Super Day - Soft Skills - The Meal

I recently completed a super day for a MM IB. After the interviews, the bankers took the candidates out to eat. All of the bankers ordered food that cost between $12-$19. However, some of the candidates ordered meals that were well into the $30 range. Do you guys think they may have been a dinged for that?

I ask because as a kid I was raised to always order something of lesser or equal value compared to what the host ordered for the meal. Essentially, my opinion is that you always let the host set the pace especially if they are paying for it. Not sure if this is me being too traditional or if this would potentially be something the bankers were testing us on.

Offers have gone out at this point and I knew one of the candidates who ordered a more expensive item and know for a fact they did not get an offer. Could be something else that dinged them too, but am just curious if what they ordered may have also been taken into consideration.

4 Comments
 

It's the small stuff you don't think will ding you that always does. Everything is a test. Sounds like the kid didn't know any better and sucks for him, but during recruiting, you should practice humble confidence. The meal you get at a group meal like that doesn't necessarily need to be the least expensive, but you don't want to be alone at the top. If the an/as order within the 15-25 range, stay within that. Don't want to be the candidate ordering something materially higher than everyone else.

 
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