One of my most frequently asked questions is how investment bankers decide who gets an offer following a day of interviews. Even if you did everything right, there’s no guarantee you’ll get an offer if your interviewers didn’t like you.
Who Calls The Shots
Unlike the resume review process, Managing Directors are actually involved in handing out offers. HR does very little aside from scheduling the interviews – usually the MDs even tell them how many Analysts they need.
Typically everyone from Analyst to Managing Director will interview candidates. Everyone does have a say, but it’s ultimately up to the Managing Director who gets hired.
Sure, junior people can disagree with something or try to push back, but the Managing Directors can never be overruled. This is investment banking, after all.
The Selection Process
After the first round of interviews, the interviewers decide who they want to invite back for Superday – where 10-20 candidates are interviewed and final decisions are made.
Sometimes there are too many people and not enough slots. In this case we’ll give interviews to the best few and put everyone else on the waiting list.
During Superday, each interviewer will evaluate different qualities -leadership, drive, technical skills, for example. Candidates are not necessarily ranked on these, but we have an idea of who was the best in each area.
Afterward, HR gathers everyone for a debrief and sees what people thought. Usually consensus emerges pretty quickly on who we give offers to, who goes on the waiting list and who is rejected.
Very rarely are we overwhelmed with star prospective bankers. Most of the time we are only impressed with 1 or 2 people.
How Many Get Selected
In general, we receive 500-1000 resumes for 30-50 interview spots, then give Superday interviews to 10 of those 30-50. Then we pick 2-3 of those to actually receive offers.
These odds don’t look great, but most people we interview do not stand out and you can greatly improve your chances just by practicing and knowing what to expect.
What We Look For In Candidates
We look for people who really, really want the job and will do anything to get it.
Some interviewees are doing it just to test the waters and don’t really know what they’re getting into. Bankers can spot people like this from a mile away. Don’t be one of them.
Prove that you can work hard on very little sleep, learn quickly, play well in teams and are hungry to get experience and you will get offers.
One of the important aspects of a job interview is body language. This means using your own body language to your best advantage and also reading the body language of the interviewer. If you don’t get your job interview body language right, it could cost you the job.
You might be surprised to discover what a skilled interviewer can tell about you just from reading your body language during the job interview. In fact, not just the interview itself, but just before it, if he watches you approach the building or as you are waiting in the reception area. And of course, also afterwards as on your way out after the interview is over.
Did you know that it is possible for someone to tell whether you are confident, a good team player or if you are going to tell the truth, even if you haven’t opened your mouth?
With this in mind, it is important to master the basics of effective body language before you go to your next interview.
First of all, be aware that you could be being watched from the moment you are within view of the building. So there should be no slouching, smoking or other behaviour which could be perceived as negative as you arrive. The way you behave as you are waiting is also important and may be scrutinized. So you should wait calmly and interact politely with anyone you meet.
If the interviewer holds out a hand, shake it firmly, introduce yourself politely and make eye contact. Sit up straight and be careful not to slouch as this gives the impression you are bored or lazy.
When the interviewer is speaking, lean forward slightly as this conveys interest and shows you are listening. You should also make appropriate eye contact throughout the interview. This means making eye contact in a natural and unforced way. Staring intensely at someone is very off-putting and should be avoided. If there are several interviewers, make a point of making eye contact with all of them when they ask a question.
Don’t cross your arms and legs, since this makes you look as if you are on the defensive or very tense. Putting your hands behind your head is often a sign of confidence or that you feel superior and therefore to be avoided in an interview.
Avoid any nervous mannerisms, like tapping on a table or chair or fidgeting with a pen or tissue. The interviewer will expect you to be a little nervous, but try to be as natural as possible.
You have built that professional free online resume, a polished cover letter, and that stylish suit for your job interview. Now wait, interview? You’re not prepared, are you? You don’t really want to ruin that opportunity with a nervous state of mind. No need to worry, we’ll help you prepare for that much awaited discussion with your future employer.
