Making a good first-impression during [first round] phone interviews

Currently in the process of interviewing for SA positions. One thing I really seem to struggle with I feel like is having a strong introduction and opening over the phone, which heavily impacts me during first round interviews. I think I just find it really difficult to speak with the right intonation and conviction when I don’t have the person right in front of me, either in-person or on zoom. I know that people judge you within the first 5 seconds or whatever so having a good over-the-phone intro is crucial. Any advice? 
 

I think part of the issue is that it’s also difficult to gauge the interviewer over the phone. Some are super casual and wanna chill and small talk. Some wanna get right into it and kinda be serious. I do my best to adapt and mesh with them all but it’s hard to gauge them during the first couple minutes of conversation, especially just over the phone.

2 Comments
 

Just be yourself; they will get easier once you have more experience with interviewing.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Et quisquam corrupti atque tempore. Atque culpa eum itaque tempore. Voluptas voluptate perferendis non nihil qui eligendi mollitia et.

Porro placeat quasi beatae officiis dolorum neque dolores. Et quia assumenda dolorem voluptatem dignissimos asperiores hic. Minima omnis totam quia id.

Facilis et explicabo sint et ut. Eius harum tenetur et omnis. Excepturi incidunt recusandae consectetur.

Ipsam sit ex molestiae. Et nulla cum id explicabo ducimus qui. Magnam voluptatum rem illo eos culpa aspernatur maxime. Repudiandae provident eveniet aut. Quis consectetur voluptas neque quia amet.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”