I am interviewing with 4 people at a consulting firm on Tuesday...it is the final round of interviews for an analyst position...what are some good questions to ask?
Questions that would really impress the consultants at the firm...
My difficulties in past interviews have been showing enthusiasm and excitement...any tips??
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Comments (47)
Ask them if you can work on cross-border transactions in China.
Ask them how they feel about occupy wall street.
Ask them why they couldn't get a job in banking.
Micahel, shouldn't you be working on a pitch book? Is this how you procrastinate, by hanging out in Consulting Forums?
Ask them what the turnover rate is like for staff and what is the main reason that people leave?
Curiosity of the turnover rate is a loser question. Ambitious people accept high turnover rates as economic efficiency and friendly competition.
What would you be doing if money weren't ever an issue...
+1 for Hooked on LEAPS for that... I always tell people that!
So what questions did you ask? sorry I didn't get to this one earlier, I could have told you more questions than they would have had time for.
Questions to ask in a final round IBD interviews (Originally Posted: 11/26/2010)
Hey guys,
I've just signed up on WSO! Here's the situation. I've successully completed the two first rounds of an IBD recruiting process and I will be meeting the head of the IBD in a one vs one final round of interview.
I've got my stuff under control, but I would like to ask you if I should orient my questions at the end towards the actual job / technical questions or should I be a bit more ... humane ... and ask questions that are more.. personal ?
For example, I was thiking of asking him of his involvment in deals through the years (from going to associate to head of IB) or weaknesses that his dept had and how he fixed them ?
Or, on a more personal basis, questions like if 1st year analysts are to be included in future year reruiting process for new undergrads, etc ?
What do you think ?
As long as you stay away from stupid questions you'll be fine... M&I has an article on this (like 90% of the questions asked on this forum) but below are some decent questions I've asked in interviews:
What is the most fulfilling part about your job? Do you enjoy managing the relationship best or the feeling you get when a deal you worked hard to execute goes through?
What are some opportunities you look forward to capitalizing on in the coming quarter?
What are some of your personal interests/hobbies?
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Etc... Etc... People love to talk about themselves and if you ask conservative q's you'll be fine.
how do you relax?
I'd stay away from the questions you were thinking of... You don't want to bring up weaknesses in his dept or whether analysts aid in recruiting because they don't convey the right message. The former risks sounding pretentious, the latter presumptuous...
I wouldn't ask a lot of those questions.
Ask questions about his career or technicals, but stay away from loaded questions like "how do you fix problems in your department." I think the 1st year analyst recruiting question is alright as long as your re-phrase it as " I really like helping and meeting people below me, is there a chance I could be apart of the recruiting process for the group."
A rule of thumb is "Only ask questions you yourself would like be asked if you were in his position"
No one likes to be asked...how are you fixing problems in your department or what are you weaknesses?
Allright, thanks a lot for your comments. So I'll try and aim my questions at his career.
What do you guys think if I ask him about the different offices that he manages and ask to talk to me about the "personalities" of the offices ?
4 Questions YOU Need To Ask in an Interview (Originally Posted: 10/11/2010)
We all know that it's tough to break into Wall Street these days. It's hard enough to even land an interview. So when you get to the interview stage, you want to do everything you can to come away from it with an offer. To that end, prospective monkeys study their little monkey asses off (hopefully using WSO's excellent library of guides) to prepare for all the tricky questions interviewers might throw at them.
What you might be missing the boat on are the questions you should be asking the interviewer. Let's face it: the majority of us have been in interviews where we knew we weren't going to get the job because something didn't feel quite right or the interviewer made it clear through body language or something they said. The last thing any of us wants to hear an interviewer say at the end of the interview is, "Good luck with your job search." But you might be surprised to learn that a simple question from you has the potential to turn the interview around and get it back on track. You really have nothing to lose by putting the interviewer on the spot if you think the interview is going sideways. It's always better to have the interviewer admit that you're not getting the job on the spot than to have him say, "We'll be in touch." Plus, a lot of banking interviewers are nerds, and it's fun to make them uncomfortable and watch them squirm when you know you're not going to get the job anyway.
The first question is the best in my opinion:
"Based upon this interview, what doubts, if any, do you have about my ability to do this job?"
That is going to require a fairly specific answer. If you're a moron and you've blown a bunch of easy questions, here is where you can expect to be told as much. Asking this question benefits you in a couple of ways. First, it gives you the opportunity to address perceived weaknesses right then and there. If you can prove that you know your shit and that you just might not have communicated that as well as you could have, you might be able to turn a no into a yes, or at least a maybe. Even if that doesn't work, though, you've still learned about a weakness you need to address in future interviews.
The other question I really love is:
"I know you must be talking to others about this position, and I may not be the lead candidate. Is there any additional background or information that I could provide to become the lead candidate?"