When you have mastered the skills to make a resume, you should now learn the 8 job-winning interview tips that you should know by now:
Research About the Company – Don’t go into the war without ammunition. Do your homework and research about the company especially if it’s for an international job opportunity, their profile, products/services, history, etc. Having familiarized the company profile gives you an idea what exactly they are looking for in a candidate. Besides, doing your research will give you that jumpstart point in the interview. Be Truthful – Without going into two much detail, if your past experience matches the post in hand and it would be a natural career match, please mention theses facts early on in your spiel. These are the ‘nuts and bolts – facts that the employer needs to know. Be Presentable – This must be the oldest trick in the books. Just as presentation is a vital part in your resume, your physical appearance is as important in landing that job. If you don’t know what to wear for an interview, a decent shirt with tie and trousers would be a good start, but having a suit would definitely give you an edge. Study the Job Description – You’ve probably heard of this line: “I’m sorry, what position am I applying for again?” Trust me, those candidates who have asked that gained the much needed negative points enough for the interviewer to drop their resumes. Look through the job posting and study the position. Remember the details and be sure your skills and experience match the requirements of the employer. Practice Your Questions – The internet has a vast amount of interview resources like common interview questions. Use these resources to your advantage. The more you practice your answers the more you’ll be confident in coming in for the interview. But don’t rely on these questions alone, have them as a supplement. The best tools you have are your resume, skills, knowledge, experience, and your better judgment. Be Confident – Sure we understand that anxiety you have whenever you have interviews. It’s 100% normal. But if you want that impressive impression from the employer, be confident or at least act like it. Think positive and you’ll have better way of answering questions and conversing with the interviewer. You Can Ask Questions – Yes you can ask questions provided they don’t go beyond interview ethics. You can imply your deep interest in the company by asking details about them that are not provided in the job posting or on their website. Or you can ask the interviewers if you have said something that would make them believe that you are not the right person for the job. If there are any confusions on their part, clear your statements and create that chance to redeem yourself. Send a Follow-Up Note – When you have successfully completed with your interview, be sure to send them a note or an email thanking them for the time given for the discussion. If you have been given a time frame by the interviewers for their reply, wait for it. Don’t be that annoying candidate that keeps calling recruiters asking for that untimely feedback. If after that stated period, the interviewer/recruiter has not called you for the feedback, you can drop them a note asking whether or not you have passed the interview or whether you are qualified for the position and what would be the next step.
The aim of this article is to help you learn how to develop your interviewing skills and secure the position that you are seeking. This article is intended for professional’s young and old alike.
The first thing that you have to do is know yourself. If you do not know yourself then you will not be able to present yourself to others. It does not matter at all what kind of job or position that you are applying for, what is important is that you know yourself and that you are confidant with yourself.
Imagine for a moment that you are in the army and engaged in battle with the enemy. Your very life is on the line and you depend upon your officers to lead you to victory and in safety. When you think about that officer in charge you want him/her to be confidant, intelligent, wise, and discerning. Those are the qualities that you expect from a leader and you will follow his/her commands without fail. If on the other hand your officers were nervous, indecisive, and unsure of themselves, would you not feel cautious and uncomfortable? Of course you would.
The same is true when you interview. The people that are interviewing you are like the solder in the field and they are depending on you. You need to convey a spirit of success and confidence when interviewing. If you do this you will have the job.
This is very important: The interviewers assume that you are qualified at the task you are interviewing for. What they are not sure of is your personal manner and ability to get along with others, particularly the staff that you would be working with. Do not worry about impressing them with what you know. Rather, impress them with sound character and integrity. That will get you the job!
When you approach the building where you are to interview be sure to look calm and confident, you never know who is watching and from where. When you get inside the building the first thing you do is ask where the washroom is. When you get there check yourself and make sure you look in order. Carry a small toothbrush, gargle and other toiletries to freshen up with before you meet anyone. These items are easily kept in a purse or briefcase.
Upon entering the area where you are to meet be sure to give eye contact with whom ever you see and politely ask questions with regard to your appointment. Speak softly and politely. When you are asked to take a seat and wait for the person(s) to come out. It is wise to read material pertaining to that company or institution if it is readily available. Learn all you can about that company or institution in the few minutes that you have before meeting. It is also prudent to do research on your prospective employer beforehand.
When your party comes out to greet you be sure to stand up and shake their hand firmly and make solid eye contact as you shake hands. Express how you are pleased to meet them and thank them for taking the time to meet with you.
When you are taken to the conference room or office be sure to take a seat where they suggest. At all times be calm and polite. Usually there are two or three persons conducting the interview, but one person is in charge and it is important to focus on that person.
Small talk will start; traffic, weather, getting there, etc., to help calm the atmosphere. After this the lead person will usually start the questions. Listen carefully! When you are asked a question do not give out too much information. Offer just enough to want them to inquire for more, like and appetizer. Keep them interested. Then at the end of every response be sure to ask them if what you have just told them satisfies their question. Continue this throughout the entire interview. Be sure to keep things short. Above all do not volunteer information, only answer the questions that they ask of you. Offering information could plant doubts that were not there and best left alone.
