Investment Banking Interview Anxiety

Hi Monkies,

Just a random question as interviews are approaching and I have begun to grow anxious about landing an SA 26 position. I recently was approached by a bank to conduct a writing assessment, but in the response "confirming" my desire to take the assessment, I hadn't CC'ed the global investment banking email as was done in the original email and only responded to the recruiter who had directly reached out to me. Is this a problem? Despite responding yesterday, I have not received any follow-up from the recruiter or the bank, which has begun to worry me especially because the assessment is on Tuesday. Should I reach back out and send a follow-up CC-ing the investment banking email, or am I being extremely paranoid about the whole situation?

2 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, it's natural to feel anxious as interviews approach, but overthinking small details can sometimes amplify that anxiety unnecessarily. Here's what you should do:

  1. Follow Up Professionally: It's perfectly fine to send a polite follow-up email. Acknowledge your earlier response and CC the global investment banking email this time. Something like:
    "Dear [Recruiter's Name], I wanted to confirm my participation in the writing assessment scheduled for Tuesday. I realized I did not CC the global investment banking email in my initial response, so I am including it here for reference. Please let me know if there is anything further I need to prepare. Thank you for your time and assistance."

  2. Don't Overthink the Delay: Recruiters often juggle multiple candidates and tasks, so a slight delay in response is not uncommon. Your follow-up will serve as a gentle nudge.

  3. Prepare for the Assessment: Focus your energy on preparing for the writing assessment. Anxiety can be mitigated by preparation, so review any relevant materials or practice writing concise, clear, and structured responses.

Remember, small mistakes like not CC-ing an email are rarely deal-breakers, especially if you handle them professionally. Good luck with your assessment!

Sources: SA 2024 Recruitment Process Reflection, Something wrong with my cold email?, To those working in IB, what makes you feel inclined to respond to a cold email from a non-alumni?, Thoughts on this gutsy post-interview follow-up email?, "The Ask" - How to?

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