip: Remember it is imperative that you refer to a variety of experiences from different areas of your life (professional, personal, community, etc.) – so do not get stuck on one project you previously worked as an example in all of your answers. Your goal here is to demonstrate your ability to excel in different circumstances. Prepare a couple of examples before the interview, and draft your answers using the STAR model.
Top Tip for your Morgan Stanley interview: Prepare and write down a couple of projects or initiatives that you did exceptionally well in. The interviewer will be interested in understanding: how you approached the problem, what analysis you did, any data gathered, insights and actions taken, results achieved and what your role was.
If you reach this stage of the recruitment process, you should already be aware of the following:
Be comfortable to discuss these and refer to your skills throughout the interview.
Or, the best option for you to practice for your Morgan Stanley Video Interview is to use the GF video interview preparation tool. Here, you get to practice answering your critical competency and Banking industry questions in a video interview similar to Morgan Stanley.
Examples of Morgan Stanley interview questions you might be asked:
For even more potential Morgan Stanley interview questions that you may be asked, check out our quick YouTube video:
Our proprietary tool will help you identify questions that are likely to come up during your interview. Check out our Question Identifier Tool (QIT) within our aptitude practice tests packages.
Depending on your position and line of business, in this final stage of the Morgan Stanley’s assessment process, you might be asked to complete two assessments:
The Morgan Stanley group exercise will examine your ability to work as part of a team. Throughout this task, various employees will observe you and how you solve problems when working with others under time pressure.
Assessment Center Tip: It is important that you are confident enough to share and argue your ideas, but also be ready to contribute to somebody else’s input. Most importantly: speak clearly and never interrupt anyone!
Try to persuade others towards your ideas and also ask critical thought-provoking questions, but only do so when it feels natural. You need to appreciate that other people are just as important on the team.
For the low down on all you need to know about these group exercises, check out our video:
The second Morgan Stanley assessment center exercise you may be required to take is a presentation exercise. You will be provided with a candidate brief which will tell you what is required of you, including any relevant extra information you might need to use. You will then be given a strict time limit to review the information and prepare a presentation.
Assessment Center tip: Stand out from the competition by following some of the assessment centre tips that our Chartered Organizational Psychologists prepared to help you with your Morgan Stanley assessment center.
Quick Presentation Tips:
What is the Morgan Stanley Final Interview?
Morgan Stanley final candidate interview will typically consist of two separate interviews with:
Remember it is crucial that you refer to a variety of experiences from different areas of your life (professional, personal, community, etc.) – so do not get stuck on one project you previously worked on as an example in all of your answers.
Your goal here is to demonstrate your ability to excel in different circumstances. Prepare a couple of examples before the interview, and draft your answers using the STAR model.
Morgan Stanley’s final interview tip: Prepare and write down a couple of projects or initiatives that you did exceptionally well in. The interviewer will be interested in understanding: how you approached the problem, what analysis you did, any data gathered, insights and actions taken, results achieved and what your role was.
5 Key Areas you should be aware of in your Morgan Stanley Recruitment Process
What questions to ask in your Morgan Stanley Final Interview
Your final interview with Morgan Stanley is also your opportunity to discover more about the company, culture and the team you are likely to be working with. However, asking interesting questions in the interview is about so much more than this.
Morgan Stanley’s final interview tip: Come equipped with some thought-provoking questions for your interviewer. Stand out from the competition and demonstrate your genuine motivation and enthusiasm to work for the company.
Want to know some questions to ask in your interview? Then don’t miss our short video packed full of example questions to ask your interviewer!
Do not be afraid to ask your interviewer about their personal experiences with the company, as well as their career path! They want to see your genuine interest to work for Morgan Stanley, and not as just another ‘job seeker’. Your enthusiasm and interest may impress the interviewer and offset some of your shortcomings from the interview.
If you’ve followed all of our super useful tips and been successful, you will shortly receive an offer from Morgan Stanley for the role you’ve applied for. Congratulations!
Hold on! Before you go…
There are many graduate, apprenticeship and internship opportunities available at Morgan Stanley for students like you right now! Interested? Keep reading to find out more about the schemes ready for you to kickstart your career!
Morgan Stanley has a large variety of opportunities and events for you to discover more and develop your skills. You can find out more about the campus events and apply online to any vacancies on their website.
Below are just a few of the many, many opportunities available for you to apply to right now!
An up-to-6 month internship opportunity where you will be assisting the sales team, managing client relationships through effective communication to clients using your own research and the client’s opinions. You will also receive on-the-job training working alongside professionals in a wide variety of roles.
Key Areas
Eligibility requirements
Some opportunities may require you to finish your bachelor or masters studies within maximum 18 months after the end of the internship for you to be considered.
European Locations
Prepare for your Morgan Stanley Sales & Trading Off-cycle Internship with our practice assessments.
This 2 year program will have you collaborating across the various teams to evaluate and redevelop processes, design, develop and maintain applications and business processes, establish and maintain effective client relationships, creating and interpreting financial models and data, attend team discussions, presentations and client meetings and much more, depending on the area you will be working in.
Whether a Bachelor’s degree and graduation requirements may vary between roles and locations.
Some applications have a rolling deadline, however others will have a set deadline to apply. Check the application page of each opportunity on their website for more information.
Global Locations
Prepare for your Morgan Stanley Analyst Program with our practice assessments.
There are many US-based opportunities for you to discover and develop your skills over 10-14 weeks beginning next June.
Some of the tasks you will be exposed to include: establishing and maintaining effective client relationships, collaborating across the various client delivery teams, evaluating and re-engineering processes, designing, managing and implementing business process changes, attending team meetings, creating reports and presenting to senior management.
Your roles and responsibilities will vary by the area you’ve applied for.
You will have the opportunity to develop your skills and experience in areas such as:
To qualify for these US roles, you must be legally authorised to work in the United States, and should not require sponsorship for employment visa status.
US Locations
Prepare for your Morgan Stanley Summer Analyst Program with our practice assessments.
Practice for your Morgan Stanley assessments and interviews with GF today!
Practicing can help build accuracy and speed for these tests. Practice for your Morgan Stanley aptitude test with GF and get ahead.
Practice and prepare. Research Morgan Stanley, the role and the culture. Read through your resume and ensure you can discuss each part. Practice common interview questions that often come up in interviews for the role and answer in your own words.
You can apply for up to 9 different programs in total, with up to 3 in one recruitment year in each region (EMEA, the Americas, Asia Pacific and Japan) in 3 different cities.
Be aware that you may be asked about each area you apply to within your interviews.
The average salary for an Analyst at Morgan Stanley is around $70,600 per year in the US and £37,000 per year in the UK, with an average bonus of $14,000 and £7,000 per year respectively depending on the division.
Practice and Register with GF to get your job with Morgan Stanley first time
Do you want to pass Morgan Stanley’s assessments for the first time? Sign up for free assessment practice tests offered by GF, the only aptitude practice test experts that provide tests to over 100 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia, Australia and continental Europe.
Simply get your job for the first time by practicing with GF and select from the range of our products at no risk. We offer a 100% money back guarantee if you do not pass your job test.
Correct answers to example questions:
Numerical Reasoning Test – D
Verbal Reasoning Test – B
Logical Reasoning Test – C
