Interviews: Doing Magic Trick

I have magic as an interest on my resume. I am simply an amateur magician with interest in magic tricks. I plan to bring a deck of cards into my interviews in case people ask me about my interests, then I can perhaps perform a trick during the interview.

What is your view on this? Would this be seen as unprofessional or will it provide a nice personality twist?

This is as a current IB analyst interviewing for buy-side opportunities, if that matters.

19 Comments
 

I think your interviewer will appreciate the fact that they have one less person to consider for the position.

This to all my hatin' folks seeing me getting guac right now..
 
CorpFinanceGuy

Besides doing what @LHDan said, the interests question is supposed to be quick and more courteous than anything else. Mentioning magic might make them laugh and help you differentiate, but spending 5 minutes showing them a magic trick takes 4 minutes away from talking about what you know re: the job description.

Thanks this is helpful

 

This would be a bad idea. They would know that you are liar as what you are saying is magic... isn't.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

This totally depends on the interviewer. Some would love it and I think it would reflect positively on you. Other interviewers might consider it unprofessional or simply not appreciate magic tricks.

If this was an interview for a start-up or some firm with creative-types, I'd say you would have a much better chance of getting a positive response - provided the execution of the magic trick is flawless. If you fumble or mess something up, that wouldn't be good for obvious reasons.

For investment banking or any other traditional corporate job, I think the risk is too great. The chances are much greater that you will have some serious, no-nonsense person who will consider it unprofessional. However, you never know... maybe the banker or consultant sees magic on your resume and then says "Magic, huh? Can you show me a trick?" If so, then I think you have a green light.

In sum, for a traditional corporate job, it's fine to mention "magic" on your resume under interests. However, don't perform any magic tricks unless you are prompted to by the interviewer.

 
Deo et Patriae

This totally depends on the interviewer. Some would love it and I think it would reflect positively on you. Other interviewers might consider it unprofessional or simply not appreciate magic tricks.

If this was an interview for a start-up or some firm with creative-types, I'd say you would have a much better chance of getting a positive response - provided the execution of the magic trick is flawless. If you fumble or mess something up, that wouldn't be good for obvious reasons.

For investment banking or any other traditional corporate job, I think the risk is too great. The chances are much greater that you will have some serious, no-nonsense person who will consider it unprofessional. However, you never know... maybe the banker or consultant sees magic on your resume and then says "Magic, huh? Can you show me a trick?" If so, then I think you have a green light.

In sum, for a traditional corporate job, it's fine to mention "magic" on your resume under interests. However, don't perform any magic tricks unless you are prompted to by the interviewer.

Thanks, this is in-line with what I was thinking as well. Simply having a deck of cards in the back pocket (front pocket in this case) and perform if prompted. Definitely would not make the initial ask to perform a trick.

 

If they ask you to show them a magic trick and you whip out a deck of cards, you'll look like an absolute nerd. If they ask you, tell them you'll show them next time (i.e. after extending you an offer).

People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for freedom of thought which they seldom use.
 

Or just eat 48 hotdogs while they tell you about how they got started in their career.

"Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money." - Mickey Bergman - Heist (2001)
 

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