Interview with a head hunter
Tried the search function but head hunter is just mentioned in so many different instances that I figured I would just try posting a new thread.
A head hunter called me to set up an in-person meeting with him/her and I did. How formal is this meeting and what should I be expecting, i.e. technicals? fit? Also, for the meeting should I be wearing a suit and tie? My office is just business casual so it would look really weird if I came in rocking a suit and tie, especially on a day when my MD is out and I clearly have no client meetings.
Any and all advice is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Initial Headhunter interview
A suit is the most appropriate option for a headhunter interview. A tie is probably not necessary. You can carry one with you in your bag if you think the environment calls for it (meeting in an office etc.)
Generally speaking there will be a focus on deal experience then getting questions on it is fair game. However, the interviewer will probably not push you on it. They may ask a screening question based on their clients' needs.
If you are worried about technicals then find out the headhunters background. Are they a former finance professional? Then be ready to talk about your experience in a pointed and confident manner.
from certified user @StringerBell" l
I've met and worked with dozens of HH's and they've all been relatively easy to win over. Just communicate professionally, be friendly and talk a good game. The attire problem is an easy fix.
Wear your suit slacks and pressed shirt for the interview to work, throw a winter coat over your suit jacket and put your tie in your Tumi bag. Done.
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I'd wear a suit and tie, be prepared to talk high level about deals, but I wouldn't expect to get too technical. If this is an introductory meet up they likely just want to get to know you, your story, what types of funds/opportunities you are interested in, and what type of experience you have had in your role so far. I caveat this in saying that the above applies to my experience in dealing with PE focused head hunters. If you are looking at HF I would defer to others who have experience there. I'm not saying that you don't need to know technicals, but in my experience all of my meetings have been laid back and primarily focused on what my goals are and what my experience has been to date. I have talked about transactions and some of the headhunters have asked about the strategic rationale for the deal and for deal related metrics, but it wasn't like an interview.
Keep in mind that you AREN'T the headhunters' client... you are a candidate. They are going to be nice to you because it doesn't pay for them to get angry at you (they will just make a mental note and not work with you if they find you to be incompetent / unprepared). They get paid by a client for placing candidates so you have to do some research, but most of the headhunters I have enjoyed meeting with have been pretty upfront and will tell you what they need for you to do, i.e. how to talk about your deal experience, what types of case studies you need to prepare for, modeling tests, etc.
Hope that helps.
Tie is not necessary, but suit is.
Recruiters will not ask you technical questions but you better impress them on the behavioral questions, otherwise they will not put you in front of their clients.
A lot of recruiters are fucking gorgeous, don't droll.
I doubt it's for PE. In my initial e-mail I had just said I'm interested in a more prestigious banking position or Private equity. I'm a first year at a MM bank and have essentially 0 deal experience as there have not been too many deals that closed. Is there any way I should prepare for this?
You seriously said "more prestigious" banking position? I'm surprised the recruiter agreed to meet with you.
No. I just said junior level investment banking positions, but I'm sure it's understood that one is looking for something more prestigious. No one's going to go from a brand name to nothing.
Fair enough.
What city are you in? Then I can lend an opinion as this happened top me recently and I have the same office setting from an attire point of view.
I'm in New York
I stopped into the tailor I go to in midtown and asked him to hold my suit for a few hours, swung in at lunch changed in his dressing room for the interview, then had a friend who works in BO pick it up after work on his way home.....not sure you want to go to such extreme measures you could also go the fold it neatly in a gym bag route.
Going to have to disagree with some of the above (no offense Rufio). Head hunters (from my experience) typically don't have technical finance backgrounds, and at the most will ask you some stock technical questions provided to them by their client as a screen. HH's get paid off of bringing in quality candidates for their client so they're looking for reasons to get you in front of their searches compared to when you interview at shops and they're trying to weed people out.
I've met and worked with dozens of HH's and they've all been relatively easy to win over. Just communicate professionally, be friendly and talk a good game. The attire problem is an easy fix. Wear your suit slacks and pressed shirt for the interview to work, throw a winter coat over your suit jacket and put your tie in your Tumi bag. Done.
I have interviewed with several headhunters as well, and clearly caveated that this was MY experience. That being said, I have interviewed with 3 headhunters who were ALL former bankers. They can ask you whatever they want, and as I mentioned it is in their best interest to be friendly to you, but if you have deal experience they will definitely be interested in hearing about it but they won't press you on it... Reread my above post.
Suit up
I'm with rufio. Have met with several in the past few weeks and I'd say 60% wanted a high level view on my flagship deal (overview, strategic rationale, my role, what kind of model I built, etc.) So yea, no technicals but definitely know the main points.
Also another thing, make sure you have your "story" down. Why you went to this college, why you picked your major, why you did that activity - a big part of the process is how well the HH can present your overall package to clients.
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