Interview Preparation Sheet Find more on CoachingAssembly.com KEY OBJECTIVE OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
An interview is a two way process. Your interviewer is here to get an answer: do you have the skills, will your personality fit with the rest of the team? And you are there to discover if this is the right place for you to work. In clearer terms you are here to SELL and to BUY at the same time. You will spend c. 80% of an interview selling yourself and need to be ready and prepared for this. It does not constitute an easy task and you will need to start your thinking process well in advance. To sell yourself well you need to understand what the company is looking to buy. The best piece of advice we could give you at this stage is the following one: be prepared, be sure your story is ready and tailored, be sure you are able to answer the technical questions, read the latest financial news and don’t underestimate the competition.
HINTS & TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE PREPARATION
Know the company you are interviewing with. with It will show your motivation. Most candidates are not able to answer the following question: why do you want to join us? Check the company’s website, find the latest news, deals announced etc. Also try to find some information about your interviewer. Why you? Why should they hire you and not one of the c. 200 other applicants for this position? Know you story, be sure people are going to buy it. And for this you need to train. Key messages. What are the main ideas you want them to remember? What are the 4 key points they should remember about you when you leave the room? You never have a second chance to make a first impression. The first 2 minutes of your interview are key to success (introduction, body language etc.). Who are they looking for? What are the qualities / strengths required for the position? Once you know that use your personal and prior professional experiences to show you are suitable for the position. What do you know about the sector? Make sure you know the latest trends, evolutions, regulations. regulations If you are interviewing with a sector team, know the latest transformational deals that happened (even better if this particular team was involved in the process). It’s all about gaining brownie points and being ahead of the curve. Get some questions ready. Any interview is an opportunity for you to know more about the firm, corporate culture etc. Before accepting an offer you might want to get some questions answered. Think about the following: Your application is one of many; make it stand out in a good way. your skills and how to demonstrate them effectively. y Think about y Don’t make sweeping statements without qualifying them with the ‘why’, ‘how’ etc. Guidelines for Answering Interview Questions: Give concrete examples based on your own experiences. Do not give hypothetical answers. Explain your role in the specific examples that you give. Demonstrate self-development. Summary: The Interview positive first impression. p Create a p Show you are truly interested in the organization. Appear calm and confident. Make the most of your opportunity to ask questions about the Firm. CoachingAssembly. All rights reserved. Any unauthorised copying, duplication, reproduction, re-selling, distribution or other commercial use will constitute an infringement of copyright
Interview Preparation Sheet Find more on CoachingAssembly.com CV
Layout Clear presentation Short and structured Most recent events first Content What makes your CV different? Can you quantify what you have said? Be honest Is your spelling and grammar correct? Use power verbs, e.g. delivered, demonstrated, resolved etc. Show: o Ability to balance career with extracurricular activities, leadership, resilience, determination p , achievement o International experience,
What are most of the Banks looking for: tailor your story around those values
Academic achievements. Interest in financial markets. Passion and intellectual curiosity. Drive and commitment. Entrepreneurship. Integrity. Team work. Leadership potential.
The interview
First impression – You never have a second chance to make a first impression. Your CV needs to be clear, well formatted (something important for bankers) and easy to go through. Arrive on time, before the scheduled interview time and look terrific. Eye contact – Look them in the eye, smile, firm handshake. Walk me through your CV – Focus on your relevant skills for their needs. needs Be sure you express a genuine interest for finance (through studies, societies, internships etc.). Body language – Watch the interviewer, adapt your monologue if she / he looks bored, try to start a conversation. Questions? – Prepare some questions about the role / the firm. This is another opportunity for you to show the motivation for the role. Last impressions – Reiterate your motivation for the role, smile, firm handshake.
Practical things to do
There are some extremely practical things you can do throughout the interview process to guarantee that you present yourself to best effect. The most basic and important are: o Always be on time, if not 5-10 minutes early for each interview o Stick to a scheduled interview time to the best of your ability o Prepare questions for your interviewer o Give a firm handshake on introduction and departure o Always make eye contact with your interviewer o Think carefully about your answers; it’s better to take an extra minute structuring your thoughts g than rambling g on for too long g and without focus o Speak clearly and with confidence, at the same time try to be humble and not too aggressive o Remember you are selling yourself to them CoachingAssembly. All rights reserved. Any unauthorised copying, duplication, reproduction, re-selling, distribution or other commercial use will constitute an infringement of copyright