BULLSHIT Interview Questions
"What are your 3 greatest weaknesses?"
"What is your personal 'beta'?"
"If you were an animal, what would you be?"
"What's the riskiest thing you've ever done?"
Why do bankers ask these questions? Is it just because they're killing time and don't know what else to ask? Do these actually tell you anything valuable about the candidate?
THESE ARE FUCKING BULLSHIT
This isn't for banking, but during consulting interviews I was asked "Tell me about a time you decisively turned someone's life around". There were also questions along the lines of "Tell me about a time when you led a time and completely turned around a failing project".
Like honestly, I know that they want specificity, but goddamnit. Half the time, when I use a group project example, they'll act like it's extremely unimpressive and expect something amazing. They're literally just inviting the best bullshitters, you can't be honest in these damn interviews or you'll get fucked by someone who is making something up about them leading a team of African tribal villagers to hunt lions for food or some horseshit.
I feel like 90% of the questions I get asked during behavioral interviews require a lie, because most college students simply haven't done that much. Too bad I'm a bad liar so I don't lie, and consequently I never make it past 1st round.
Maybe they're tired of boilerplate answers and want to catch you off guard?
These are literally so easy to answer. Just think of anything and spin it to highlight traits that they would want to hear.
Ex: "My beta depends on the situation. If you were to ask me in any team/work situation, it would definitely be a 1 because I like to think of myself as consistent and reliable. If you were to ask me in any fun/casual setting, it would be anywhere from a 2-4 because I can be outgoing..(blah blah blah).."
Essentially just bullshit with a typical banker spin. Any behavioral is a matter of displaying the same exact specific characteristics they're looking for in any setting they throw at you.
What do you think insightful interview questions are?
OP - bankers ask these questions to gauge attitude, not aptitude. Yes, whether you can tell a story about your personal beta is unlikely to be reflective of your ability to do the job. Just remember that there are more than enough willing and qualified monkeys to fill all the seats in IBD across the street – this job is simply not rocket science. That being the case, as an interviewer I would be much more interested in whether a candidate has taken a moment to sit back and think about their own skillset than whether they've memorized every technical question in the 200 question M&I guide. Seriously, if you can't think of three strengths/weaknesses and some stories to back them up, or a situation in life where you've actually taken a risk and give an articulate answer, you likely lack the soft skills to succeed in this industry.
Think of this way: if these questions frustrate you and you put no effort into them because you think they are bullshit, how are you going to survive on the job when your VP blasts you at midnight asking you to add some bullshit slide/analysis that you are sure your MD is going to cut out later? Instead of bemoaning the situation/how life works (which you cant control), just deal with it and move on – goes not only for the interview but also for the job.
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