BIWS guide is more comprehensive and goes into the material in more detail. I have both the WSO and BIWS guides but preferred BIWS when I was in recruitment
honestly I disagree with a few points. I only applied to 6 places and interviewed and only got 2 no's before I got an offer. My sophomore year I applied to a 134 places (so focus more on ease of access like if its an ocr app or general app and networkings with individuals rather than applying everywhere online). Also, I found behaviorals easy, I was able to wing them all fine and was told they liked my answers and I was funny. Study the technical a lot. I was told that lots of my competitors at way better schools and with better grades messed up at parts because of the lack of classes with the earlier recruiting. I also liked hearing where others were interviewing at, it lit a fire under my ass and also let me know which schools liked my school (which is not really a target at many firms). My 2 cents
Very much agree with this after also recently receiving a 2019 ER offer from a top 10 ER bank on II and interviewing at another BB. I've said this before, but there are so few spots per bank for research interns (usually fewer than 10) that you have to apply everywhere; like OP said, it's a crapshoot.
It's important to note, though, that this makes it considerably easier to land interviews: fewer people are applying. During finals season I talked to many associates who hadn't had a single networking call yet.
During my two interviews I was hardly ever grilled on technicals, I've heard that's fairly standard among ER. Like OP said, almost all "why this bank", "why ER", "pitch me a stock", etc.
So network your a** off, crush every gimmie question, prep for every single behavioral (just do it. Have an answer to every single hard behavioral you can find), and know the basics of technicals and you'll be good.
I can hopefully provide some insight as I am in the same position as the OP (also non-target, 2019 offer at a top 10 II bank).
From my experience, I was having much more luck getting ER associates to talk with me than my friends were having with IB analysts. It's really a function of how few people are applying to research.
Since I'm at a non-target, I just emailed anybody I could find, alum or not. I networked early for ER (during finals season), so I was the first networking call of the season for most of my contacts. They almost all got back to me, and after our conversation, almost all said they liked me and wanted to help.
Networking early got me into an early superday, so it had a big effect on the timeline.
Perspiciatis doloribus et ipsa provident et enim. Doloremque odio sint quisquam voluptatem non provident iure. Enim et adipisci reprehenderit. Repudiandae sed consequatur id error dolor. Rerum dicta nobis molestiae. Quo deserunt harum molestias numquam quia ducimus nobis.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
Dolor eos ex occaecati nihil ad. Optio dolor ipsa dolore quo accusantium consequatur. Consequatur voluptas nemo et accusantium aliquam suscipit dicta. Officia sit et quibusdam aliquid qui nihil. Et sit fuga quibusdam laudantium quia. In doloribus nam assumenda.
Consequatur magnam neque eum nostrum dolores aut. Ad assumenda libero sit fugiat corporis sint voluptas. Aut sed quo unde nesciunt harum veritatis quos corporis. Perspiciatis qui autem tenetur saepe magni sunt voluptas et. Eos dolorem quis qui aliquam. Sit ullam atque error quae reprehenderit reiciendis commodi.
Maxime voluptatem corrupti aut veritatis neque quam. Soluta ut exercitationem rerum quia. Dicta consectetur adipisci inventore enim voluptas et. Est id qui quo ea culpa.
Minima perferendis saepe veniam aut reprehenderit quaerat. Qui qui enim cupiditate non voluptatem ea. Accusamus quod dolorem numquam libero id velit porro. Aut magnam vel est veritatis.
Sorry, you need to login or sign up in order to vote. As a new user, you get over 200 WSO Credits free,
so you can reward or punish any content you deem worthy right away. See you on the other side!
Thanks for this! Did you apply through the application or referral?
.
thank you for the advice. do you mind me asking if you know any good finance interview guides a person can buy in order to prepare for interviews?
.
do you possibly know of any cheaper guides?
BIWS guide is more comprehensive and goes into the material in more detail. I have both the WSO and BIWS guides but preferred BIWS when I was in recruitment
Congrats on the offer! What experience did you have prior to recruiting?