When you can be sure to reply to them in a fashion that displays your understanding of the task. Always polish your silver. Be confident in your manner and be sure never to be timid or shy. If you display confidence and politeness you will most likely get the job. Be sure to smile often but refrain from laughing. At the close of the interview shake everyone’s while looking them in the eye and thank them for their time.
Important: When you get home immediately write all persons at the interview a thank you card. The card must be from a fine store, museum, or gallery. The card should let them know that you are cultivated and refine.
After a few days follow up with a telephone call to see if they had any questions. This is always looked upon favorable it shows interest. They want to hire someone interested in the position not just looking for a job. If you follow these steps you will find yourself with the position that you wanted. Good luck to you.
Many job applicants think the only thing left to do after an interview is to send a thank you letter. While sending an interview thank you letter is important, don’t get complacent and think that is all you have to do at the end of your interview.
First and last impressions are the strongest, so you want to end the interview gracefully and do the proper follow-up. As a hiring manager, here are three things I want you to eep in mind.
At the end of the interview, I will almost always ask you if you have anything else to say. Most candidates stumble a bit with this one and end awkwardly. The best way to end the interview is to thank me for my time, summarize your qualifications and reiterate your interest in the position. After the interview, do a personal debriefing. Write down the names and titles of everyone you met, your opinion of how you thought the interview went, questions you were asked that you found difficult, and any other information you learned about the company and the job. Even if you don’t get this job, it will help you on future interviews. Follow up the interview with an interview thank you letter to the Hiring Manager and anyone else who may have interviewed you. This shows you understand basic business etiquette and have good attention to detail.
The Best Question of All to Ask the Hiring Manager
Early in my career, a very experienced Hiring Manager shared with me the best question ever to ask at the end of your interview. Here it is: “I’m convinced this is the job I want. What do I need to do to convince you that I’m the best person for the job?”
This is a great question. It shows your interest in the job and it flatters the Hiring Manager’s selling skills (yes, if you’re a good candidate I’ll want to sell you on the job). It also gives you one last chance to sell yourself by addressing any specific suggestions I may have about how to “convince” me you’re the best candidate.
If you feel the interview went well, try using this question. I asked this question myself once when I was interviewing and, to my surprise, the Hiring Manager replied, “Well, I’m pretty well convinced already.” I was offered the job the next day.
You’re selling yourself at the interview, so you have to be certain you ask for the sale!
Good luck at your next interview.
Telephone interview tips can help you land your dream job. How? The amount of telephone job interviews conducted by employers has dramatically risen over the past five years and the trend shows no signs of slowing. This is mainly due to the fact that employers are searching for ideal candidates who live out of town, not just those who live locally. Chances are that you may have to “attend” a telephone interview. When you do, these tips will help you out.
Keep in mind that an interview conducted over the phone is just as important as one conducted in an office. You need to prepare for your interview just as you would any other interview. Review questions and practice your answers in front of a mirror or with a friend. Make a list of questions you want to ask. You might also want to study up on the employer you are interviewing with.
Always keep your resume and the classified job ad in front of you during the interview. This will keep vital information within reach. Avoid preparing a pile of documents. If you have a stack of papers in front of you, you will be tempted to browse through papers which will create a noisy distraction during your interview. It will be very difficult extracting information from a huge pile anyway. The key is to keep it simple.
If at all possible, use a home phone line for the interview. Cell phones can be unreliable. A home phone is both more reliable and free of static. Set aside time for the interview. Make sure you are in a quiet place and that will allow you plenty of time to talk. Your interviewer may request to conduct the interview through a video conferencing system on the computer. This is fine, but there could be technical difficulties if you don’t make sure you are up and running ahead of time.
Make sure you set aside plenty of time for your interview. You never want to abruptly halt an interview or disrupt it in any way. One of the best telephone interview tips that you can follow involves getting into an ideal frame of mind before the interview. Schedule time before the interview to relax. Take steps to limit disruptions. Take the call in a private room located away from kids, animals and other potential distractions.
Try to speak up and pronounce your words clearly. Remember; the quality of your voice is your first and only impression. Speak passionately, but avoid becoming too animated or excited. This could make it difficult for the interviewer to understand you.
Another great tip is to dress for a telephone interview just as you would in an in-office interview. While no one will actually see you, you will feel more professional and your voice will convey this.
