Getting Dinged - Fit Issues as an introvert
First post here. I'm a senior at a borderline semi-target school going through FT IB recruiting. Long story short, OCR at my school is thin, but I managed to get 2 super days with Southern MM banks. I believe I checked all the boxes in terms of technical preparation (personal study and interned at a tiny M&A boutique), networked with all of our alumni, and even was invited to visit one bank's NY office pre-interview.
The day of the super day, I was told I nailed all of the technicals, and they thought I was a good kid. I consider myself humble, motivated, and like everyone else - I want this badly. However, one interviewer mentioned "cultural differences" and that I was a bit shy.
Now, I can understand. I consider myself an extroverted introvert; I like to mostly be alone, but can definitely be gregarious with people that I like. The night before the super day, the bank hosted drinks at a bar, and I candidly had a goodtime with the analysts.
My questions is: what can I do to address possible "fit" differences with my interviewers? Throughout my interviewers, I can honestly say I consistently found connections with the bankers whether it was my interests in basketball, sports strategy, or barbecue grilling. If I get along with these analysts, but they just wouldn't want to be friends with me - is it just never meant to be?
After having what I feel are great conversations, am I just too different? What can I do if "there just isn't a fit"?
This. Too often people put way too much thought into why they were dinged. Fit is just an easy excuse to say that they chose a candidate that they liked better. It doesn't mean that you aren't qualified or didn't interview well. They just liked someone else better.
If a group has 3 slots to fill, they are likely considering 20 or so candidates at the final round. There will be 1-3 people that blow everyone away. There might be another 5-7 that could do the job and 10 that are a "no" for personality or lack of technical ability. That group of 5-7 are all about the same, and if someone in the group is willing to pull hard for one of the candidates, they will get the job. Or it could be that they just hire someone's little brother.
Story: A little perspective from my days as a young monkey. I was a solid candidate at a semi-target entering senior year in the fall of 2001. Back then a lot more recruiting spots were saved for seniors versus how things are done today as summer analyst classes were much smaller then.
That said, take a look at the NASDAQ chart from Dec '00 to Sept 30, '01, if you want to see what a fun prelude to a finance recruiting season looks like...spoiler alert - the NASDAQ lost half its value over that time span. Also, Sept 11th had just happened so there was plenty of uncertainty around who would even be hiring.
One of the top Chicago MM banks (Blair/Baird) comes that Oct. to do on-campus interviews, and I crush it. Of the 25 or so kids they interview on-campus at my school, I am the only one invited to super day so I'm feeling pretty good about life. At the pre-super day cocktail reception, it looks like they've brought about 20 kids back for the super day. I'm sure each had a similar experience from their on-campus interviews and were the best of the best at their schools, and I thought at least the top 5-10 should get offers as I eyed up my competition.
I start talking to an analyst and associate at the bank who were alumns from my school, and I knew through some mutual friends. I had been out drinking with each on more than one occasion so I felt comfortable with them and asked for the inside scoop. They said that they mostly ran on-campus interviews to keep good relations with the schools they target. They only intended to hire 1-2 people TOTAL for the next year's class. At that point my goal goes from being one of the top handful to being the top candidate.
I go in with a clear head the next day, and I nail my interviews. I thought I had a shot. But, not unexpectedly, I get a call later the next day informing me that I got dinged. I called up the associate I knew to ask for feedback, and he said I did great and was one of their top people, but they decided to hire Joe Blow from Notre Dame whose older brother already works at the bank so he had more senior level support.
The point of all of this is that sometimes it's beyond your control no matter how well you do in the interview.