How to Act with Senior Employees?

Being a junior employee, how should one act with senior employees? I think there should be a balance: you have to lick their asses, but not to the point of losing respect from fellow co-workers and becoming the banks' bitch. How do/did you approach this?

 

Let him steer the conversation, as he probably will.

Make sure you have a few talking points about why you're interested, what you have to offer, and why that firm prepared - but don't whip it out unless you are asked or if you have the conversation and you haven't brought up anything substantive about yourself.

I would try to keep it pretty easy going and be as personable and likable as possible. If you do that well, the MD may be willing to pull strings for you inside the firm. At the very least he should be able to provide some insight on what you can do, if you follow up via email or phone after the convo.

 
Best Response

MDs are busy - assume he'll have 30 minutes for you MAX. And they don't always steer the conversation. Start off by telling him honestly (and briefly) about your difficult situation, and then ask him to tell you about how he got to where he is today. Don't let him go on forever either - if you want him to pull strings for you, ask for help before he suddenly looks at his watch, gets up and says he has to rush to his next meeting. Know what message you want to get across before you go and bring a resume+references with you in a presentation folder to give him when he asks - he'll be more inclined to push you through to HR if he doesn't need to download it via an email.

I got to superday at GS only because I cold-emailed an MD and asked to meet him at 8am for coffee for 20 minutes. He may have known that I wanted an interview, but he wouldn't have mentioned it if I didn't tell him about my situation, found a way to relate to him in my conversation and asked him to fit me into the interview process. He wasn't the friendliest guy in the world, but he was willing to help me because I tried to be honest, direct and likeable. Sometimes no matter what you do, you just won't get through, so don't blame yourself if nothing materializes from it. Good luck!

 

Let them do most of the talking. Don't try to impress them with your "knowledge" because you probably don't know anything. Humility/passion for learning will set you apart from many. Ask about background, experience at different firms, if it's a small place ask about positives/negatives of that (same thing for big place), I've usually talked about family if it's a chill family guy, how the firm is impacted by current market conditions. Broad questions to get them talking. Be a good listener and try to learn something.

 

I would say no notebook. Could do a small pad that fits in jacket pocket that you could take out in the unlikely event that the discussion leads to you needing to write something down. Make sure to mention how you understand he must be busy and appreciate him taking the time to talk. Along with what was said before, I used to make sure I drew on senior people's experience. He's obviously been in IBD for a long time now and learned a lot, so ask about how he would have done things at your age knowing what he now knows. Ask about what makes his best junior people the best. Could go into more detail but a lot of this depends on your relationship to him, what your goals of the conversation are, how you got in touch with him (talk to others at the firm first or directly)

 

Don't bother with the "best position myself for your firm" crap. JoeyJ has it right, genuinely try to learn something. Sitting down with an MD is a chance to suckle at the teat of knowledge, and if you're genuinely trying to do so, they'll see it and appreciate it.

 

Best thing that can happen - he's in a FO position and you've just made a great connection. Worst thing is that he's not and you'll still have met someone who's willing to help a younger kid out and can possibly refer you to other connections. You win both ways.

speed boost blaze
 

First off, I am guessing the person you are meeting with is from Morgan Stanley. Out of the bulge bracket banks, I believe they are the only ones that use Executive Director (vs. Director, or Managing Director to mean the level below the top). That would put this person one level short of Managing Direct, which is essentially the top rank (until you hit Vice Chairman / Group Head / Firm Management status, which is way up)

Secondly, ideally you would like to know what group he is in so you have a point from which to start the conversation, but if you do not know you will be fine. Just be straightforward and say "I tried to look up what group you are in but sorry I could not find out, what group are you in?" and then just use that as a jumping off point. In reality, as long as you act personable, don't put your foot in your mouth and don't ask stupid questions (this includes anything about finance theory) then it should likely be a positive experience. It is certainly not true that any press is good press in those situations, but if you do not do anything to give a negative impression, then an alumni from your school who is meeting you for lunch will probably make sure you at least get a first round interview.

