First round phone screen interview with HR... answers to have for sure?

I haven't had many ib interviews so I'm seeking your advice. What are some questions to expect from HR for an ib interview? This is for a specific coverage group. Any general tips on how to pass the phone screen?

 
Best Response

If it's from HR expect behavioral and fit questions. It shouldn't be technical for phone, especially from HR.

I would expect questions about "why". Why are you interested in IB, why are you interested in this firm, why this division, why this industry, etc.

To prepare obviously know about the services it offers, the history, recent deals done by the group, trends in the industry. Practice telling your story and how your experiences have led you to this group at this firm.

"There's always money in the banana stand" - George Bluth Sr.
 

Never hurts to politely follow up. If email doesn't work. Call them. Polite persistence will never hurt you. Just watch the frequency.

Might be good to reach out to anyone in your network that is already there. Say you were excited after the interview and were waiting to hear the results.

"Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money." - Mickey Bergman - Heist (2001)
 

doesn't look good on your advancement to the second round.

but it could be that you are on a waitlist, and they haven't communicated that to you until it has been finalized. chin up and goodluck.

i'm not smart enough to do everything, but dumb enough to try anything
 

They may ask a basic logic/maths screening question, like the classic "A lily pad pad in a pond doubles in size every minute. After an hour, the entire pond is covered. At what time does the lily pad cover 25% of the pond?"

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

Unfortunately I doubt I'll be able to give you as much insight as SmokeyG. Must admit that was a pretty spectacular answer haha.

Be prepared for a bunch of fit questions. HR typically isn't too technical. They just want to make sure you "check all the boxes" - if you satisfy their qualifications. Your vague comment hampers my ability to suggest questions. Are you interviewing for a product or coverage group? BB or MM or EB? Seems like you're coming from a non-IB background - what's motivating you to switch over into IB? Is the position you're interviewing for located in your city or are you going to have to travel to NY/SF?

I'm sure with enough digging you can find more specifically what your'e looking for.

 

If it's just a recruiter who works for a recruiting agency, then it will be "walk me through your resume" type of thing. He'll ask you what you are looking for, compare it to what he has etc. He's a salesman.

If it's a HR person for a BB etc. then it will be something along the lines of "send me your resume, walk me through it," and if you keep talking they'll start asking questions that you perhaps might not be ready for - not necessarily technical in nature but more job specific, need to be on your toes (so if you're tired say you need to get back to work). I usually don't field those calls past 1-2 minutes. Introduction, send over resume, then say I have to get back to work but I'd like to follow up. For me it wasn't a BB recruiter but big 4, they're after the same thing, getting experienced hires on board with their company.

Are you sure the recruiter is from the same place where you applied? If so, be ready for anything and if you're not prepared be brief but do follow up. They will understand.

 

The recruiter is from where I applied, spent part of night so far reviewing the role (little notes here on it), the firm, and the division. The call today was first contact by the BB.

"Ambition and education is first and talent is second"- T.I.
 

They'll ask you to walk through your resume in detail. "walk me through a day at XXXYYYY co. I see you have worked there for xyz period of time." Make it sound as much like the job you're applying for as possible. Don't lie, but focus on the shit they care about, not about something you find important but they might find irrelevant. "Why do you want to leave your current job..... are you able to relocate etc. etc." Could also be an HR person who saw your resume, has no power to get you the job you want, but wants you to fill his quota for hiring in some other department with dreams of doing a good job there and being transferred - bullshit. Stick to your guns. Don't be nervous, don't be desperate, be a mutha fuckin boss ...... but don't be a prick. Don't stumble your words and say a lot of "ughh, like like, ughhhh, like sort of" If you don't know what to say to a particular question - shut your mouth - think about the question - respond. Come off as human and you should find yourself with an invitation to meet with someone in person.

 

Honestly I would not expect too much from this phone call. Ask questions about recruiting and interviewing timelines, maybe ask about what they look for in potential candidates, how group placement works. Ask things like that. Having this connection, at least from my experience, if you have a solid resume will get you a first round interview. It will not get you an internship that will have to come from you interviewing abilities. It is a great start though and congratulation!

 

@ctbanker What if I am expecting several additions to my resume this coming semester (opportunities at my school which are reserved for upperclassmen, along with an internship) that won't yet be on my resume when I talk to her but I believe will significantly increase my resume strength. Should I mention them to her? Or even just put them on my resume...

 

I am guessing you are recruiting for SA? I would tell her about the opportunities you will have and your plans for the year. Also suggest to her that you will be sending her an updated resume at the end of the semester. Therefore you can have your resume in front of her right now and touch basis with her again at the end of the semester before recruiting starts.

 

Sell yourself first. Tell her why you are interested in the company and IBanking. You should already have a pitch crafted but if you don't I would recommend writing one down. Then if it goes well I would ask towards the end:

"How can I best position myself for an internship at xxxx?" "Would you be willing to put me in contact with other analysts/associates at xxxx?"

twitter: @StoicTrader1 instagram: @StoicTrader1
 

Also, articulate clearly that your goal is to earn an analyst position at xxxx, and you are willing to dedicate yourself to doing whatever it takes to get there.

twitter: @StoicTrader1 instagram: @StoicTrader1
 
KingCudi:

Also do you think I should ask her anything about the recruiting at her former bank

That would be a terrible idea.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

Congrats, one phone call with a recruiter basically means you have the job. Spend a lot of time focusing on your salary and what time of designer clothing is appropriate for the office.

