BB IB O&G Senior Associate Cheats on Modelling Tests…Didn’t even bother to delete search history
You might be saying “A senior associate at an O&G IB? They must be stellar at modeling!” or “even if they did cheat, at least they’d be smart enough to hide it.” Well, a tragedy happened that not only besmirched the reputation that so many associates/senior associates respectfully hold here in Houston but also beckons the great question: Do associates actually model like pros or is it all BS while the 2nd year analysts runs the show?
A simple, small firm. One that I have absolutely enjoyed working at. Not well-regarded like the Quantum/SSP/
Tailwater’s but a role that allows me to maximize my strengths while actually pulling comps similar to an An2.
Okay…enough romanticizing… I’ll cut right to it. We have been interviewing for a VP role
And had selected about 2 candidates from the same IB in Houston. After first round screening, we made the passive decision to give each candidate a modelling test that a previous intern had to pass to get the summer gig. Your basic IRR’s, index match, pivot table, goal seek and sensitivity table. First candidate does just okay, which is honestly unimpressive IMO given his CV. Whatever, it’s a VP role right?
Next guy. Undergrad and two masters, worked at a couple wells known IB’s in Houston, long list of deals on his resume. This guys is going to run through this test like it’s nothing, right? Well…yeah…
Browser history time stamped at during his modeling interview:
“How to use Vlookup in excel”
“How to use XIRR in excel”
“Can you use sensitivity tables in excel with one variable”
Easy decision. Quick phone call to tell him he was caught, “thanks for coming in”.
I won’t dive into the great question I posed earlier about IB associates, because I’d like for y’all to chime in. But I still have faith that most O&G IB associates are rockstars at modelling, but this was a terrible look.
Who cares. Was the output good?
Err - I guess the hiring firm cares?
This is not an entry-level gig where you can chalk things up to people having 0/low deal reps.
Why does it matter whether he remembers excel functions? Shouldn't you focus on the quality of his analysis in the end?
I'd say knowing how to google and find out what you're looking for to complete an analysis is a good skill in itself.
He probably didn't bother deleting because it's weird to consider looking up how to goal seek on google "cheating". Different story if he had looked up "what is WACC"
There are so many things in your posts are just cringy. If you consider googling cheating and dont like it, dont offer an environment / laptop for the test with internet access or state clear of it in your instructions in the first place?
Assuming the quality of the output is good, and this was a timed test, I would say it is actually a plus to the candidate because he/she is resourceful enough to complete a task they did not necessarily know fully in time to deliver good products.
Also you mentioned the candidate is a Senior Associate, who is not supposed to be swimming in Excel and drafting formulas on a daily basis, he should know the methodology which he did but not necessarily all the details. I don't see how being able to memorize how an input works after the 4th comma in an Excel formula is something valuable?
Being resourceful, ability to think on the fly, efficient are skills that will lead to success in finance, being an Excel monkey is not, and the Excel skillsets that you pick up in banking are not even that impressive anyway.
I am glad the candidate dodged a bullet and doesn't have to work in a cringe environment.
If you expect me to remember how to do that stuff off the top of my head as a 3rd yr ASO you're high lmao
Quantum/Tailwater? Lol
You're more jammed up on the fact that they googled XIRR than the quality of the output? That's pretty cringe man, sorry. Get a life.
Sounds kinda dumb. The reality of the job is you can use Google to refresh yourself on excel functions. Why memorize each from scratch when it's that easy?
I wouldn't even consider this cheating. Just using his resources like any normal banker would do.
How did this OP get 4 SBs?
In quite literally every model test I've ever done, I was told explicitly not to open a web browser or any other tab other than my excel. So yeah can see why this is an auto-ding by OP, not sure why everyone is calling this guy "resourceful"
OP thinks they look badass posting this and turns out they were not in fact badass and just a dork. Classic.
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