Dinged for "low energy levels"

Do a line before your next interview and tell us how it goes

Fake it

Haha I see. Will keep that in mind

Sometimes you just don't get along with certain people in a group. Whats worse is that you really only have to piss off a single person to get dinged.

You can maybe counteract your personality by just having good questions prepared that really show you're interested.

That said, banking recruiting just sucks because its so random, and if you're in your first year, you're probably at close to the worst point (just wait until you're sitting by the phone to hear if you got the offer)

One thing I didn't add is that the interviewers also kept a serious demeanour. I was pretty much just mirroring that. I guess I need to jump into character and perform regardless of the interviewers vibe. Hope I don't get dinged for being too enthusiastic. 

recruited for IB during undergrad and had roughly 3 superdays. got dinged from the first two superdays and got the offer for the 3rd superday. I think the difference between the two was my energy levels. I think I was very stiff in my first couple of superdays where I answered the question and nothing more. In the 3rd one, I was a lot more jovial and upbeat (cracked a few jokes here and there etc.) which wasn't me, since I am a big time introvert, but had to put on the extrovert suit for this interview. And I think that was the difference-maker between me getting the offer this time around. Thus, I would recommend that you lighten up a bit, even if it is just for the interview.

stop fapping, porn and workout more, your energy levels will sky-rocket

You have to increase your power level. I would recommend training under 10x Earth's gravity for a month and see how it feels

Do you naturally smile a lot when you speak? Most people don’t but it’s easy and disarming.

You will invariably walk through your resume or describe experiences. This is where you can show “passion” talk with excitement about the future and feel free to go over the top on with phrases like “what brings a twinkle to my eyes” and “the mission I care about is”.

Watch some Aaron Sorkin monologues as an added cheat code anything in the final 7 minutes of West Wing, newsroom, etc.

Jeb? Is that you?

I had the same thing and feedback happen to me a few years back during OCR. Thought I was going to get an offer after networking and doing well in the interview and that was the same feedback I got. I think in the end it was a blanket answer to say the job was given to other kids with better connections

Yep I get that too. It's very frustrating especially if you're mirroring the person you're speaking with. I'm pretty calm and collected but I still find it strange that "not enough energy" is a deal breaker. Do I need to be yelling at the person I'm speaking with? I don't really get it. 

Damn you have Low T

act “flamboyant” best advice i ever received regarding this issue. in person, lowerish energy but high interest is relatively fine because interest shows in your research, knowledge, and general interview ongoings. over zoom, energy is everything. dont stop smiling, etc. heavily recommend reading a wsj article about e-charisma (google wsj echarisma)

Zoom-specific interview advice: Make sure you're looking directly at the camera and not at yourself, don't look off to the side at all, try to be as smiley as possible, have facial reactions/nod/smile when your interviewer speaks. These all seem like obvious things but Zoom interviews are inherently awkward. Smiling constantly you will feel like an idiot but over video it makes you seem more enthusiastic.

Low energy Marty. 

Are you 100% sure this is the reason why? Is it perhaps a reason someone in HR gave you just to blow you off? 

I've done dozens of interviews for my BB (OCR, first rounds, super days, etc) and I've come across "low energy" candidates that I still recommend. I recommend them if they impress me with their answers - low energy or not, a good answer is still a good answer. So, have you asked yourself about the quality of your answers and other aspects of the interview? Is it possible that something else kept you from getting high interview marks?

This has happened to me. I noticed that I was 2/2 in interviews where I made a strong, conscious effort to be high energy and enthusiastic

I once got told I seemed “too excited” to be in the interview... kinda figured I was supposed to pretend I was excited to be there, but I guess a room full of people who are stressed out of their minds is not the right audience

take a couple shots next time, you'll lighten up

Hey Jeb,

Would try politics instead of banking.

Best

Well I mean it's IB right, many people have a very compelling story and have a natural sort of excitement when they speak or in my case a sense of borderline panic that has served me decently (in my new role, granted it's not sell-side anymore, people check my work less because I think they know I'm generally bringing up / getting riled up over mistakes others have made or our back office people have made or portcos have made, that they dont check my stuff - could be wrong).

 
My own $0.02, but especially back in banking (I'm also not laid back at work but am in personal life, cause you know, money is involved), some of the MBA associates or really anyone who described themselves as laid back I would not feel great about, because they also often were laid back about their work (oh well it's not REALLY urgent right, the meeting isnt tomorrow or anything, Ill add it to my list), there should be a general sense of urgency IMO, and when it's not there, it throws the vibe off IMO. The laid back stuff is for walking to lunch and getting dinner/drinks, I wouldnt want someone to appear laid back while working (there's a distinction). 

Not saying that is you, but would say the perfect mix is laid back when not at the desk working but very sharp/high energy/very personally invested in work, which naturally is a bit higher energy IMO. Like I'd rather work with the guy who can ramble at me for 3 mins straight about why the accounting treatment of our portco for deferred fees or something stupid like that isn't the most accurate vs someone who says ah it's all good its immaterial. 

On the sales side of IB, and IB is a sales job as someone here mentioned, when meeting bankers for bakeoffs, if the guy is too chill, or even when talking to bankers about new deals in the initial phone calls and they're just really chill / not excited / not selling, then that also throws stuff off a bit. It's like writing a laid back CIM without salesy, language and comparisons that are closer to lies than the truth

Ok Jeb

Always be amped up on caffeine the day of an interview. During best interview I ever had, I nearly had to go to the hospital for a caffeine overdose. I got the offer for a role where I was probably the 10th out of 10 chosen for a superday.

Hard to have low energy when you're about to have a heart attack lol

OP here, finally got an offer. I changed my tactic and it worked magic. Thank you so much @bodoesipo @motley_accrual @gtownquant and the 2 anonymous posters