keep fucking up interviews
I have done almost 10 first/second round interviews (consulting, and banking) and I have not gotten any summer offers. Just kept fucking up. Feel like I am never going to make it. Any ideas on what I should do?
There's always barber college.
Enough mock interviews until you are a robot but still come across as genuine.
not kidding.
Also, there has been a ton of posts on this but what helped me the most was writing down the answer to every possible question I could think of, practising in the mirror a shit load and practising with friends.
First, don't stress out too much. Interviewing sucks.
Second, get to know yourself. Think about what your goals are, your strengths that will help you achieve them, and the weaknesses which may hold you back. Make sure finance is what you want to do (Pick banking or consulting).
Third, craft your story. What are your goals? Where does finance fit in? What strengths will help you succeed in finance? What weaknesses might hold you back (how are you working on them)? What experiences have you had that you can draw lessons from?
Finally, always be closing. You are selling yourself to the interviewer. He (she) is looking for a smart, capable worker with a good attitude and a likable personality. Drive those points home in the interview. Talk about your non-finance interests (personality), always be energetic and smile (attitude), and ask some intelligent, firm-specific questions.
Now sit back, relax, and try not to crack a smile the next time an interviewer starts selling you on their firm at the end of the interview.
whip your junk out and say "IM TOO BIG TO FAIL", thats how i got my job
in all seriousness though, its really all about the practice, I remember that my first (and current) job I got after failing at about ten other jobs, its all about repetition.
Do a mock interview or two, I believe they do feedback, so they will let you know where your weakness is.
Keep your head up, don't get pouty... The more you got in the fire the better chance something will catch. 10 interviews is not that many, this is a notoriously tough industry to get in with low turnover externally (meaning seats are inter-changed between people already in). One positive to take from this is: all of these interviews are excellent experiences and the only way to get better at them is from doing them. While some of your counterparts may have gotten the job in one interview you have not yet, and when it comes time to switch jobs you will be better suited at the interviewing due to this experience.
Practice, practice, practice. But before that, do what IlliniProgrammer suggested: get your story down.
When you say "I keep fucking up", can you pinpoint what it is you feel like you are "fucking up"? You should ask yourself the following questions: 1) Is my personality not coming across?
2) Am I weak on technicals? 3) Am I having trouble demonstrating a genuine interest in the position you are interviewing for? 4) Am I making any obvious behavioral mistakes? (i.e. not dressing the part, fidgeting, looking and sounding nervous etc.)
If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes', then focus on that first. If the answer to all of them is 'no', and you've confirmed this with an objective reviewer of your interviewing skills, then I'm afraid you're just losing out to more qualified competitors. Keep at it though. You're doing something right to be getting all of these interviews. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before you get an offer you can be happy with.
if its a confidence issue, take 2 shots, clear your mind and walk in confidently.
if its another issue, pinpoint it and work on it.
From my experience, 4 words: Just-Answer-The-Questions. Short answers, well though, and be yourself. I would also advice you to get some mock interviews.
Use deordorant, maybe u smell lol
Seriously, we dinged an otherwise solid candidate for this. Remember, everything is in play, keep in mind for interviews.
I'm guessing technicals are not the issue and thus the importance of "practice questions" is relatively low. What you should do is find an acquaintance (not a friend) to do a mock interview and gauge your fit. Are you socially awk? Do you get nervous and weird?
In my experience the guys who get interviews but low yields have personality issues that no one is mean enough/nice enough to point out.
Granted at the analyst level it seems being socially retarded is a virtue, relative to the associate level, but still something worth considering.
This answer may piss some people off, but I usually take 1-1.5mg xanax before an interview. It's not enough to slow your mind down but helps a lot with nerves and confidence. Try this and you will feel like the shit going into the interview and it will likely show.
Disclaimer: I have never had a banking interview and am sure they are much harder than what I've dealt with.
i heard beta blockers are probably better for that as they preserve mental clarity and xanax does slow your mind down (even if a tiny amount). thoughts?
Try this...calms you down. Maybe you come off as a bit anxious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propranolol
Dear word if you have to take pills to remain a normal human being during an interview, life is going to be challenging.
+1
Tell that to Charlie, Cartwright.
if you need drugs to have a conversation you probably wont make it in banking past your analyst stint
I've heard several people recommend taking a shot or two before going in to take the edge off things, and I've seriously considered it... would that really not turn out badly somehow? would they not be able to smell it on your breath?
its not about "having" to take pills. But they exist, and they unarguably make me (and probably everyone) interview better, so why the hell NOT take them if you are having trouble landing a job.
Write out the answers to any interview question you can think of. Then practice them to the point of memorization.
When you know you have things memorized, you will be MUCH less stressed or nervous for the interviews. I find that when I know something cold, I am not nervous discussing it with colleagues or presenting it to a group.
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