I'm curious what employers/interviewers look for when conducting technical interviews. Accuracy of the correct answer obviously but I imagine if you're wrong they'll still look at your thought process and take how close you are into consideration? If all of the technical questions seem very hard could you assume they are more interested in your thought process then the actual right answer?
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Whether you sound like a retard or not. Even if you get an answer right if you sound like a moron it’s a ding. If you get the answer wrong but you sounded like you knew what you were talking about but just missed a digit in 17/23 when you were calculating accretion / dilution it will be forgiven
so better to sound confident and wrong then maybe right but meek and not sure?
I actually disagree with this. In order, I’m looking for:
Accuracy; is both your answer and your process correct (that is, did you walk me through the process intelligently, or did you regurgitate a memorized answer)
Communication; do you phrase your answer coherently, succinctly, and professionally
Honesty; are you open about what you know and don’t know, are you making things up or not, can I trust you to know what you say you know
Things I am not looking to do:
Trick you; I don’t like trick questions or deliberate stress-inducing exercises … I just want to know that you’re interested in the role for the right reasons, know what it entails, and can answer some basic questions on the three statement model, valuation, how to “sell” a stock or company, and, if the role entails it, M&A and LBO sense (though we often test that through a case study rather than on-the-spot)
Debate you on an emotional or personal level; if I push back, it’s to test your thinking, not because I (necessarily) think you’re wrong … remember that it’s an interview, not (unfortunately) a genuinely open-minded discussion of your stock/deal opinions
Embarrass you; if it’s clear you don’t know what you’re talking about or aren’t the ideal fit, I’m not going to “drag you through the mud,” I’ll give you some face-saving softball questions and quietly move on from your candidacy rather than cut the interview short or grill you on something you’re clearly unprepared for
TLDR: Know your behaviorals, technicals, and, most importantly, the specifics of the opportunity you’re applying for, and you’re a real contender … don’t lie
EDIT: I DO NOT EXPECT PERFECTION. You do not need to get every question right. If you nail 10 technicals, I may ask you a hard or niche one out of curiosity. “I don’t know, but I think X because of reasoning Y” goes a long way. Even if you get it wrong, if it gets to the point of me thinking you’re too technical for the basic questions, you’re probably going to get another round :)
Great advice, thank you! If an interviewee doesn't know something how should they handle it? Just tell the interviewer they don't know and to try an educated guess?
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