Blew a Coffee Chat...
Hey monkeys. I just wanted to vent about a "coffee chat" I had recently with an Associate at a boutique firm.
Some background, I'm a recent STEM grad living in NYC and have been trying to network for a possible off-cycle hiring. I don't have any strictly relevant IB internships under my belt, so clearly have to hustle for what I want. I've had 1 interview for corporate banking that went well, but other than that I haven't gotten any bites.
Continuing the story, I reached out to the individual, who's not an alumni, and asked for a coffee chat. The first two times I proposed didn't work out but we were able to finally meet today. I got there about 10 minutes early and waited for the person to arrive. As they walked through the doors I saw my resume in their hand; I instantly knew this wasn't just an informational chat about the firm and industry. My palms got a bit sweaty and my knees felt heavy. It ended up being a full blown interview and I dropped the ball on some of the technical questions that were asked... They were generally basic technical questions, with 1 or 2 tailored to the specific industry vertical the firm is in.
I'm pissed at myself for not keeping sharp with my technicals and blowing that interaction out of the water. It's certainly a wake up call for the need to be 110% on myself for recruiting, especially off-cycle.
Also, the damn coffee shop wasn't serving so I didn't have anything to parch my dry mouth.. So much for coffee.
Any of you ever dropped the ball on an interaction?
I'm sure all of us have messed up more than a few times.
I certainly have. Just get back at it, send out more stuff today instead of re-living it.
Relax...
RELAX
Brush up on your technicals and get back on it. You can do it bud
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
Yes. Thank you. Came here to ask if on the surface, he looked calm and ready to drop bombs.
Every time you make a mistake, acknowledge it and make an effort so it does not happen again. It’s important to realize each mistake gets you closer to where you want to be.
It’s a numbers game, kind of like a funnel, continue to hustle and reach out to people and do not become discouraged.
I had one like yours. This was during "Bank Week" which MBAs will be familiar with . . its a week of networking in NYC right before the interview lists come out. Sort of a final chance to make an impression before the holidays.
It went pretty much like yours, I was expecting something more informal and instead I got some straight up technicals. I had planned on learning that shit over the holidays so I was fuzzy when asked. Gave mostly shitty answers. Still made the interview list.
Also, I was on the other end once. This interaction was even closer to yours, but I was the banker. Was contacted by a lawyer who wanted to switch to IB. I liked talking to him, so in an effort to help him I asked a few basic technicals that he bombed really badly. I was just trying to prepare him. I told him to brush up. Still pushed for him to get an interview; I wasn't able to get him in, but the point is, I didn't ding him for fucking up the technicals.
Moral of the story is don't worry about it, there's some chance it cost you but a better chance that it wasn't riding on that.
This is an incredibly stupid habit. Alternatively, learn to control your emotions.
I was really hoping this was a #metoo post.