So I was interviewing for a FT position in Europe at a BB last week (think GS, MS, JPM) in the investment banking division. I knew that interviews in Europe could be different from the US, but I never would have expected what happened... In the middle of the interview, the guy (an associate) started asking me about GPA:
Him: "So Glabibou, I don't see your GPA anywhere on your resume, why is that?"
Me (knowing my GPA sucks, that's why I didn't put it): "Well, I'm from a university in X [a different country in Europe], so we don't really have a GPA here, that's why I did not put it."
Him: "This is the first time I've heard something like that. Don't you have grades?"
Me: "Yes, we have grades, but there is simply no overall GPA computed from this grades"
Him: "This is unbelievable."
Me: "Well, I guess technically I do have a GPA, but it's simply not calculated by my university"
Him: "Then let's do it now"
Me: "You mean compute my GPA?"
Him: "Yes, unless you have something to hide?"
Me: "Well, you would need all my grades to do this..."
Him: "Exactly, take this paper, write them all with the corresponding subject, and compute your GPA"
Me: "Ok..."
[At this point, I try to remember EVERY grade I've had for the past 3 years and it's obviously taking a long time]
Him: "Please do not forget anything, as GPA is very important to us, here at X [name of bank]"
Me: "Sure"
Him: "Actually, it is strange already that you could go through the screening without providing a GPA"
Me: "I just put n.a. in my online application"
Him: "Obviously there was a glitch in the system"
[I don't answer]
Him: "Normally, only candidates with a GPA above the threshold make it to the interviews"
Me: "What is the threshold?"
Him: "It was changed this year when the new head of division arrived, but each interviewer has the right to refuse candidate by setting his own GPA threshold"
Me: "So what is yours?"
Him: "You mean what GPA do I need to accept candidates?"
Me: "Yes"
Him: "I need..." [long pause, he looks me dead in the eyes]
Him: "I need about tree fiddy"
> Well it was about that time that I noticed this "associate" was actually 8 stories tall and a crustacean from the Paleozoic era.
> mfw I was interviewed by the Loch Ness monster
i actually think you handled yourself well clearly this guy was being an asshole. you could have gone further to ask what his gpa was although he'd probably round it up by a bit himself
Goddamn Loch Ness monsta!
Well done
I laughed
Well played.
Well done.
Bravo, sir.
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