 

You can demonstrate interest by mentioning a positive news item about firm you recently read.

A better way would be to treat it like a cover letter—say you’ve reached out to ABC, an alumnus from your school, and he has provided great insight into the industry and company. You can end it by saying that you are excited about the next steps in the recruitment process.

 
West Coast rainmaker:
What level is this? What type of position is it?

forgot to include, it's an Associate level position working with the investment team

the usual 2+ years level out of undergrad

am I going to get technicals?

 

I am really operating beyond the scope of my knowledge here, but I would not expect technicals more advanced than what HR could read off a sheet of paper and check the answers to.

They won't ask you to talk about some crazy model you built because the words coming out of your mouth would be meaningless to them.

As this is buyside, I would expect a lesser amount of bs "If you were a tree, what kind would you be?" type stuff you might have encountered in earlier positions. Depending on the length of the interview, I would expect normal "fit" questions like "walk me through your resume" and "why xxx firm?"

 

It's highly unlikely that they'd ask some technical stuff. As rainmaker said, it would be more the typical behavioural interview with questions like "walk me through your resume", "why PE", "why this firm", "what skills do you bring to the table", blah blah blah. Should be a cakewalk!

 
c00guy:
It's highly unlikely that they'd ask some technical stuff. As rainmaker said, it would be more the typical behavioural interview with questions like "walk me through your resume", "why PE", "why this firm", "what skills do you bring to the table", blah blah blah. Should be a cakewalk!

what are some good questions to ask? I never had a buy side interview before

 

It will probably be largely behavioral and you may glaze over the status of the markets and current events, or whatever would be relevant to the strategy of the group. Most HF's are of course less technical than PE or IB's, so you will probably want to have a couple of stock pitches ready, and an up to date view of whats going on in the world.

“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 
seabird:
It will probably be largely behavioral and you may glaze over the status of the markets and current events, or whatever would be relevant to the strategy of the group. Most HF's are of course less technical than PE or IB's, so you will probably want to have a couple of stock pitches ready, and an up to date view of whats going on in the world.
this is largely correct, I would disagree that they are less technical than IB
 

I think ir's fair to say you will get a mix of both, but the technical probably depends on what kind of fund it is. If it's just HR, I doubt they get too technical, other than checking relevant experience to see if you won't be embarrassing for him/her to recommend to speak with the investment team.

 
Omar Peters:
thanks for the comments guys. It's a merger arbitrage fund. But do HR guys really know the answers to technical questions?
Doubtful, but they will know the types of backgrounds that the others are looking for in a candidate at a minimum. You never know either, some times you get someone with a solid background, that moved to HR to have a less demanding job. Doesn't happen often, but I've seen it before.
 

HR won't ask you finance questions , because HR doesn't know much about finance. There may be some obligatory basic screening , but beyond that - I doubt anyone will ask you anything seriously technical.

 

From my experience, HR interviews cover your resume, relevant experience, and what you're looking for. Doubtful that you get asked about technicals, stock ideas, or current events because, well, it's HR. That being said, you should always be keeping up with what's going on in the world and have certain companies/industries that you follow if you're serious about landing a gig at a hedge fund IMO.

“We are buried beneath the weight of information, which is being confused with knowledge; quantity is being confused with abundance and wealth with happiness. We are monkeys with money and guns.” - Tom Waits
 
crazylikeafox:
From my experience, HR interviews cover your resume, relevant experience, and what you're looking for. Doubtful that you get asked about technicals, stock ideas, or current events because, well, it's HR. That being said, you should always be keeping up with what's going on in the world and have certain companies/industries that you follow if you're serious about landing a gig at a hedge fund IMO.

I agree. Typically with HR phone interviews they will just go through the basics...tell me about yourself, tell me a little about your experience/resume info, they'll most likely explain a little bit about the fund, and explain the position in detail and what they're looking for (pay close attention). Usually it's nothing too taxing, but it's always good to know as much as possible about the fund so do a little research and it never hurts to be up on current, relevant events.

 
KendrickLamar1144:
Today I got a call from someone in HR telling me that they were taking longer than normal deliberating so I wouldn't hear back until next week. Does anyone know what this could mean?

That you're important enough to still be under consideration and they're giving you a courtesy call so you don't freak out. Don't freak out.

 

It means your a major contender and they didn't want you to freak. It's a good sign one way or the other that they were courteous enough to call you. Sit tight- I would take it as a good read.

Like the unadjusted- only with a little bit extra.
 

If HR is being nice and keeping you in the loop you are definitely a contender. It's a night and day difference between contender or not, because HR does NOT want you to get a bad taste in your mouth about their company if the hiring manager(s) like you. It's not in their best interest to lose you due to rudeness.

 

Yes treat it as an interview. Most first round interviews are done over the phone with HR. They will probably ask you to walk them through your resume and what you know about their firm and the job. 30 minutes max, nothing to sweat about, but do some research on the firm first so you have something to talk about. Good luck

 

Actually, I'm fairly certain this is for broadline retailers/ Food & Drug... Any way to specifically prepare for this type of coverage? Any material/guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

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