 
hojoff79:

First off, I am guessing the person you are meeting with is from Morgan Stanley. Out of the bulge bracket banks, I believe they are the only ones that use Executive Director (vs. Director, or Managing Director to mean the level below the top). That would put this person one level short of Managing Direct, which is essentially the top rank (until you hit Vice Chairman / Group Head / Firm Management status, which is way up)

Secondly, ideally you would like to know what group he is in so you have a point from which to start the conversation, but if you do not know you will be fine. Just be straightforward and say "I tried to look up what group you are in but sorry I could not find out, what group are you in?" and then just use that as a jumping off point. In reality, as long as you act personable, don't put your foot in your mouth and don't ask stupid questions (this includes anything about finance theory) then it should likely be a positive experience. It is certainly not true that any press is good press in those situations, but if you do not do anything to give a negative impression, then an alumni from your school who is meeting you for lunch will probably make sure you at least get a first round interview.

Thanks for the tips, I dont think it will be a problem, but this guy does a really good job at ensuring there is not any info on him out there. Also, it is not MS, but good guess.

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
 
LadyEva:
So if senior banker(s) in Sales Trading wants to take you out pretty late to their events with clients as a female intern should you go? I'm not talking about dinners and networking events, more like bachelor type events and maybe gentlemen clubs. Would they feel insulted if I don't go?

ROFL. If you want to get ahead, of course go. Just make sure you know what you're getting into going to a strip club with traders.

 
LadyEva:
Also, if you were the only intern invited (no other male interns or whatnot). Is this kind of weird or just normal to take females to these types of events?

Am I really missing something here? Why is there even a question about the appropriateness of this event?

 

just go out with them. it's not going to be a full bachelor party, just get drinks, have fun, and excuse yourself if they decide to go to a strip club. sounds like they want to party hard, so i'd be careful if i was you and order something light and don't go crazy with shots. going out iwth coworkers and sharing laughs is a great way to develop a very strong relationships. just make sure that they don't have any reason to gossip about your bad behavior the following day.

 

This in unbelievable. Are you a troll, or just very attractive and not too bright? The senior guys are taking YOU (a female) to a strip club, while not asking the other interns (who are males)? There are two logical explanations I can think of for this: 1) ALL the male interns must be socially akward -- which I highly doubt, or 2) bluntly put, they want to get in you

Keep wearing the short skirts and tight white blouses over black bras, and you'll make it to the top (which I've seen happen). Good luck.

 

yeah i dont see a big deal. go if you deem going to a strip club acceptable and appropriate, if not then dont. just know they are either bring you for one of two reasons. 1. want to get with you (highly probable and since they are traders they even might have a betting pool), or 2. you have been working with these individuals a lot and they are not close with other interns more so and have ALSO been working to a degree on stuff with this client.

but seriously how can you not see whats happening if its 1 or 2...your there and we are not....you seriously need some common sense if you didnt already know these things

 

how about asking the seniors whether they would like to invite other interns as well? it's pretty normal interns want to network with seniors.

btw, you posted this last month. so did you joined them or not?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.——William Shakespeare
 
Puzich:
she has disappeared - perhaps we should be concerned...

leave it to citi to take borderline underage kids to strip clubs ...

and given how many posts she has written about how to behave/what to wear/whether to go out with male colleagues in s&t... and still seem to be coming back (alive and well and posting), I wouldn't be too concerned.

i think the girl has more common sense (or at least self defense abilities) in real life than she appears through her posts.

i can be wrong.

 

Take a deep breadth and just have a conversation. Obviously, don't talk about that wild party you went to last weekend or this one chick you're sleeping with on the side, but other than that, just have a normal conversation. Ask him how he's been, maybe ask him about college basketball (if his teem did well in March), ask how he's been, ask about a recent transactions but don't try too hard, etc.

