Interview early or later in the day?
I have a superday interview with a BB AM in a few days. They told me they are looking at 10 candidates during the superday and will make 2 offers. The only time slot that was left was the last one of the day (4:30) so I got stuck with that. Will this put me at an advantage or a disadvantage? I have relevant experience (two summers at two different boutique AM funds) and great ECs, but weak grades (3.2). My worry is they'll make up their minds on the 4 candidates before they go through me and I'll be SOL. On the other hand, I guess they could also remember me better than others as well.
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It really depends. If you're last, then they can remember you easier than they would remember someone in the middle. But they'll be tired and not be as energetic as they might otherwise be. Don't be discouraged.
Interview timing: early or late? (Originally Posted: 01/13/2011)
To those of you who have empirical evidence or have experience dealing with a stream of interviews throughout the day, do you believe it to be more advantageous to interview first, last, or somewhere in the middle? I've heard varying opinions with varying results so I'd love to hear some of you chime in on the debate!
If you stand out it won't matter when you interview.
bump...curious about this too
If it's the only slot that's left, I wouldn't worry about something I can't control. You have a shot; make the most of it.
That being said, I always liked interviewing toward the first half of the day - not the first person, but if there are ten interviewees, then maybe 3rd or 4th. If you're first, the interviewer may be just warming up (being on the other side of the table isn't always super easy either), and he/she may not be able to judge you effectively. If a couple of kids have gone before you, they'll kind of have a sense of what the standard is, and may be able to judge you better. That being said, if you kill your interview, it really won't matter whether you go first, last, or somewhere in between.
Best of luck on your interviews.
When to Interview (Originally Posted: 02/06/2009)
Hi,
I'm interviewing next week for a position and I get to choose from my interview slot. Should I be first, last, or somewhere in between? Is it best to set the bar (first) or be the freshest in their memory (last)?
Just wanted to some insight on the advantages/disadvantages of interviewing at different times.
First
I always chose first, but it's your preference. Just be sure to interview well and leave a good impression.
Typically shows that you dont beat around the bush and want to get down and dirty early and get your responsibilities out of the way.
Generally, interviews run late and they are dead tire at the end of day. Also, after seeing the ppl before you, you would really have to stand out in order to make them remeber you
Ling~
Thanks everybody. I picked the first slot.
Slot really doesn't matter. It's all about you. We'll take notes after each person, so whether you're first, right before lunch, or last, it won't matter if you are the guy for the job.
Interviews...what day? what time is best? (Originally Posted: 12/15/2007)
Just throwing this out there. Do you guys have any strategy as for time and date of interviews. For example, if you had a choice between Monday through Friday, which day would you pick? Also, what time? Do you want to be the first person to interview, the last, or somewhere in the middle? Correspondingly, do you prefer mornings or afternoons.
Just curious what everyone's preferences are and reasons for picking his/her personal interview slot.
interview towards the end of the day. if you have multiple interviews, make sure you schedule the "lesser" firms at the beginning of the day to warm-up/practice for the "better" firms
Well I'd say the day does not matter at all.
Times, however, do matter in my opinion. Just a few notes:
The first interview slot is a risky one. If you don't hit it out of the park, there will be others who do and you'll likely be forgotten. However, if you do hit it out the park, you've probably got a better shot of a second round / offer.
Never take the last two slots. By the end of the day the interviewer will be tired and most likely already made his or her mind up.
Most importantly after that, take the slot that fits your schedule the best / makes you the most comfortable. You want to perform at your best, so don't schedule an interview right before, or right after class, where you will have other things on your mind.
Some say first & last day in the beginning or at the end of day are best.
Mornings are better than afternoons, but don't take the first slot.
I did several rounds of back-to-back interviews this fall for undergrads and I have to say, I don't think time of day/day really affects much.
There was no correlation between the people we selected for second-rounds and the time of their interviews. Going at the end doesn't put you at a big disadvantage really... I don't say, "Ok, now I've picked my 3 people so I'm not going to listen to him/her at all." Generally I do know within a few minutes of the interview what I'm going to think, though.
If you have to pick and are very focused on this, I would go in the first available time slot.
having done lots of on-campus interviewing, i can tell you it really doesn't matter. in fact, you're better off asking the question of yourself. will you perform better in the morning or the afternoon? otherwise, don't worry about the day/time. just prepare for the interviews as best you can.
It doesn't, and shouldn't matter. They are looking for the best available candidates, and they will find that irrespective of their time slot.
I also don't agree with the poster who said the last two time slots should never be taken. I had multiple first round interviews where I was the last or second to last time slot and I got call backs in all of them, including the offer I eventually ended up taking. In one specific case, I was one of only 2 people to get called back to final rounds, out of like 20 interviews. This despite being the last time slot. And I'm sure that if I sucked, they would've only invited one.
Time slots don't matter. Its the interview that does.
After an info session with Deutsche, I was talking with the presenter (MD and head of something global...) and I asked so which is the ideal time slot for an on-campus interview. He said without hesitation, 10:30am .
So 10:30am, or around there I guess, is the ideal time slot. I don't know if it was me or the time slot, but I got to the next round.
Could be because at 8AM, the person's tired and doesn't really feel like listening, and at the end of the day, the person's tired again and doesn't feel like listening....
"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
Objection, Speculation! (yes, I'm perfectly aware that I objected to my own comment)
"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
10:30am, 11:00am, and 1:00pm, probably in that order.
