Interviewed at notoriously technical firm, but was asked no technicals. Consequences?
Hey guys,
As the title says, I interviewed (for SA @ MM IBD) at a notoriously technical bank yesterday and wasn't asked any technicals. The interview was composed almost entirely of fit, resume, and industry outlook kinds of questions.
More background:
-I networked like crazy to get the interview and they commended my efforts to jump onto their radar.
-The phone interview had some accounting questions, one of which I even stumbled on, but wasn't really technical either.
-Of the multiple interviews, one MD implied that the later interviewers would grill me on technicals, but the questions just never came.
-My stats: Non-target, high GPA, multiple majors, study abroad experience, active on campus, and a very extensive IB internship in a different sector.
Do you guys think the lack of technicals is a good or bad sign? If it's any factor, I think that I did very well on the questions I was asked. I know this is the most annoying question ever, but can anyone speak to what my chances might be?
These guys are my top choice. Looking at it pessimistically, my fear is that they'll realize I never responded to the technicals, and I'll get thrown out without ever getting the chance to prove that I do, in fact, know the answers (which I do).
Insight on this situation would be greatly appreciated. I've got SBs for good responses!
this is an annoying question. I think it's a good sign. asking technicals is a way to find an excuse to get rid of people. after all, given that you will be doing the same thing everyday and will have other models and templates to refer to, it's not like any reasonably intelligent person won't pick it up. the general rule of thumb: fluid conversation is the best interview scenario.
I am always very curious as to what sort of technicals other people are asked though. do you want to post them or pm me?
Yeah you're totally fucked. She's definitely banging some other guy. You probably haven't got a chance at making an impression now - tough luck my man. Better luck next time.
Seriously - chill. You're probably fine. So you didn't get asked any technical questions. I promise that your interviewers didn't commiserate beforehand and say "let's not ask this guy any technicals, he clearly has no shot". If you think you had a good interview with all the people you talked with, you're probably in good shape. The fact of the matter is that a trained monkey with an accounting course could do this job, and the fit questions are far more important than the "technicals". So if you nailed the fit and connected with your interviewers, you're in business.
facepalm
You're fine. Saying a bank asks notoriously technical questions is really general. By that I mean the amount of technicals can definitely vary group to group. Personal experience I did superdays for two different groups in the same bank and one set of interviews was completely technical and the other was all fit. Tough to glean anything from the kinds of questions you get asked. My guess is that it being less technical is actually a good thing- they know you're smart enough from your resume and just want to see how you fit in.
In the recent years, firms have been restructuring their HR models so that the interviews are based more on fit than on technicals. Research shows that people with better fit with their respective firms perform better. In my humble opinion, one can estimate a person's intellectual ability via GPA, test scores, past experiences, etc. I do hate to say "research shows," but I do not remember which research that was. Besides, the incoming employees will be trained anyway with basic knowledge that they should know.
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