Interview early or later in the day?

I have a superday interview with a BB AM in a few days. They told me they are looking at 10 candidates during the superday and will make 2 offers. The only time slot that was left was the last one of the day (4:30) so I got stuck with that. Will this put me at an advantage or a disadvantage? I have relevant experience (two summers at two different boutique AM funds) and great ECs, but weak grades (3.2). My worry is they'll make up their minds on the 4 candidates before they go through me and I'll be SOL. On the other hand, I guess they could also remember me better than others as well.

 
Best Response

If it's the only slot that's left, I wouldn't worry about something I can't control. You have a shot; make the most of it.

That being said, I always liked interviewing toward the first half of the day - not the first person, but if there are ten interviewees, then maybe 3rd or 4th. If you're first, the interviewer may be just warming up (being on the other side of the table isn't always super easy either), and he/she may not be able to judge you effectively. If a couple of kids have gone before you, they'll kind of have a sense of what the standard is, and may be able to judge you better. That being said, if you kill your interview, it really won't matter whether you go first, last, or somewhere in between.

Best of luck on your interviews.

 

Well I'd say the day does not matter at all.

Times, however, do matter in my opinion. Just a few notes:

  • The first interview slot is a risky one. If you don't hit it out of the park, there will be others who do and you'll likely be forgotten. However, if you do hit it out the park, you've probably got a better shot of a second round / offer.

  • Never take the last two slots. By the end of the day the interviewer will be tired and most likely already made his or her mind up.

  • Most importantly after that, take the slot that fits your schedule the best / makes you the most comfortable. You want to perform at your best, so don't schedule an interview right before, or right after class, where you will have other things on your mind.

 

I did several rounds of back-to-back interviews this fall for undergrads and I have to say, I don't think time of day/day really affects much.

There was no correlation between the people we selected for second-rounds and the time of their interviews. Going at the end doesn't put you at a big disadvantage really... I don't say, "Ok, now I've picked my 3 people so I'm not going to listen to him/her at all." Generally I do know within a few minutes of the interview what I'm going to think, though.

If you have to pick and are very focused on this, I would go in the first available time slot.

 

having done lots of on-campus interviewing, i can tell you it really doesn't matter. in fact, you're better off asking the question of yourself. will you perform better in the morning or the afternoon? otherwise, don't worry about the day/time. just prepare for the interviews as best you can.

Author of www.IBankingFAQ.com
 

It doesn't, and shouldn't matter. They are looking for the best available candidates, and they will find that irrespective of their time slot.

I also don't agree with the poster who said the last two time slots should never be taken. I had multiple first round interviews where I was the last or second to last time slot and I got call backs in all of them, including the offer I eventually ended up taking. In one specific case, I was one of only 2 people to get called back to final rounds, out of like 20 interviews. This despite being the last time slot. And I'm sure that if I sucked, they would've only invited one.

Time slots don't matter. Its the interview that does.

 

After an info session with Deutsche, I was talking with the presenter (MD and head of something global...) and I asked so which is the ideal time slot for an on-campus interview. He said without hesitation, 10:30am .

So 10:30am, or around there I guess, is the ideal time slot. I don't know if it was me or the time slot, but I got to the next round.

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Could be because at 8AM, the person's tired and doesn't really feel like listening, and at the end of the day, the person's tired again and doesn't feel like listening....

"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-

"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
 
holymonkey:
Could be because at 8AM, the person's tired and doesn't really feel like listening, and at the end of the day, the person's tired again and doesn't feel like listening....

Objection, Speculation! (yes, I'm perfectly aware that I objected to my own comment)

"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-

"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
 

I went into an interview with a major bb. I walked in and saw the candidate before me leaving, all smiles. In the room I heard a few upbeat voices. The assistant came out to me and told me the interviewer would have to cut my interview short because they needed to be on a conference call. I knew they already made your decision.

I went into the interview going up hill. Half way through the assistant came in to end it. The interviewer blew her off, so the interview was still on. I had a chance....

In the end it didn't work out. They made an offer to the guy who went in right before me. I knew the guy they offered the job to, he told me after he nailed it.

I would get in the interview first, second slot if you can. Make them judge everyone else against you. Plus it shows you are eager to get in there and present yourself.

Just my two cents.

 

Its not that bad to be the last candidate to be interview.. It is only bad when you are the last one of the day and they have been interview for 8+ hours (in my case).. The good side of being the last one to be interviewed is that you will be the freshest in their mind..

just do a good job. connect to the interviewers.. make them remeber you..

Ling~

Ling~
 

You realize that banks don't hold superdays for 1 person... right? There will likely be at least 4 people and probably more like 12-30 people at each of the superdays. I know a BB that I have been talking to has its last superday next week at which there will be 60 candidates.

 

shit, nah i didnt know that. i had assumed it was 2 per day (since they asked me if i wanted afternoon or morning)... that piece of knowledge makes me feel a whole lot better though.

 

Not true at all re: superdays only being one person. I had one superday where it was only me and I have a superday this week that will also be only me. This was due to schedule conflicts on my end, thankfully the firms were/are working with me.

To answer the original question: I believe being the last is an absolute benefit (unless you are literally there until 5 on a Friday, which case the whole office will hate you).

Why: - Firms will NOT fill all their slots until they are done interviewing. They may fill most but they will not fill all. - Being first is a disadvantage: they don't know how to relatively rank you, therefore they cannot say you are the "best" candidate. - Being by yourself is an advantage. They are more likely to remember you.

 

Definitely sooner. I don't know of any quotas. You take good people as you find them. If things dry up before superday #2, you have the same # of candidates fighting for fewer spots.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

they get together at the end of each final round day and discuss all candidates and rank them

then do the same for the later interviewing days

usually they decide everything until the end

for example i interviewed at an east coast location, and had to wait til the team finished with west coast schools to get the final decision

if you are good it shouldnt matter... whatever makes you feel more comfortable

 

in my experience, two of the three do a form of "rolling admission"; they'll start extending offers from the first day of 2nd rounds onward, to the extent that sometimes the last day has only one slot available. Of course, they're only extending offers to the rockstars on those early days, but assuming you do well you are bettering your chances of getting an offer in general, since they're more willing to use up slots earlier.

 

Sometimes going later gives you more time to prepare, sometimes their openings close up. I've had both experiences...although if they really like you, they'll find a place for you, period.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of Starwood Points
 

there is no best time. if you're good, you're good. if you're lackluster, even if the MD just finished a manag a trois session with two brazilian models, you ain't gonna to make it.

========================================= We are excited to formally extend to you an offer to join Bank of Ameria
 
BananaStand:
I've interviewed Analysts/Associates for the past 3-4 years and I can tell you that it really doesn't matter to me.

If someone walks in first thing in the morning and is a standout, there's no question I'll remember that person. Same goes for someone coming in at the end of the day.

So, what you're saying is that the best time to interview is the first or last one?
 

Sorry, my point was that time doesn't matter. You can be first, last or somewhere in between and if you stand out, I'll remember you.

I've never had a preference as the interviewer and I don't think I've ever overlooked a good candidate because they interviewed at some specific slot in the day.

If you have choices, pick the one that will allow you to be the least stressed and most focused on the interview (i.e. don't schedule the interview for the morning if you have some deadline you're worried about in the afternoon).

 

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