Awkward Phone Call Moments

Had an MD set up a call with a client. He was conference leader. He didn't realize that when he left the call, we'd all be kicked off.

Needless to say, his attempt to subtly exit left our client fucking pissed.

Back in the recruiting days. Called a mid level consultant (around EM level) for advice on applying to their firm. We talk and he gives me advice then finished the call with "well good luck with the application" and like a knob I say "yeah thanks, you too!".

Well done

Two text boo-boos:

1. 2012, on my first iPhone: had a client meeting. After, boss texted to see how it went. Wrote, “Seems like a waste of time, I recommend we drop them,” but sent to client instead. Covered it by saying it was in reference to a diff client (luckily didn’t name names).

2. 2014: after a Tinder match gave me her number, I texted her to set up the date. Realized a friend knew her through work. Found the date’s portfolio (she’s a fitness model) and said, “Is this her? Nice (link)” but as you can imagine I sent that to the date (whose full name I couldn’t have known without friend). Laughed it off and still went out, but didn’t click.

This really isn’t that awkward, people prefer you not wasting their time. Seems brash initially but better than rambling on for another 10 mins and not saying anything of importance or relevance.

"Do you take Section 8?" "We haven't gone through the application process" errday awkwotaco

Had first round phone screens with a bank (this bank had 3-4 calls as part of first round). On one of the calls a VP asked me a unique technical that I didn’t grasp at the time, and so obviously I got it wrong. I posted the question to WSO so that I wouldn’t make the same mistake again, and people answered my question, including one person making a funny, and if I remember correctly, lewd metaphor.

Fast forward a day, and I’m talking to another guy from the bank, and he asked the same exact question. I answered it almost verbatim from one of the helpful answers, and the interviewer goes “got it, although I would’ve gone with the [insert funny lewd metaphor answer here].” Pretty awkward. I think they definitely dinged me for posting the question on WSO, probably because some VP was pissed his unique question was out there, which at the time sucked because I think it signals willingness to learn.

famejranc:

I'll start. I was on the phone earlier this week with an academic program manager to learn about their prep courses for the CFA exams. I told him in the email before the call that I would keep it brief (under 10 minutes). When I noticed that the call had gone on a bit over 10 minutes I said something like "Well it's been more than 10 minutes and I don't want to hold you any longer than I said I would", he said "It's the end of my day so it's not a problem", but I also didn't have anything else that I wanted to ask and couldn't think of anything genuine/wasn't going to make something up so I just said "I actually don't think I have any other questions." ... yeah awkward LOL

He was trying to close you. He was waiting to close you.

I was leaving a voice mail to an MD after interviewing with 2 of his employees. Had a whole script written up about wanting to talk to him for 5 minutes as well to explain my skills and why I wanted to work for his firm, etc. I pre-wrote the script because I was nervous and didn't want to blank.

Anyways, I ring him up, it goes to voicemail, I start reading the script. I realize about halfway through (remember this is only like a paragraph long script), that I haven't taken a single breath. I start to speed up my words as there is no sentence end in sight in my script. I end my message basically wheezing, quite high pitched, and sounding like I just came out of a world record scuba-free deep dive. Pressed the end call button and took the biggest gasp for air in my life.

He never called me back but I got the job

I've posted this before, but one time an MD was on an internal call I didn't know very well. He's cursing up a storm and saying this and that is a fucking shitshow.

I thought I was on mute and absentmindedly said to myself "wow... that's some pretty bold language..." Silence. He asks, "Who was that?" I freeze up. My MD says, "Oh, that's my name. He has sensitive ears."

It was toward the end of my stint, so it didn't really matter. Nonetheless, I'm glad my MD defused that; I went on mute and started cracking up.

Day 3 of my first job out of college, I’m tasked with calling up the MD/PM of a client of ours to walk them through something we need them to do.

All I have for this person is an email chain with their signature block, including a very unique name.

So, I pick up the phone and call. A woman picks up after a few rings:

“Hello?”

“Good morning, i’m trying to reach mister ___ regarding _____. Could you please put me through?”

“This is she...”

Fuck my life, right? This was on top of the fact that the issue I was calling about was days late due to my predecessor letting things fall through the cracks.

So, I stumbled awkwardly though an apology, which the MD accepted with grace. Then, halfway through explaining a point of fact that I barely understood, my buddy (who had also just started) whiffed a miniature basketball at me, not realizing I was on call with a client. Hit me square in the face mid-sentence - though I carried on with my explanation, not missing a beat. For that, I felt like a champ.

Anyway, all considered a very minor thing - but plenty of awkwardness and close calls for the first client contact I ever made in my career.

We were working on a $100Bn+ merger and had the entire client executive team on the phone to (I think) go through Board materials. A number of MDs from our bank were on the line - industry groups, M&A, etc etc. Plus a bunch of VPs, juniors, whatever.

We're doing the call and suddenly we hear the sound of running water. Well, more like trickling. And not really water, really just sounded like someone peeing. Yup, my MD - supposedly one of the lead guys on the deal - is just literally taking a piss on this huge client call and forgot to mute himself.

The client called him out on it and everyone had a laugh but he didn't live it down for a while.