.
honestly I disagree with a few points. I only applied to 6 places and interviewed and only got 2 no's before I got an offer. My sophomore year I applied to a 134 places (so focus more on ease of access like if its an ocr app or general app and networkings with individuals rather than applying everywhere online). Also, I found behaviorals easy, I was able to wing them all fine and was told they liked my answers and I was funny. Study the technical a lot. I was told that lots of my competitors at way better schools and with better grades messed up at parts because of the lack of classes with the earlier recruiting. I also liked hearing where others were interviewing at, it lit a fire under my ass and also let me know which schools liked my school (which is not really a target at many firms). My 2 cents
Thanks for the advice -- really helpful to hear everybody's recruiting experiences and input.
Very much agree with this after also recently receiving a 2019 ER offer from a top 10 ER bank on II and interviewing at another BB. I've said this before, but there are so few spots per bank for research interns (usually fewer than 10) that you have to apply everywhere; like OP said, it's a crapshoot.
It's important to note, though, that this makes it considerably easier to land interviews: fewer people are applying. During finals season I talked to many associates who hadn't had a single networking call yet.
During my two interviews I was hardly ever grilled on technicals, I've heard that's fairly standard among ER. Like OP said, almost all "why this bank", "why ER", "pitch me a stock", etc.
So network your a** off, crush every gimmie question, prep for every single behavioral (just do it. Have an answer to every single hard behavioral you can find), and know the basics of technicals and you'll be good.
Had an ER interview with a top BB back in early May. This was about my experience too. OP had a good post and yours is also ringing true as well.
Thanks for taking the time to make this post. There is a lot of great info in it.
How did you go about networking and what effect do you think it had on your recruiting timeline?
I can hopefully provide some insight as I am in the same position as the OP (also non-target, 2019 offer at a top 10 II bank).
From my experience, I was having much more luck getting ER associates to talk with me than my friends were having with IB analysts. It's really a function of how few people are applying to research.
Since I'm at a non-target, I just emailed anybody I could find, alum or not. I networked early for ER (during finals season), so I was the first networking call of the season for most of my contacts. They almost all got back to me, and after our conversation, almost all said they liked me and wanted to help.
Networking early got me into an early superday, so it had a big effect on the timeline.
Thanks for the response.
Did you ever talk about a stock pitch competition or anything like that you did in undergrad?
.
Thanks for the reply. I've also been able to meet some professionals face to face on my campus and then meet up with them later on.
I truly question how much of a non-target you go to if you have alum across the street..
.
Do you think having good contacts could get you an interview late? Like if the process has winded down, would they be able to squeeze you in?
Any tips for someone 5 years out of undergrad and about to be engage in the interview of his life in two days? Stock Pitch help especially appreciated
Perspiciatis doloribus et ipsa provident et enim. Doloremque odio sint quisquam voluptatem non provident iure. Enim et adipisci reprehenderit. Repudiandae sed consequatur id error dolor. Rerum dicta nobis molestiae. Quo deserunt harum molestias numquam quia ducimus nobis.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Dolor eos ex occaecati nihil ad. Optio dolor ipsa dolore quo accusantium consequatur. Consequatur voluptas nemo et accusantium aliquam suscipit dicta. Officia sit et quibusdam aliquid qui nihil. Et sit fuga quibusdam laudantium quia. In doloribus nam assumenda.
Consequatur magnam neque eum nostrum dolores aut. Ad assumenda libero sit fugiat corporis sint voluptas. Aut sed quo unde nesciunt harum veritatis quos corporis. Perspiciatis qui autem tenetur saepe magni sunt voluptas et. Eos dolorem quis qui aliquam. Sit ullam atque error quae reprehenderit reiciendis commodi.
Maxime voluptatem corrupti aut veritatis neque quam. Soluta ut exercitationem rerum quia. Dicta consectetur adipisci inventore enim voluptas et. Est id qui quo ea culpa.
Minima perferendis saepe veniam aut reprehenderit quaerat. Qui qui enim cupiditate non voluptatem ea. Accusamus quod dolorem numquam libero id velit porro. Aut magnam vel est veritatis.