How PJT Partners Interviews in 2026: Process, Sample Questions & What They Score

PJT's student page lists this as the first of its four stages. It tells candidates to research the firm and industry, attend on-campus or virtual events, take coffee chats and use alumni networks, and review PJT's expertise pages and investor presentation. The page gives no duration; timing depends on the program and region.

PJT calls this stage Application Selection. Online application through PJT careers, plus the Suited AI assessment, which PJT's page says is a required part of the application (PrepLounge describes it as included in some applications; PJT's wording is used here). Recruiters and professionals review applications and choose who to interview. PJT says it looks for well-rounded candidates with strong and interesting academic backgrounds, curiosity and industry knowledge. Application windows differ by program, for example US Summer Analyst opens in spring of the prior year, US Summer Associate opens in early fall and closes in December, and Europe and Asia Summer Analyst open in September and close in October.

Phone or video interview with an analyst or associate. Guides describe it as unusually technical for a screen. One guide says it opens on technical questions; another says to expect immediate mental math, a quick resume walkthrough and behavioral questions. Topics reported include accounting, valuation, merger math and debt ratios, and one guide says some rounds use exercises such as building a simple DCF. London and EMEA may add a recruiter screen before it. For RSSG, one guide says this is often a technical phone screen, and the same guide says acceptance into a diversity program can bypass the first round of technical screens.

One guide says only some loops include it. It is another analyst or associate conversation that mixes behavioral and technical questions, and that guide does not state its length. Another guide says there are one or two rounds of interviews culminating in a Superday. No source says which offices or groups skip it.

One guide says case studies are common at the Superday stage and that the interviewer pressure-tests assumptions live. Another says some Strategic Advisory Superdays include a case study and a markets round, while RSSG tests with in-interview exercises such as waterfalls and simple models. A third says some Superdays include a live financial test or short modeling exercise. In London a modeling case is part of the assessment center. Not every loop includes one.

Not reported in every loop; mostly from third-party guides

Interviewers range from analysts and associates up to VPs, MDs and partners. Superday AI describes the first 2-3 interviews as heavily technical with an emphasis on restructuring mechanics, strongest for restructuring-focused candidates, while M&A-focused candidates get valuation and merger mechanics. It then describes an M&A and advisory discussion and a cultural fit meeting with a senior MD or partner. PrepLounge says senior rounds lean on business judgment, deal rationale and cultural fit, and that interviewers compare notes afterward. London may run an assessment center instead, with a modeling case plus competency and technical interviews.

PJT says offers go to candidates who showed strong potential across the attributes that predict success in the role, and that it typically hires most of its full-time class from its internship programs. Timing figures are from third-party guides, not PJT, and they disagree.