BB Sophomore Program Phone Interview, HELP!!

Yesterday I got an email from a BB regarding a sophomore internship program for IB and S&T. Turns out that even though I go to a non-target, I made the first round phone interview, which I was not expecting (had some help from a recruiter and a mentor).

On the application I said I was interested in both IB & S&T, but at one point I had to choose a top pick so I put S&T.

After speaking with someone I know at the bank, it seems that the person interviewing me is in S&T. It is scheduled for Friday so I don't have much advanced prep time. That being said, I currently work in wealth management and have a decent grasp on market events. I am also doing a mock interview tomorrow night with someone who did a sophomore S&T program at another BB last year.

Any additional advice? Since it is a phone interview I will have my laptop open with a word document that I plan to jot down a few things on. Other than that though, do S&T phone interviews tend to be more behavioral rather than technical? Either way, any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

If you don't know something, explain your thought process and maybe try to answer it. But if you really don't know something, be aware that you really don't know it. I know this sounds random, but trying to BS the S&T guys usually just doesn't end that well.

 
Best Response
Tupac:
If you don't know something, explain your thought process and maybe try to answer it. But if you really don't know something, be aware that you really don't know it. I know this sounds random, but trying to BS the S&T guys usually just doesn't end that well.

That makes a lot of sense. From what I have heard, many BB like humble people, and I am definitely not the best at BS'ing anyway. It seems like the end answer doesn't tend to matter as much as how you analyze the question and come to a conclusion. Could be completely wrong though, and would welcome any additional thoughts.

 
atc1093:
Tupac:
If you don't know something, explain your thought process and maybe try to answer it. But if you really don't know something, be aware that you really don't know it. I know this sounds random, but trying to BS the S&T guys usually just doesn't end that well.

That makes a lot of sense. From what I have heard, many BB like humble people, and I am definitely not the best at BS'ing anyway. It seems like the end answer doesn't tend to matter as much as how you analyze the question and come to a conclusion. Could be completely wrong though, and would welcome any additional thoughts.

Generally true. I mean it's obviously good to get the answer right, especially with so many people interviewing who probably do. It almost seems to be a personality thing amongst S&T people really though. In IBD you can somewhat BS around a little bit in the sense that it's more political, and it pays to be more political in IBD. In S&T, facts are facts, opinions are opinions, and you don't have time to BS because you will probably lose money if they do, so the tolerance for it, from my limited experience, seems to be quite low.

Read up on the firm and what it does, and get to know it as intimately as possible, so that you can ask good questions. In doing so, you'll have a good idea of what to expect and what they ask in their interviews, and adjust in the limited amount of time that you have accordingly.

 

I have interviews coming up with BB S&T places as well. The best piece of advice I can give you is be a personable dude, interviews are always made on behavioral questions. Even if your interview is 100% technical, the interaction between you and the interviewer is the most important part of the interview, so don't lose sight of that. That's not to say answering technicals correct isn't important, but whether they like you or not is the most crucial factor. In sum, it's seems obvious but a lot of people get lost in the forest when preparing, be yourself.

 
Judge Reinhold:
I have interviews coming up with BB S&T places as well. The best piece of advice I can give you is be a personable dude, interviews are always made on behavioral questions. Even if your interview is 100% technical, the interaction between you and the interviewer is the most important part of the interview, so don't lose sight of that. That's not to say answering technicals correct isn't important, but whether they like you or not is the most crucial factor. In sum, it's seems obvious but a lot of people get lost in the forest when preparing, be yourself.

Good advice, thanks! It seems like that is extra important over the phone since they can't see you. Any tips on small talk at the beginning/end of the call?

 

It's going to vary from person to person, so I can't give you an exact formula for success. Sometimes the interviewer makes it easy by mentioning something when you're exchanging formalities/pleasantries and you can just play off that. On the other hand, if you try to artificially create a conversation it can get awkward. Whatever your approach is, do not become long winded in any of your answers.

 

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