Dinner Interview Advice
I apologize if this has already been discussed, but after a quick search I could not find any new related material.
I currently am a 3rd year analyst, and I am in the process of interviewing for an Associate job with a DCM Group for a BB bank. Over the past few weeks, I have had multiple rounds of phone interviews with everyone on the team, as well as in person interview at one of the regional offices in the city I am in, since I’m currently not in NYC. They are flying me into NYC this week, where the job is, in order to have a final interview with a few Senior Bankers, as well as the head of the group. The interview is scheduled to be had over dinner, where we will be going to a pretty nice restaurant, scheduled from 7-10pm with the group. I’ve had several pre-interview dinners and rookie dinners after being hired, but I have never had a final interview set over dinner.
It is a smaller team (~10 total), with some of the senior bankers spread out regionally, and the juniors located at the NYC HQ. I am wondering if anyone has had a similar situation and can provide any advice on what to expect for it? It’s a little unorthodox from other interviews, so was just curious. It’s a great gig and everyone in the group and the BB seems like a great fit.
Thanks for the help.
Don’t order something you can spill on yourself. I.e. spaghetti. Basic stuff.
don't order mom's spaghetti
Are you the only candidate they are currently considering?
I am not sure. I will be the only candidate attending the dinner with the group, and have already met/talked to everyone in the group via phone and in person. This is towards the end of the process, so if there are others, it would only be a few.
The dinner party honestly sounds like a layup. It sounds like you're in, they might just test for final fit without too many technical questions, but more geared towards both sides getting to know each other and final talks with group leadership.
Thanks for the help. I already knocked out the technicals with other juniors in the group in prior interviews, so hopefully it is just fit and getting to meet the rest of everyone that I did not get a chance to meet yet.
Did one of these with the senior-most people at current firm before getting the offer. I dont think they had any other candidates left at the time.
Dont get anything with sauce or anything messy. Dont do alcohol unless they order it first. If there is alcohol, you better nurse that shit like a baby. We all ended up ordering a soup + salad w/ some kind of chicken.
Mine was entirely fit: talking gossip about current shop, family, travel, hobbies. It wasnt even an interview in hindsight - just a casual conversation. They let me ask some questions about the job toward the beginning, but I kept it about industry trends & how they view the landscape. Nothing about the actual job.
This was with C-level people in the credit arm of a megafund, for context. From talking to others, this is actually common practice as you get more senior (i had no idea).
This is very helpful. I really appreciate it. I had a feeling it was more of a get to know you type of dinner, since I have already gone through all of the technicals, behaviorals, modeling, and other normal interview questions. I just wanted to double check before going in. Thanks again!
First Round - Interviews / Dinner (Originally Posted: 01/13/2011)
Next week I have a dinner/reception at a restaurant/bar with a bank, one day before the interview.
Any tips/guides for it? What are we "supposed" to do?
Thanks
Get them hammered and watch them make some mistake (i.e. killing a prostitute). The job will be yours.
If possible go business casual...and just be normal. They want to see how you're like in public settings like these because presumably if you got the job, you'll have happy hours and closings and they don't want some awkward, unsocial person.
Not to put any more pressure on you, but usually they will narrow down candidates based on the dinner. Just make sure you talk to all of the representatives present and leave them with a good impression. Also, although most interview designs tell you to not order alcohol, if it is acceptable (aka the reps order alcohol) do so also. Just make sure you conduct yourself in a professional manner. As Alpha said, they want to see you in a social setting and no one wants to hire someone they won't hang out with.
what level/rank of jobs consist of a dinner component to the selection process? i.e. VP and higher S/T etc. ? I guess I am just wondering, since the OP was interviewing for a VP sort of position he probably wouldn't need to ask on this site. so what sort of lower level spots have this component?
Even SAs have to go through this process - it is in no way exclusive to the higher-up positions
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