How Badly Am I F**cking Up?
Now that the title got your attention, let me tell you the situation.
I am a senior with a 3.85 GPA from a semi-target w/ an IB and PE internship. I am also president of two college organizations.
I have done six FT banking interviews, primarily LMM and boutiques, and only made the second round once. I have got all the technical questions right. I admit I my answers could have been a little more concise in a few cases though. I have had actual bankers review my story and why IB answers, so I am checking all the boxes. After almost every interview, I feel like I crushed it, but I do not move past the first round. I am starting to wonder what everyone else is doing that I am not? I understand getting dinged in the final round due to factors like someone else being in the same frat, family connections, etc. But I feel like I should be getting past the first round given my decent resume, technical mastery, and decent story. Are there just too many applicants for FT analyst positions at LMM and boutiques that have better resumes than me this year? A few people say I sometimes do not come off as super energetic. Could this kill me in a first round interview?
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
I'm extremely religious but this isn't helpful.
@OP I interviewed with ~20 banks, and for the first ~10 processes I didn't make it past the first round. After that I kept making it to superdays almost without fail and recently got to choose between 2 top offers.
It's likely small intangibles that are getting you dinged. Yes, you need to be energetic and show them you're excited to be there/would love working there. Make it conversational and be friendly. Answer everything concisely and NAIL technicals, but MAKE SURE that above all else you're staying positive and personable. If you're doing these things then it'll start coming together.
There are also random nuances that you need to be aware of when you answer behaviorals. For example, knowing how to respond when they ask you about the worst thing in IB (I have been asked this). If you answer in a negative way then this would easily get you dinged, for example. Read the WSO guide and practice through mock interviews for tips to improve.
Sounds like you have checked all the boxes and that could very well be the problem. You could be coming off as too rehearsed, just regurgitating responses that you have practiced 100 times over. It's fairly easy to pick up on that when interviewing someone.
I admit my story sounds a little rehearsed, but I try to mix up the tone and pace. My other answers are not very rehearsed (have a story in mind that it is not memorized). Then again, the story is worth more than the other questions.
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