Telephone interview tips will only help you if you have time to prepare beforehand. If an employer cold calls you and asks to do an interview on the spot, politely ask if you can call back at a better time. Always give a time when you will call back.
Careers in banking and related fields are hot careers today, but before you decide on your career path, you may want to learn a bit more about the banking field and what it has to offer you. This particular field offers a great deal of diversity and is well paid as well, but the field is not for everyone. Read on to find out the essential information about careers in banking and decide whether or not a career in banking is the right choice for you. Career Choices in the Banking Industry
While you may only think of bank tellers when you think of the banking industry, there are actually a variety of different career choices available within the banking world. Of course, probably the most obvious is the bank teller, who deals with cash and customers. You may also want to consider a career as a customer service representative or a new accounts clerk in a bank as well, which involves opening and closing accounts, answering customer questions, and dealing with any customer concerns.
Another side of the banking industry includes those who deal with the loan process. There are loan clerks, loan officers, and loan processors that deal with various parts of loan processes within a bank. There are also banking jobs available in collections, accounting, and support areas like office managers, secretaries, and data entry.
The careers that many people have in their sights when they think about banking are management positions. There are many different management careers in the banking industry, including bank managers, financial managers, investment managers, and trust officers. While these types of positions may be better paying, they also require a great deal more work as well.
Education Needed
The education that you will need for a career in banking will highly depend on which particular career you are planning on pursuing. Some jobs, such as bank tellers or customer service managers only require that you have a high school diploma or a GED. Other jobs, such as loan officers, and investment officers, will require that you become certified within your state to sell special products such as IRA’s and Annuities. Some careers in this field may require that you have a degree in business or another similar type degree as well. The great thing about a career in banking, is that once you start out in this field, many times the bank you work with will help you get the education you need to advance in your career, which can save you a great deal of money and make you an extremely valuable employee.
What You Can Expect to Earn
The earnings that you can expect in this field are quite diverse, and depend on your specific job within the field. Tellers are generally the lowest paid people in the banking industry, but still they usually will make between $8-11 per hour, and sometimes more if they have been with the same company for a long time. Clerks and secretaries can expect to make between $10-12 an hour, while customer service reps and bookkeepers will make $11-13 per hour. If you are able to climb the ladder to become an executive secretary or even an administrative assistant, you will see a significant rise in pay and will probably make between $15-17 per hour. Loan officers and financial managers usually make the most in this field, with loan officers making around $20 per hour and financial managers making about $30 per hour.
Quality Companies
If you decide that you would like to pursue a career in the banking industry, you will want to be sure that you find a job with a quality company that will pay you a competitive salary and offer you quality benefits, such as health insurance, vacation days, and 401K as well. If you are looking for jobs in banking in the United States, several companies to consider are Wachovia, SunTrust, Chase Bank, Morgan and Stanly, and Bank of America. In the event that you are looking for a banking job in Canada, some companies you may want to check into include The People Bank, Bank of Canada, and the National Bank. Once you find a quality company to work for, you can start working on advancing your career in banking and working your way up towards success.
If a company has a large number of customers, but doesn’t have the capability to handle calls from those customers, they might contract a call center. These firms help with airline reservations, directory assistance, computer technical help, and other important customer service functions. They are generally staffed with both technically trained and non-technical employees, depending on the job needed. Many students apply for call center jobs because the schedules are flexible in most cases.
All call centers screen their employees, just as any other job would. If you’re applying for a job at a call center and are nervous about the interview, you might be wondering what kind of questions you’ll be asked. Following are the top 5 call center questions, and the best way to be prepared for them.
- “Tell us about you previous experience working for a call center. Describe how you helped the customers.”
This question might arise in the middle of the interview, or at any other point during the process. It’s important to review and consider your past work history before interviewing with the call center. Be prepared to describe highlights of any past call center work you’ve done, and describe any times when you’ve worked successfully with others. Call centers like to look for people they would consider team players. Be sure not to make up any exploits at previous jobs. It’s important to always tell the truth in a job interview.
- “Are you proficient with different kinds of software? What kind of computer experience do you have?”
Internet telephony is common in most call centers. This kind of technology is less expensive than using a land line. Call centers also maintain computer databases of customers, and are concerned with your ability to rapidly learn to navigate and use such software. Log files must generally be created after each call, and most employees must also know such basic office software as MS Word, Excel, etc.