A question like that takes balls, and shows that you're aggressive and serious about getting the job. You're basically asking what it's going to take to get the job. You're asking the interviewer to once again point out your weaknesses so you can address them on the spot. This is smart, because you might not ever get another chance to address them with that particular firm.
One other question that I love (but that wasn't included in the Business Insider piece above) is one you only use when the interview has gone badly and you know there's no way you're getting hired. You have nothing to lose, so you might as well make the interviewer squirm. It's a bit of a dick move, but it can be pretty amusing to see how uncomfortable you can make the interviewer. After an interview has gone really badly and the interviewer tells you, "Okay, good luck. We'll be in touch.", you say:
"Fantastic. I think this interview went really well, and I'm excited to get started. On a scale of 1-10, how sure are you that I'll get the job?"
Then just smile while he does his best to bullshit you, or struggles to find a diplomatic way to tell you you've got no shot. Remember, it's always better to find out right away that you're not going to get the job. That way you can learn something and move on.
hey dick, that was only 3 questions
Easy, tough guy. If you click on the 2nd link in the post, it will take you to the 4 questions I'm referring to.
.
I wonder how many times these questions will be asked word for word during an interview over the next few weeks. If I were the interviewer and also visit this site, I would be dying not to answer the question with: "Wallstreetoasis?"
Eddie,
I am expecting part 2 in this current series, entitled "how to fear moisten broad into panty drop" tomorrow.
I 2nd this. Going through a brutal drought.
Oh, that's an easy one. You buy a boat, invite a girl to a party on it, and then she can't say no...because of the implication.
BAHAHA
I wanted to use these types of questions...but don't you run the risk of pissing someone off? (Especially in non-banking interviews, I imagine they'd be more likely offended)
The fourth one is:
"I really like this opportunity; I would like to ask for the job…"
I honestly think they will laugh at you if you say this
Not necessarily that question got me in front of the line at ML the boss found me "agressive" and he liked that. haha
Good post Ed. Sometimes you need to just throw caution to the wind and get aggressive.
If some 22 year old in an Express suit said: "I really like this opportunity; I would like to ask for the job…" Not only would I fall out of the chair laughing, I would invite other employees into the room and ask him to repeat his last sentence. A lot of analysts already have a hard time staying in their lane. Now we have to listen to the jokers who aren't even in a lane yet?! HA HA I guess in this market you should say whatever it takes to get in but be careful to not talk your way out of the door.
These really aren't great questions to ask at all and come across as canned and naive.
Think about it. If you're on a date with a girl, are you going to ask her, "well, based on me taking you to this dinner and movie, what else can I do to get you to ask me inside?" or "on a scale of 1-10, what would you say my chances are of getting to second base?"
Of course not.
You're much better off asking relevant and pressing questions about the firm, company culture, and the interviewer's work experience. If you've done your homework, these questions will put you ahead of other candidates. Don't waste your precious interview time by asking where you stand...show them where you stand.
No offense but these questions suck big time. Stay away from them and at least you won't look like a complete idiot.
The first two are fine, I use them often during interviews... the last one is kinda weird.
the fourth question is obvious, i dont know why everyone threw a hissy-fit about its non-existence... its obviously a Don Draper question. don't say anything. just stare at the person. eventually, they'll give you an answer.
To all the idiots that don't have the balls to use these questions to your advantage... Good luck!
dame it... could have use these yesterday....
questions to ask during s&t interviews (Originally Posted: 01/18/2010)
What do you guys usually ask during a sales interview? I'm interviewing with a sales associate in CS, derivative equity desk. should i ask abt culture or what?
THANKS
You should ask them if you have access to the boom boom room when you are on probation, or you need to have a perm position before they give you access.
^you are such a retard
To the OP, if you applied to the position i would assume that you were interested so questions should come easy.
I think (and I emphasize think) that a sales interview would be less focused on brainteaser/quantitative problems and heavy market related questions e.g. Can you pitch me a stock that you would go long/short on? or What do you think is happening with the markets now?. Also if you haven't done so already I would look at the vault S&T guide. I think there are some sample questions in there. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
^thanks so much nst, i was wondering what questions you would ask the interviewer. sorry i was not being clear abt my question
amande96 I am not intentionally plugging this site but I found that the WSO Fit interview guide has some really good generic questions that you can ask your interviewer.
Questions to ask in an interview? (Originally Posted: 06/01/2008)
I am interviewing at a small hedge fund soon and am trying to come up with some good questions to ask - I have a lot of basic ones already, but maybe some of you can shed some light onto good topics to bring up.
I am an undergrad Senior graduating in December, and this hedge fund focuses only on credit investments - something I do not have a lot of experience with (which is fine, they aren't expecting me to).
Any feedback would be appreciated.
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