Lets say there are 2 undergraduate sophomores for BB or MM IBD.
Student 1:
Semi-target
3.9 GPA
Finance Major
Internship: AT&T Project Management
Student 2:
Semi-target
3.5 GPA
Finance Major
Internship: 2 regional boutique banks - IB internships
Which one should you choose given that they networked equally?
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I'd go with the guy and the IB internships. An ounce of work experience is worth a pound of education.
Agreed. Ceteris paribus - by which I mean that both the candidates are even more identical than identical twins in all respects - major and minor.
ArcherVice, would it be a close call? I noticed the IBD focuses heavily on GPA so the AT&T internship student would get it over student 2 if he showed strong qualitative skills and knowledge on technicals
I am by no means an expert on IB recruiting, for me, experience trumps all. You'd both still get interviews. But based on other posts I've read on this site it sounds like there may be a good advantage to the guy with a higher GPA. I'm curious to see what others say.
I'd choose the one I liked after speaking with both.
Whichever I'd like to punch in the face less.
This is the most correct answer. Most of the hiring decision will be made on (a) their personality shown in the interview performance and (b) the needs of the team.
For example, candidate #1 may be technically excellent, but not into sales. Candidate #2 may fit a sales role better. If the team needs to increase its sales type people, it would go to candidate #2.
These types of hypotheticals don't demonstrate much understanding of the considerations employers take into account when hiring.
Whoever I thought was more of a grinder after talking with both of them
Both are clearly smart enough to do the job, so I'd go to work ethic next (pending neither of them being super punchable as discussed above)
If they networked equally, they would both land interviews, and the person who performs the best get the job - no? Student 1 may spin his/her experience better, Student 2 may appear more passionate in person - there are just too many variables once you actually interview. On paper, however, its also difficult. Some teams just look at GPA, some look at experience (from what I have seen), so it becomes a luck thing.
Assuming they are both intellectual capable, the one who I think can get a long with the culture of my firm the most. If its a bro culture, definitely the bro-est of #1 or 2.
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