How bad is sounding desperate during an interview for a SA position?

I have an interview with a BB for a SA position that I want very much. I don't have as many opportunities since I'm a graduate student and a lot of places only want undergraduate students. I would be willing to do it for free. I will be the first one in and last one out. I want to do the best job possible, be the most productive intern at the office, never complain while doing it, and land FT offer by the end of the summer. How is the best way to communicate my ambition to recruitment? Of course I'm desperate, but I'm afraid of turning them off by sounding desperate. Thank you.

8 Comments
 

Get your point across by sounding passionate, not desperate. Give past examples and relate them to the SA position, which will show them that you understand what is expected and that you have already performed under such conditions. If you go on a soap opera, you may miss the opportunity to actually "connect".

 

i agree with everything people have said here you can use your desperation and translate it into a passion

so instead of "i'd do anything for this job- even work for free", maybe try and rephrase it to "you know, not to go overboard, but even if this job didn't pay, i'd still do it because of my keen interest in markets and dedication to learning more about them"

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"do it for free" sounds stupid. Make it a joke that still conveys your point: "heck, I would pay you guys for the summer. I see it as an investment: I am hear to learn and I would really value the opportunity yadda yadda yadaa"

You can't kill the guys you trade with
 

I just completed the interview and think it went well. It sounded like I should be getting other interviews in the future. This one was just with HR. I'm writing a follow up email for the interview now. I'm thinking of sending this email:

Hello XXX,

I just want to say thank you for interviewing me today and giving me a better understanding of how trading at YYY operates. I am very interested in this firm and this position. I hope that you're also interested in my candidacy for this position and see me as someone who's going to work hard and bring a lot of potential to YYY.

Best regards, ZZZ

 
notahipster

You could send that to literally anywhere - personalize

Thanks, I made it a little more personable, said thanks for sharing their experience at how they got to HR. I wanted to keep it short though obviously and I just sent it. I'll see what happens I guess. Thanks to everyone who has given me advice in this thread. I never really got nervous for finals, but interviews get me more nervous than anything else. Your entire fate relies on somebody else judging you.

 

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