I just been accelerated to Final Round Interviews.

I just been notified yesterday that I was selected for final round interviews. I have not gone through either first and second round interviews, but been accelerated to final rounds. Of course, this is good news, but I want to question myself if I solely got this due to heavy influence by my contacts. I want them to take me as a serious candidate and not because for the sake my contact's recommendation or simply because they "feel bad" for me. I'm not sure if I'm explaining my thoughts correctly, but what do you guys think?

Another question could be.. would this company spend time/resources/money to fly me down for final round interviews if I were not qualified? I haven't received my interview times yet but I'm pretty sure final rounds will consist of multiple interviews that consume significant time on their side as well. As you can see I tend to over analyze situations a lot.

9 Comments
 

why did you make contacts if you were worried about this? why did you put their name on your application? move on, don't look back.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Same thing has happened to me before. It usually is because a contact pushed you through, but many of my friends in similar situations have been dinged in the final round. Don't take the interview for granted (I suspect this is what your question really is anyway. If it's as Oreos described, I agree with him completely.)

 

It sounds like you are complaining about something really positive. Of course they'll take you seriously if they are flying you down and interviewing you, and they obviously they think you are qualified. Your contacts think highly of you to put their reputation on the line; since they are vouching that you 1) are who you say you are(qualified skills, ability to learn) and 2) that you will be a good "fit" into the company and group you will be working with. Make sure the company is a good fit for you and to of course crush the interview.

Fear is the greatest motivator. Motivation is what it takes to find profit.
 
Best Response

You are getting accelerated solely because of your contacts but that's the point of going through the effort of networking. Don't give a shit about the cost. Banks spend millions of dollars on a lot of useless shit and they could not give one single solitary fuck about whether or not they are wasting their money flying you up here. They have budget allocated for T&E tied to recruiting and you're just swept under that account with all the other candidates who have to travel to interview.

I wouldn't look at it as worrying about them spending money on you if you aren't qualified. If you aren't qualified, they'll find out quickly enough. Your connections will get you the interview, but unless they are such strong connections that the whole process is a formality, you will have to do the rest on your own. I wouldn't overestimate the kids you'll be interviewing against, but don't think that you're in any better shape than they are either. We fly tons of kids up all the time and the interviews are often an afterthought to everyone except you. A lot of times I won't even know we have a super day but one of the Associates can't interview because he gets tied up on diligence calls so you'll get someone like me who might have gotten very little sleep and just wants to have a laid back conversation. You also may get someone who is on the recruiting team and has cleared their whole schedule for the interviews. Either way, just know that this is just a routine thing for the guys on the other side of the table from you and that when they are finished conducting interviews they have to go back to all the work they have waiting for them. Don't worry about taking time away from them... it's part of their job and they get paid to do what they are asked to do, including interview candidates. Just show up ready to go and be enthusiastic about the opportunity. You can't control anything other than how you react to the situations you'll be put in.

 
rufioloveYou are getting accelerated solely because of your contacts but that's the point of going through the effort of networking. Don't give a shit about the cost. Banks spend millions of dollars on a lot of useless shit and they could not give one single solitary fuck about whether or not they are wasting their money flying you up here. They have budget allocated for T&E tied to recruiting and you're just swept under that account with all the other candidates who have to travel to interview.

I wouldn't look at it as worrying about them spending money on you if you aren't qualified. If you aren't qualified, they'll find out quickly enough. Your connections will get you the interview, but unless they are such strong connections that the whole process is a formality, you will have to do the rest on your own. I wouldn't overestimate the kids you'll be interviewing against, but don't think that you're in any better shape than they are either. We fly tons of kids up all the time and the interviews are often an afterthought to everyone except you. A lot of times I won't even know we have a super day but one of the Associates can't interview because he gets tied up on diligence calls so you'll get someone like me who might have gotten very little sleep and just wants to have a laid back conversation. You also may get someone who is on the recruiting team and has cleared their whole schedule for the interviews. Either way, just know that this is just a routine thing for the guys on the other side of the table from you and that when they are finished conducting interviews they have to go back to all the work they have waiting for them. Don't worry about taking time away from them... it's part of their job and they get paid to do what they are asked to do, including interview candidates. Just show up ready to go and be enthusiastic about the opportunity. You can't control anything other than how you react to the situations you'll be put in.

Hey WSO, isn't it refreshing to see a well thought out, insightful comment from a legitimate source? I agree, +1.

 

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