- Question number three isn’t a spoken question, but rather the interest of your interviewer in how you conduct yourself. They will be judging you on your communication skills and grammar to see how you might interact with a customer on the phone. Remember to speak clearly and concisely. Choose your words carefully.
- “What does a call center mean to you?”
This seemingly harmless question is a way for your prospective employer to gauge how serious you are, and what your commitment to the job will be. This standard question should be replied to earnestly, and it’s important not to give the impression that you are planning to leave as soon as a better opportunity comes along. Interviewers are usually looking for employees that will stay with the company for a long time and make a career out of their job.
- “What do you consider to be the important of teamwork?”
Employers tend to prefer people who like to work in a team. Loners have a lower chance of being hired. Be sure to let your interviewers know that you can work in a team without becoming stressed or hostile. Management books about the value of teamwork can help you find the words you need to express the value of teamwork in the workplace.
These top 5 call center interview questions are among those you might expect to hear when you’re applying for a job. Technical jobs will have more questions on the technical subject, while non-technical jobs might focus more on teamwork and interpersonal interaction. Whichever job you’re applying for, be sure to be prepared to answer these questions and be on the ball.
Banking interviews are meant to gauge the potential of the candidate to see if he/she has the skills to be placed in any suitable post in the bank. Banking interview questions are meant to measure the attitude, skill and adjustability of the candidate, to draw a conclusion on his/her suitability in the firm. The interviewers will ask as many questions they think is necessary before recruiting any candidate as they are concerned with the fact that the quality and skills of the employees will determines the future of the company.
To become successful in the banking interview process, you need to be well prepared to face the different sets of banking interview questions. Banking interview questions also starts with some general questions about the candidate such as his/her family background, education, and interests. The second and third set of banking interview questions will be meant to know the candidate’s work experience, nature, capacity, ideology, and ability to solve problems. Answering to the fist set of banking interview questions related to your family, qualification, or future planning will be quite easy.
Let us discuss some of the common but very effective banking interview questions.
The interviewer may typically begin with ‘tell me about yourself”. It is a common opener which is meant to set the ball rolling for the next few minutes ahead. Even though this is the common question which will be asked in most of the interviews you can score brownie points by answering the question a bit differently, but at the same time not deviating much from the context.
Other commonly asked banking interview questions include:
General Questions
Why did you choose banking as your profession?
Do you have any previous experience?
Why you left your previous job?
Why do you want to work for us?
How long will you stay with us?
Where you see yourself in another five years?
Finance related banking interview questions
If you could buy one stock today, what would it be and why?
Can you explain the effect of rising interest rates on the United States economy?
What are the main issues ABC Company has to face before entering a given industry (Porter framework)?
Explain the techniques you use to value firms?
What do you mean by cost of capital?
When do you use a WACC versus a cost of equity?
Behavioral Questions
Do you think you have leadership quality? Can you explain when did you show leadership?
Have you think you can perform well in a group?
What is your most noted accomplishment?
What are your positive traits or strengths?
What are your negative traits or weaknesses?
What you can do for the company others people can’t?
Explain an example when you had a personal conflict and how you resolved it?
Tell a time when you had an ethical dilemma and how you resolved it.
What type of person do you find difficult to get along with?
The above mentioned are some of the common questions that are used by most of the banking interviewers. Remember that for a banking job interviewer, there cannot be a dearth for questions. So be well prepared before attending the interview and answer all questions in a positive way. Remember if you have the material they are looking for, you’ll get it.
If you want to work in the Indian banking sector then, it is certainly a good choice as the banking operations are really opening up with a lot of job opportunities for youngsters and the experienced. There are several premium job openings in this sector and can do a lot for your career prospects long time.
The banking operations in India have been at an all time high and can offer several privileged job opportunities in the field of banking. The recruitment process is the based on best practices that is followed internationally for recruiting candidates.
The openings for the posts of clerical staff, probationary officers and management cadre arise regularly. The banking operations jobs in India stress on educational qualifications, along with relevant experience in the field of customer service and banking. There are skilled professionals in the banking and customer service domain that are always required and wanted by the bank. The vast number of jobs and careers that Banking operations jobs in India offers is a testimony of its commitment towards it customers and employees.
The selection process includes the following steps. One has to follow the following methods to qualify finally for a banking job.
o Calling for applications from eligible candidates
o Applying either online or via post
o Receipt of the application
o Dates for the exam and the exam code
o Announcement of the results for the written test
o Interview
o Announcement of successful candidates
o Medical and verification of data including certificates, police records
o Offer letter and joining the bank for a satisfying career.
