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How can I better prepare for an interview?

Veteran

Sergey Onokhin Chicago, IL

I am going to be graduating this December, with a BS in Finance, and I am interviewing with a couple firms. I landed an interview for my dream job with an investment bank.

How should I better prepare for this interview? Should I brush up on my technical skills? Also during my first interview, I received feedback that a lot of my answers were 'generic.' How should I address this issue and make my reply more personal?

Thank you,
Sergey

19 October 2016 7 replies Interviews

Answers

Advisor

Nicole Winston Eden Prairie, MN

Hi Sergey,

Congrats on landing the interview!

First thing is to research the company, what they are all about (obviously if this is your dream job you know a little about them but get some deep details you can dig into with them at the interview). Know the values of the company, what makes employees tick, things like if they are listed in a top XX companies to work for list, etc.

Second, at the interview, when asked questions answer with a personal answer each time. Include information about how the question applies to you, what/when you have done it, what results you got, what info you learned from the task (for example if they ask about doing a certain project, having certain experience, etc). Use real examples and talk about the key points.

If the question they ask is generic, ask them for clarification to be able to provide them a better answer. Best example is when an interviewer says "So, tell me about yourself?" ... Always follow up with "Would you like to know about me regarding my personal life, education or employment?" and then follow up their answer with yours providing a few details for whatever topic(s) they specify.

Third, instead of giving quick answers that come to mind, if they ask a question that requires more thought look them in the eye (or speak calmly on the phone) and say "That is an intriguing question. Do you mind if I take a moment to think about it?" - This will give you 30 seconds to think about how you want to word a carefully descriptive answer.

I hope that helps!

Thanks for your service!

21 October 2016 Helpful answer

Veteran

Eric Moeller Ormond Beach, FL

Hi Sergey,

First, is the investment bank JP Morgan? If so, we need to talk!
An interview with a firm is very different than an interview with Google, Facebook, etc. The expectation is that you're very poised and confident, and demonstrate great personal responsibility.

Regarding being "generic", it's tough to say... If you'd like to send me a couple of the questions, I'll be glad to send you back what my answers would have been so that you can compare... moelman@yahoo.com
Best of Luck! And congrats on graduating.
Eric

20 October 2016 Helpful answer

Advisor

Jim Jones Getzville, NY

Hi Sergey, some great responses/advice has been given. I will echo Keith's advice and say that you should have examples/stories from your life experiences that demonstrate your ability to communicate, solve problems, work with others, reach goals, work as a collaborator. When responding to a question, it's not a matter of providing the answer, it is your ability to lead the interviewer through the process by demonstrating the actions you took and the result or outcome.

Advisor

Charles Bonilla Chicago, IL

Uncertain how much this will apply to interviews in your industry, but if nothing else, what I'm going to suggest may at least help you tell your STORY. People enjoy, and remember, stories. When you craft your answers, do so in the context of a story. A good way to do that is the S.T.A.R. method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), or the C.A.R. method (Circumstance, Action, Result). There's no need to stress about creating stories for EVERY conceivable possibility. Just do enough until you're comfortable with the process, and as you encounter tasks you overcome, it will occur to you "That's a STAR (or CAR) story." Note it, play with the best way to tell it, even use it at networking events. The key is to get comfortable telling them. When that happens, your confidence will shine through.

https://www.theguardian.com/careers/careers-blog/star-technique-competency-based-interview

http://thehiredguns.com/car-technique-secret-interviewing-weapon/

Advisor

Jessica Desrochers Groveland, MA

HI Sergey,
Everyone has given great feedback. I find when the candidate who engages with the interviewers, it's always successful (assuming you have the background). Remember you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Ask questions. Do your homework about the company, if it's your dream job it'll be fun/easy to do it in advance. They don't know it's your dream job, but being engaged by asking questions is always a good way for the company to gauge your interest level. If you're great on paper, but during the interview the candidate doesn't seem engaged or interested in the role, I won't pursue further.

When answering questions, explain in a way that it tells a story, not just answers the questions. This helps in giving them more information about you and how you handle situations and work through problems. We aren't all perfect, but it's how we deal with the situation that counts.

Best of Luck! Thanks for your service!
Jessica

Advisor

Keith Van Sickle Menlo Park, CA

Two things can make you stand out: great stories and great questions.
Great stories describe things you've done and really illustrate the qualities you bring to the company - leadership, commitment, results, technical skills, etc. What those stories are depend on the company, of course, but they can usually be adapted to most situations. Have them ready for when the right moment arrives. Or even if it doesn't, find a way to get them out there.
Great questions show that you've done your homework, you understand something about this specific company and you are eager to learn more. Many interview candidates fail here and it can help separate you from the pack.
Best of luck.

Advisor

Ronald Carvalho Avon By The Sea, NJ

Sergey,

Nicole has great recommendations.

Suggest you ask with whom you will be meeting and do some research on them. Look at their history, you may share some common experiences that you can use in selling yourself.

Ronald Carvalho

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