That is to say, if I were interviewing you.
I try hard to keep the playing field level. But understanding my own style and mental shortcuts, that's how I'd stack it if I was interviewing with myself.
I went into an interview with a major bb. I walked in and saw the candidate before me leaving, all smiles. In the room I heard a few upbeat voices. The assistant came out to me and told me the interviewer would have to cut my interview short because they needed to be on a conference call. I knew they already made your decision.
I went into the interview going up hill. Half way through the assistant came in to end it. The interviewer blew her off, so the interview was still on. I had a chance....
In the end it didn't work out. They made an offer to the guy who went in right before me. I knew the guy they offered the job to, he told me after he nailed it.
I would get in the interview first, second slot if you can. Make them judge everyone else against you. Plus it shows you are eager to get in there and present yourself.
Just my two cents.
superday interview order (Originally Posted: 02/15/2008)
i have a superday in 2 weeks for a BB in NYC. when they called to schedule me for the date/time, i was given four dates to choose from, with either morning or afternoon time slots. This leads me to believe that they are inviting back 8 people for superday, and will probably hire 2-3 summer analysts.
My question is such, due to my scheduling conflicts, i had to pick the very last date and interview slot (afternoon), essentially making me the very last candidate to be interviewed. Does being the last candidate interviewed put you at any disadvantaged compared to being an earlier one? for instance, if there are 2-3 stellar standouts that get interviewed before me, do i still get an equal opportunity in their eyes or does it just become a formality because they've already made their decisions?
Its not that bad to be the last candidate to be interview.. It is only bad when you are the last one of the day and they have been interview for 8+ hours (in my case).. The good side of being the last one to be interviewed is that you will be the freshest in their mind..
just do a good job. connect to the interviewers.. make them remeber you..
Ling~
You realize that banks don't hold superdays for 1 person... right? There will likely be at least 4 people and probably more like 12-30 people at each of the superdays. I know a BB that I have been talking to has its last superday next week at which there will be 60 candidates.
shit, nah i didnt know that. i had assumed it was 2 per day (since they asked me if i wanted afternoon or morning)... that piece of knowledge makes me feel a whole lot better though.
Not true at all re: superdays only being one person. I had one superday where it was only me and I have a superday this week that will also be only me. This was due to schedule conflicts on my end, thankfully the firms were/are working with me.
To answer the original question: I believe being the last is an absolute benefit (unless you are literally there until 5 on a Friday, which case the whole office will hate you).
Why: - Firms will NOT fill all their slots until they are done interviewing. They may fill most but they will not fill all. - Being first is a disadvantage: they don't know how to relatively rank you, therefore they cannot say you are the "best" candidate. - Being by yourself is an advantage. They are more likely to remember you.
Superday: go sooner or later? (Originally Posted: 09/27/2007)
There are two options for superday weekends. Does it matter if you go sooner than later?
what firm?
Sooner, make a good impression first set the bar.
Def sooner - I very much doubt that firms set quotas for each superday - meaning that if there's enough qualified people on the first day, they'll take all (or more) their analysts from the first one. Even if this isn't the case, I can't see how going to the first day could possibly hurt.
Definitely sooner. I don't know of any quotas. You take good people as you find them. If things dry up before superday #2, you have the same # of candidates fighting for fewer spots.
Sooner the better. You set the bar.
Assuming you will receive an offer, choosing a sooner date also provides earlier leverage that can be used to secure additional offers.
Advantage to interviewing early? (Originally Posted: 02/09/2010)
For a second round MBB, if you are given the choice of interviewing a day later this week, or a week from that day, is there an advantage to doing it earlier? or do they wait till the end to decide who gets offers?
they get together at the end of each final round day and discuss all candidates and rank them
then do the same for the later interviewing days
usually they decide everything until the end
for example i interviewed at an east coast location, and had to wait til the team finished with west coast schools to get the final decision
if you are good it shouldnt matter... whatever makes you feel more comfortable
in my experience, two of the three do a form of "rolling admission"; they'll start extending offers from the first day of 2nd rounds onward, to the extent that sometimes the last day has only one slot available. Of course, they're only extending offers to the rockstars on those early days, but assuming you do well you are bettering your chances of getting an offer in general, since they're more willing to use up slots earlier.
Sometimes going later gives you more time to prepare, sometimes their openings close up. I've had both experiences...although if they really like you, they'll find a place for you, period.
Interview Time?? (Originally Posted: 01/19/2010)
Is there a best time to interview? If so, what would that be?
there is no best time. if you're good, you're good. if you're lackluster, even if the MD just finished a manag a trois session with two brazilian models, you ain't gonna to make it.
Though it's true that if you're good, you're good, I personally like to plan my interviews so that I'm not the very first person or very last and also not right before or right after lunch.
I've interviewed Analysts/Associates for the past 3-4 years and I can tell you that it really doesn't matter to me.
If someone walks in first thing in the morning and is a standout, there's no question I'll remember that person. Same goes for someone coming in at the end of the day.
Sorry, my point was that time doesn't matter. You can be first, last or somewhere in between and if you stand out, I'll remember you.
I've never had a preference as the interviewer and I don't think I've ever overlooked a good candidate because they interviewed at some specific slot in the day.
If you have choices, pick the one that will allow you to be the least stressed and most focused on the interview (i.e. don't schedule the interview for the morning if you have some deadline you're worried about in the afternoon).
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