Is it true that everyone gets treated equally once Interviews begin or are non targets having a disadvantage?

Is it true that everyone gets treated equally once Interviews begin or are non targets having a disadvantage? I mean Interviewers are just humans who can not have a completely objective view, especially when the interviewee is from their school.

 

I think this depends on the interviewer and team. Personally, by the interview stage, I'll tend to expect more from someone from a target. If someone from a target and non target perform similarly well in an interview, I'll inherently be more impressed by the person from the non-target because they likely had fewer resources to prepare for the interview. For me, the target school is helpful for catching my initial attention when looking through resumes but doesn't do much after that.

 

I agree with this.

Once we get through the initial screening process (minimum GPA, major, basic technical questions, etc.) - we care much more about your reason why you want to do finance/join the firm and fit versus where you went to school.

I'd take a non-target guy that really impressed me with his hustle over a "polished" guy from a target, based on knowing how they got from A to B.

 

Personally I've met some students from targets who are extremely intelligent and can break in with some networking/OCR. Also have met some students from targets (H/Y/W/P) who knew absolutely nothing, barely know anything about what IB/AM/S&T even consists of, didn't network yet they were able to get internships. So I guess it depends on the place and some might place a lot of value on school you attended. I go to an extreme non-target and it definitely takes much more work and networking, but those who put in the work are able to break in once they get to the interview stage.

 

Targets will probably have a bit of an advantage all other things being equal because you're a safer hire. The odds of you being a flaming retard are (supposedly) less at an Ivy or similar tier school.

In practice the person who has the advantage is whoever plays golf with the MD.....not literally of course, but that statement should get my point across.

The most important thing to communicate for ANY job, not just IB, is that "I am your kind of people". At my MBA program (no OCR, but a lot off off-campus postings sent our way) the placement varied widely. The guy who was most successful was the guy who is a massive golf and wine snob, almost always dressed like he walked off the pages of the preppie handbook, stereptypical white guy glasses, etc...... He looks and acts like a white rich kid. Others who were successful have been, with one notable exception (who had a very "cool" background to put it mildly), the kind of person who you would expect to find at a clam bake or a wine tasting.

 

I stopped reading after "is it true that everyone gets treated equally".

Unless it's an anonymous process (which interviews are obviously not), there is no "equality" or "fairness" in the corporate world - or anywhere humans exist.

We are the slaves of our own (subconscious) judgement. EEO laws cannot override human evolution.

 

I'll always give an interview from someone who went to my school, getting the job is something else... More people went to target in IB so more chances of them finding someone from a target school.

I used only my school network to get interviews. When they ask you is "XYZ pub still there" you can connect. If you are able to connect on footbal or fencing or some other sport or social reason you have a chance. Bottom line is if you made it to the interviews and passed your technical the only thing that matters is fit. If I like you I'll hire you other an ass hole kid who went to a target.

Train of thoughts - disjointed sentences I hope you get it.

 
Best Response

One bank I interviewed at in the final year of my UG cut me after the second round. I happened to be in the city the next weekend for an interview at a separate bank so I asked one of the interviewers for a follow-up over coffee.

They explained that they included me in the interviews (a non-target wildcard) to see if I could "blow them out of the water." They would have only proceeded with me if I was considerably stronger than their target candidates.

A lot of the interview process comes down to risk profile, and being a non-target increases your risk profile. Nobody on a recruitment committee will get in shit for selecting a shitty candidate from a top school - a mistake anybody could make... but if they take a chance on a non-target student, who can't keep up, then that reflects poorly on them.

 

I'd say you'd generally receive equal treatment once you get to the interview stage. The college you attend could play a big factor in connecting with the interviewer if he/she is from the same school as you. Basically, its a lot easier to small-talk with the interviewer when there's such an obvious connection between you two. Knowing that their are more bankers from target schools, it could be easier for target school interviewees to connect with their interviewer in this way.

However, its very easy to find connections with the interviewer (sports, greek life, what state you're from...) so this advantage gets mitigated.

 

Went to a non-target ended up punching up above my weight class and got into a great shop. Unfortunately, non-targets are immediately discounted (at best) or completely excluded (at worst) when we go through apps. I scrapped my way into where I am and wont respond to II requests from target school kids, but if you are non-target and hustling then I am all for helping you. I would encourage you to reach out to IB employees who came from non-targets to get your foot in the door. They are generally more willing to help. That being said you better polished and perfect. The target employees will look for the littlest bullshit to ding you and slide in a target kid and if a non-target employee vouches for you they are really really sticking their neck out. Don't burn them

 

Life is what you make of it. If you decide to label yourself, you are the only one holding yourself back. No one else is to blame. While it is true that most companies have a "preference" for recruiting (Big4, IB, Tech companies) these exists because the company understands the kind of candidates from these school matches what they are looking for in a potential future employee.

It is a risk factor for companies to bring in people they are unsure of, that coming form a background or school they are not all familiar with. The reality is it is a toss up with a candidate who came from a 'non-target' background, but many times a company or firm will still give you a shot, even if it means that part of your job is cleaning floors and toilets.

I think we should rally down on the important qualities companies and firms look for- 1) They work hard (100%) 2) Prove themselves 3) Focused 4) Positive/Optimistic Attitude 5) They get to work on time 6) They put in extra hours to learn more about the job itself and network for referrals

Bottom line, you need people to like you. Life is 1000% easier when that happens.

 

There is no such thing as an objective interview. Generally speaking, I have had worse experience interviewing candidates from non-targets. Most of them can't answer basic questions, such as "why did you apply". It could be an issue of their career center not prepping them thoroughly, or maybe they honestly did not know why they applied. That said, there are always exceptions, and some non-target candidates come prepared.

Also, the further out you graduated and have worked longer, the less it matters where your undergrad was. This is when the alumni network becomes more important as you progress in your career.

 
<span itemprop=name>electriclighto</span>:

There is no such thing as an objective interview.

Completely agree with this. When I interviewed kids, coming from a target and NOT doing well rubbed me the wrong way. I remember looking at a candidate with BB experience, from a target school, with some terrific internships, telling me that they "don't know how to use Excel." After the interview, I remember thinking in the round-table session, "How do you go to [BB name] and NOT learn Excel? It's like working in sales and never having seen a phone."

To that end, I do expect more polish/knowledge from target kids. Though what electriclighto said about non-target school students has been true in my experience as well, a good portion of the non-target kids that I've seen have been seriously impressive.

 

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