You were called an idiot during an interview or while networking. Now what?
I have heard dozens of monkeys talk about their stock pitch get torn apart during an interview, or people getting ridiculed during cold calls or informational interviews.
I was interested in hearing some horror stories regarding this topic. What was your reaction when an interviewer said you were dumb (whether in those words or not)? How did you respond?
I think we can all learn from other's successes and failures in these situations as we will all face them at some point in our careers.
After a while I just got used to it.
If an interviewer called me dumb I'd tell him to fuck him/herself and leave. That's just me and my pride that will be the downfall I guess.
They're not entertaining at all. Anyway, I don't have any stories like that during interviews...There have been a few occasions when a client would call and make me feel stupid for not knowing something or being unable to completely answer their question. I'll share the one from yesterday because it's still fresh.
Client: I have a question about X. Me: Ok...So...let's say you have like $100 dollars in mortgage bonds right? Client (cuts me off): Is your senior analyst availble for a call on Monday?
haha. That same thing happened to me about some BS trigger event last week... Something to laugh about now, discouraging at the time. It was a new deal assigned to me so I didn't feel to bad at the time.
I had two different interviewers question my intelligence and analytical ability for a leadership development internship at a major finance firm. During the case brief, he pretty much said that I didn't have the "intellectual horsepower" required for the role (remind you, it's a general leadership role that people en dup running an ops division or something). The other basically tore apart all of my comments and questioned how I got into an Ivy League school.
The funny thing is that I was waitlisted for the job (out of 30 final round applicants, 1 offer and 2 waitlists went out). I must have aced the other interviews because those two went really badly.
Alum: So pitch me your stock. Me: (pitch) Alum: Ok let me be honest. That was absolute shit.
Alum: So pitch me your stock. Me: (pitch) Alum: Ok let me be honest. That was absolute shit. Me: Your sister was absolute shit.
There. Fixed that for ya.
It happens all the time. Just don't take it personally.
It just sucks because as soon as you hang up, everything comes back to you instantly. Everything that you wish you were aware of when the guy put you on the spot...I'll sit there and think "wtf, why didn't I just say that?". Then I try to patch it up by emailing them with a proper response but the moment/credibility was already lost.
I just blame the fact that I'm new and still learning the sector haha. Makes me feel better.
The correct solution is to punch the guy* in the cock, followed with:
"Who's the idiot** now?"
*Inspired by some limey punk on here who punched his PE boss in the face. **Still you, of course.
Harvard, I hope you punched that guy in the mouth.
Alum: What stock would you be long here. Me: I would be short RIM Alum: Lol, they are releasing the playbook soon...do you pay attention to companies? Me: Go ahead buy some..I'll have no problem taking your money.
To be fair, he was right. I was unprepared and missed a lot of details, which he pointed out. There was no point in doing anything irrational, so I just heard him out and tried to never make the same mistake again.
What stock did you try to pitch? How did you pitch it? haha just curious. PM me if you would rather do that. I'm still learning the nuances but I feel like I'm getting a decent handle from listening on the calls that the analysts around me get on.
if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen kids.
fuck that, just wear oven mitts
I think awkward silence is worse than any put-down an interviewer could give you.
My first interview @ a BB when I graduated I was interviewed by 2 VPs & 1 MD on the speakerphone up in NYC. The FIT went fine. Then came the technical.. they asked me a simple bond yield question and I froze. There was utter silence for 15 seconds and then finally the MD on the speaker phone (some bitch) says "Okay I think we've seen enough here. Nice meeting you Mr. X. Click."
That interview still haunts me.
I doubt anybody has gotten ridiculed at an informational interview. A reality check yes, but if someone ridiculed me when I was trying to learn more about the industry I'd tell them to go to hell.
I'd probably punch the person in the face. I'm serious. I've knocked peoples' teeth out because they wouldn't get out of my frat house's kitchen during a party. I think they'd need plastic surgery after I was done with them if they actually called me an idiot to my face. They better call security because I'm slicing off their nipples after they insult me like that.
I got schooled on my inability to calculate some incredibly complicated tax shield bullshit - was told it was embarrasing that i couldnt calculate it in my head....in the end I got the job and on my first day they told me they were just fucking with me as they'd already decided to offer me the job....
I've subsequently done the same thing in interviews...my favourite question is to ask applicants their opinion on Taiwanese monetary policy, funny as fuck watching a 24 year old IBDer stumble their way though an answer (for the record i have no idea what Taiwanese monetary policy looks like).
Never allow some ding bat ass VP, PM, MD, CIO, whatever the heck is the title disrespect you as a person. With that being said the Street is a shark tank and confidence in your self goes a long way. Coming out of college your nothing more than a guppy but please don't act like one.
If an interviewer called me dumb, I would simply get up, say thanks for your time and leave. If they dont have manners, they must have a pretty sh*t culture.
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