 

Most processes are organized by headhunters, but without-a-doubt a Partner has the ability to give someone an interview if he wants. Come prepared with some thoughtful questions about the firm / some recent deals he has worked on / be generally knowledgeable and make sure you express interest in the firm. The PE recruiting process starts pretty abruptly and without much warning, FYI.

"For all the tribulations in our lives, for all the troubles that remain in the world, the decline of violence is an accomplishment we can savor, and an impetus to cherish the forces of civilization and enlightenment that made it possible."
 

So when you meet, just make small talk about your trip, school, etc. I'm assuming you aren't 21, so when they ask if you'd like to order a drink, just ask for water (do not pull out your fake ID, you will probably not get a return offer even before you start). Then before you get your meal talk about their work, current deals, what the market conditions have been like this year. Talk about your own experiences and what you hope to learn. During eating time, pivot the conversation towards casual talk. Talk about school, life, what activities you are involved in and hobbies. Then when lunch is over, they will pay. You walk out, shake their hand, and tell them you will keep in touch and look forward to working with them for the summer. That is it.

 

The social intelligence of you people makes me wonder...

The guy said call him later in the summer as to "whether they're hiring." So presumably you have the office number or his direct cell phone. So, get your ass on the phone and say, "Hi I'm so and so, and we exchanged a few e-mails about 2 months ago. You asked me to call later in the summer as to whether you're hiring and I was wondering if anything has opened up".

The casualness of the call depends on what his response is to your opening statement.

 
George Washington:
The social intelligence of you people makes me wonder...

The guy said call him later in the summer as to "whether they're hiring." So presumably you have the office number or his direct cell phone. So, get your ass on the phone and say, "Hi I'm so and so, and we exchanged a few e-mails about 2 months ago. You asked me to call later in the summer as to whether you're hiring and I was wondering if anything has opened up".

The casualness of the call depends on what his response is to your opening statement.

Did you even read the OP's question? He wants to know what the likelihood of getting drilled with technicals would be...not how to call and what to say.

At any rate, OP...always be ready to answer any question. You just never know when you will have an "on the spot" opportunity to impress someone, or embarrass yourself...and with the market the way it stands right now, you can't afford to miss out on a single opportunity.

I had a situation where I didn't have any interviews scheduled in the near future, so I hadn't really brushed up on my technicals in a while. One day, I am sleeping on my couch and get a random phone call...didn't recognize the number so I didn't answer and I let it go to voice mail so I could screen the call and see what was going on. Well, I waited several minutes and never got a VM notification so I assumed they didn't leave a message, but figured I would call it back (thinking it could have been my dad).

Of course, the VM notification appeared on my phone right after the original caller answered and said they were so-and-so with xyz bank and that I was on the line with blah, blew, blee (like 3 or 4 other people) and they wanted to know if I could answer some questions. I thought about making up an excuse but felt it would (1) be a bit unprofessional and (2) be difficult to lie my way out of the phone call considering I was obviously capable of calling them back. I said sure, I had time and they started drilling me with questions. Not only was I unprepared, it was pretty nasty outside and my phone was cutting in and out, so I am tap dancing around some of their questions trying to figure out what answers they are looking for all the while my phone is going in and out of service and they are yelling "Can you hear me now"...so I am doing my best to get the answers out in a very brief manner and didn't go into any detail about anything. So between some of the questions that I couldn't really answer and the questions that I did answer, but rather briefly, I probably looked like a complete idiot.

It was a mess. Obviously the weather/cell phone reception situation was NOT helping me out by any stretch of the imagination but I ultimately was unprepared, not to mention I was groggy because I just woke up but I wasn't going to request that we set up a different time because I just got up from my nap, lol.

Cliff notes: Be prepared for a full fledged interview when you call. Good luck.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Agree with CPH. Got blindsided by what I thought was going to be a casual chat that turned into a technical interview. Learned my lesson the hard way. One of the dumbest I've every felt. Don't do that.

 

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The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 

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