"Who else are you talking to?"

aspiringtrader:

i recommend this to anyone regardless of circumstance: just say, "i am interviewing at several other firms in the same line of business, all names with whom you are familiar"

I feel like this is dangerous. If you are at all pressured to name names it could blow up. People know people in this industry, and if you say you are interviewing somewhere you aren't, its not hard to find the truth, and that will probably guarantee a ding. If you are going to pursue this strategy just be prepared to be tight lipped on names no matter what, which may come off as weird. Either way I think this response sounds duechy as hell.

aspiringtrader:

i recommend this to anyone regardless of circumstance: just say, "i am interviewing at several other firms in the same line of business, all names with whom you are familiar"

This sounds so douchey I can't believe it. Just name the firms that are similar to the one you are at (and are actually interviewing at). If you are at GS, say JPM or MS or an elite boutique. On the other hand, if you are at UBS don't say GS. You don't want to make it so they don't think that you will fuck them over in a second to upgrade to the better one.

Conan Sobroen:

Agreed. Does sound like you are hiding something. Make it sound like you are still setting up interviews even if you are going through OCR. Say that you have some options/conversations coming up and are excited that recruiting and interviews have finally gotten under way. To keep it from a lie, email alumni or something so you are setting up interviews if you get pressed further on it. Don't blatantly lie though

There are deadlines coming up, but those are for smaller banks, the BBs would be done by the then, at least on my campus. Could it actually hurt me to mention that the only other places I'm talking to are boutiques and no BBs?

happypantsmcgee:

Could be different other places but I have never heard of a Director or someone calling over to other firms and asking 'Hey, are you interviewing this 22 year old kid? He did too just wanted to make sure he wasn't a fucking liar'

I'm not saying this is probable or even likely, but if you say you are interviewing at JPM Lev Fin, and a guy you are interviewing with is good friends with someone from that group (which is often the case) they could easily call up their buddy and share notes or ask what he thought of you, etc. It's too much risk for too little reward imo.

Rupert Pupkin:

No matter what firms you list, whether they're true or not, just finish the list off with "and your sister". That will prevent him from calling any of the banks you mentioned.

Personally, I wouldn't answer this by giving exact details. I'd say something like "oh, you know, the usual suspects. It's going quite well actually".

I think the above answer implies you got nothing else to lean on and that you are desperate for the current position so i wouldn't recommend it....if you have no major other offers you should just say that you are interviewing with firms and name the best firms you are interviewing with. If you have multiple offers then say you have one offer with the best firm you got it with but you really want this one so that's why you still did not accept. Do not say you have multiple offers as then they might think you just want to add them to the list without real desire to work there.

i'd think that the interviewers are checking out how much do you want this job/position. I'd be honest about it, they would have probably applied to many firms if in your shoes.

I got asked this question and was caught off guard. I ended up saying "Which banks work on Wall St?" The recruiter said "All of them." I replied, "Well, thats about right."

I tried to say that I had put in to most time in the recruiting process with their bank (which is true), but I think I ended up sounding a little too full of myself. I have since planned out an answer that says, "I'm talking with two other top tier banks like yours, and the rest are just due diligence because of the state of the economy."

They want to know that you're a "hot commodity" and are desired by other banks too. Kind of like how girls don't like you until you're in a relationship.

Be vague, cause it's none of their business. And lie if you have to.

This is one of the easiest and most beneficial questions you can answer. If you are interviewing for an office that is specific to a certain industry or product, obviously you want to name the other firms that are specific to that industry or product so that they know that you have done enough research to know what you want to do. Also, if you're interviewing for other companies outside of banking, which many people do, don't mention them. It will make it seem as if you're not that serious or dedicated to banking. I assumed that that went without saying, but I've heard quite a few people that did mention other industries that they were interviewing with and it hurt them.

"your direct competitors to obtain a similar level of training and experience" then start talking about the training, etc.

You answer should probably involve their two closest competitors. Don't say too much if you've already been dinged by them. Don't lie. You SHOULD be talking to their competitors. This is a benefit of spreading a wide net. I've been dinged before for naming too many firms and also saying no one else. Keep the list tiny and to direct competitors. If you're interviewing for a bank, don't throw out consulting offers and interviews.

Just my thoughts.

God of Wine:

You answer should probably involve their two closest competitors. Don't say too much if you've already been dinged by them. Don't lie. You SHOULD be talking to their competitors. This is a benefit of spreading a wide net. I've been dinged before for naming too many firms and also saying no one else. Keep the list tiny and to direct competitors. If you're interviewing for a bank, don't throw out consulting offers and interviews.

Just my thoughts.

How do you know this dinged you?

Didn't that Chiang guy get blacklisted because he lied in a similar situation? He pretended he had an offer from BOA when he didn't. So don't lie but be as vague as possible while trying to make yourself sound like a hot candidate.

On a separate note, I got asked the same question and admitted that I had been flown to a few different cities over the last month. I didn't want to seem too arrogant or uninterested in this firm's position so I also added that in spite of these other interviews, this was my first choice and that I was really interested in this company (and it's actually true). I said it twice during the interview and the feedback I later got (off the record from a friend of a friend) was that I seemed a bit desperate but that my candidacy wouldn't hinge upon this. What do you think? How do you walk the line between being aggressive/showing interest versus appearing 'desperate?

Which of the following would be worth mentioning? - Existing offers - Wait-list offers - Upcoming Super Days - Super Days attended but no resulting offer

A friend of mine got asked that question and when he said no one else the interviewer responded that that wasn't very smart because he wouldn't be able to get into banking if that didn't work out. I think you should reply honestly, they did the same thing when they were in our shoes. I usually answer with a simple yes, and if asked to elaborate I give exact names and stage of the process, stressing that whoever I'm interviewing with is my first choice. Just make sure you don't lie, because they might actually check it out and you can get in trouble.

I had an informational with the head of a group at a BB and he asked me this question. I mentioned 2-3 players in that particular niche and mentioned why I liked his group's position most. If you've done your research on the group and are genuinely interested in what they do, then they'd expect you to know their competitors.

I think for first rounds, mention direct competitors, that's safe, ideally ones that are strong in groups you are interested in for superdays, I think that you need to make sure your fund choice matches your story. If you are spending a ton of time at a JPM interview talking about the lev fin and the bond platform and then say you applied to evercore, people are going to be like wtf and call your bullshit if you have impressive offers mention them, and follow with "the reason I'm here today given that is x, y, z" for informationals that are early and with family friends/alums/your frat bro's boss I think its perfectly acceptable to ask them, given my interests and what you've seen of my personality, where else do you think I should apply. Then you can use that as your answer if someone asks it down the line. If you are trying to demonstrate knowledge, then you can rattle off a few names and follow up with that.

One thing I'll tell you is not to mention you're interviewing across banks and consulting firms. Each will dislike that.