interview: how to NOT FUCK UP
There is a week left before the "summer" officially starts and I haven't landed for the summer to date (I go to a target with a 3.9+ gpa). I have been given an interview with an MM investment bank for a summer analyst position.
What do I need to do to ensure success this time around? I can't afford to lose my last shot at banking out of undergrad (I'm graduating next month..). I am guessing my problem is not being enthusiastic enough and not having a "genuine" reason for "why banking?". How do I fix this before the interview?
be cool dude. Calm down, you know your stuff or at least you should at this point. So now its just about how you come across as a person, be you and not who you think the interviewer wants you to be. but,
What do I know.
Its funny you should say that, one of my BB interviewers said "you sound like you are telling me what I want to hear". Things went downhill after that point.
How did you manage to let it go downhill? That's where you seize the moment and start mirroring - "you must be flattering me, there's no way my sincere story is what you want to hear, but thank you for the kind compliment regardless"
Make sure you remain professional under all circumstances. Don't try to become buddy-buddy with the interviewer--leave that for AFTER you get the offer. Be courteous and laugh when appropriate but don't laugh like an idiot. Remember, you might do some client-facing work some day and the interviewer has to know that you can go into those situations and HANDLE it.
Now this might run counter to what you've read on this site, but after I tweaked my professionalism I started getting offers everywhere I interviewed at and ended up with three SA offers at the end of the interview cycle (this is after botching the first six).
Of course it goes without mentioning that you need to know your technicals cold, have your story tailored for banking, solid handshake with eye contact. Good luck, I didn't get any offers until last week so you still have a shot.
Yeah, it sounds like you're a great candidate on paper just based on your stats, but you may come across as insincere, not because you necessarily are, but more likely because you are stressing yourself out and because you are nervous.
I can provide a bit of insight since I just went through the process last fall, and now I am on the other side, and I can tell you that the interviewers are so nonchalant because the interviews are the absolute furthest thing from their mind. It sucks, because for you and every other kid interviewing for a job, you see this as the most important day of your life (it's not, it's merely a foray into the boredom, long hours and stress of the banking world).
In contrast, they view it as one additional thing they have to take on when they are already balls deep in amending changes as per the mark up for a book to a sell-side M&A deal, digging through a 10-K to find the footnote showing them when options vest and how much of comp is given in restricted stock because their VP doesn't think that the severance package you show on the management team's flight risk slide is accurate, or they're trying to schedule the diligence call for another process with another client. Their staffer comes over to them and says "Hey Steve they're bringing up a kid from Brown to interview for a Summer gig, I need you to go talk to him in 10 because I have to leave for my flight, and Chris and Kelly are heading to their lunch meeting with XYZ Inc." So Steve says "Ya no problem," and then goes right back to looking at his screen and doesn't give it a second thought until the kid comes onto the floor with his escort and he hops up and says "Hi 1_achille, I'm Steve, nice to meet you... let's grab this conference room over here."
Basically, this is just another small part of the day-to-day routine for these guys, so don't get overly stressed out and try to say what you think they want to hear. Be yourself, be natural and down to earth and try to present yourself as someone who would be fun to work with, and who would lighten the tension during a stressful day like the one your interviewer is probably having. When Steve walks out of that conference room and sits back down at his cube, his other Analysts aren't going to be like "So did that kid know how to unlever beta?" They are gonna be like, "So is that kid legit?" and Steve is either gonna say "Yeah he seems pretty cool, he's interested in our group and I could drink a beer with him."
Don't over hype it... you've got the intellect to do this job... go show them you can work with them, and you'll be fine...
Hope that helps.
Just tell them your personal story. Tell them why you want to be there and what steps you took to be where you are at. Being witty and charming also helps with the ladies when they are conducting the interviews.
Once, i accidentally sent the wrong CL to the opposing BB, when the guy showed his partner, they were both balling in laughter. Anyhow, it didn't phase me, and I told my story and got the spot. You need to walk into the interview and imagine that you are the man for the position. So be confident and play their game.
WSOHelper says to act more professional but rufiolove seems to say to be more "casual" (if I had to summarize it in one word)...
First, read two things:
WSO behavioral guide.
Investment Banking - Valuation, LBOs, and M&A; by Rosenbaum and Pearl
Once that is done, open a word document. List all of the questions you are most likely to get. Type out thoughtful answers based on the above readings.
Finally, buy a headset or mic. Download audacity. Install audacity. Record yourself saying your answers, and make changes as necessary. Repeat until you are comfortable with what you have to say, and are capable of repeating all of the answers word-for-word in your sleep.
The entire process I stated above should take no more than 3 days if you focus.
I like this, definitely going to do it at this point, won't need to worry about #2, I've gotten most technicals correct so far. Its just making everything "sound right" that I need to work on
By simply saying "I've done my research and I want you to know that this is a company that I would love to work for" or anything along the lines of "I would love to be given the chance to work here" does a lot more than you might think so at the end of an interview.
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