Whenever I am told the interviewers names in advance, I always look them up on LinkedIn. During an interview, should I pretend I don't know what there group is/university? Or should I mention that I looked at their linkedin to show that I did a little research?
Also, when an interviewer ask what you did this past weekend, should I mention that I was prepping for the interview (assuming it is a Monday/Tuesday interview) to show I am serious about the job? Or only mention the "fun" things I did and pretend like I had a blast all weekend?
What are your thoughts
Dude, it's creepy. Do research on the company/group, not the individual. Would you really want to work alongside a creeper who is essentially lurking the internet finding information about you? I know I wouldn't
People want to work with bright people, not nerds. No need to tell them you prepped all weekend. Tell them you went out with a few buddies, played basketball, ran, climbed mount everest or something cool instead.
It's pretty easy to tell what your interviewer wants to hear just tell him that and do not mention researching him...
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If you went to their school or worked at one of their previous employers, bring it up if they don't (90% of the time they will). Otherwise, why bother. And you can do a mix of things in a weekend (and probably did, just tell the truth, unless you think you are so far off the norm as to be unemployable, in which case reconsider your behaviors).
You really just need to be yourself. If you are the studious serious type be that. If you are the easy going type be that. Ultimately companies/groups have certain cultures, some more studious some more laid back. You don't want to be fake end then end up in a culture that doesn't suit you. Just be natural and realize that to a degree you are interviewing them as well. Is my interviewer(s) the type of person I want to spend 12 hour days with.
As an interviewer, I know you probably checked me out on LinkedIn. But I expect you've got enough sense not to tell the truth, because you should have enough social sense to know that you'll look a little stalker-ish.
I wouldn't recommend being completely "yourself"/not being fake, because what the hell is yourself? You're not the same person to your mother as you are to your friends etc. There's always a certain element of marketing in interaction and, in banking, a hell of a lot of marketing.
What I want to see in an interview is a candidate who knows how to pitch him/herself well. Ideally, that means the candidate can read me, sense early on how to pitch him/herself to me and can do it so well that I don't ever think that I'm being pitched too. In most cases, that's more skill than most people have.
I'll settle for someone who at least knows how to not come across as too much of a creep. Admitting to looking me up = a little too creepy.
Demonstrating too much coincidental interest in minor details which I don't volunteer about myself in the meeting which are listed in my LinkedIn profile = sending me signals that you've done your homework on me = more creepy.
I'd prefer to hear that a candidate spent the weekend relaxing, spending some time with friends or parents, maybe getting involved in some physical, but also spent a "few hours" (number unspecified) doing some research on my IB (provided they can answer questions to demonstrate that's correct). That's the sort of person I want to work in my team. However, that's my preferences, so a lot depends on your interviewer's personality and you won't have a lot to go on. In that case, market yourself as largely the person you are, but bearing in mind that you're still marketing yourself.
Have a little common sense.
If an interviewer asks you what you did this weekend, they're making small talk, not assessing how hard working you are.
Stalk all you want, but don't betray that you did... the person not the firm, you should demonstrate you have done your research on the firm. Also some advice (seems like you need it)... when you're asked what do you know about us. They are not looking for "Well x was founded in 1939 as an outpost for the American Wire Company by..."
In terms of chill vs. studios.... it depends on the firm culture and the personality of the interviewer. When I was interviewing, I valued more of a finance nerd, less of a bro. If I want someone to down beers with I'll go hang out with my friends. If I want someone to crank out error proof work hand over fist, I'll hire the pimply-face virgin applied mathematics kid that graduated top of his class from U Chicago. That being said, there are alot of candidates that exude anal retentiveness and diligence, then the differentiating factor is personality. Also an awkward weirdo is a deal breaker also.
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