Bank on Banking

The simple truth: if you didn’t nail the interview, especially in this market, you’ve just lost the opportunity.

Although a strong resume is absolutely essential to getting anywhere with potential employers, the resume can only get you so far. Once you get called for that interview, it is no longer your resume that makes the big impact and gets you the job; it is your interview(s). While a good interview may not always get you the job, a bad interview will all but assure you receive the infamous DING.

Try an Hour of Interview Prep NOW and Become the Banker!

Strong interviews skills bridge the gap between “solid applicant on paper” (read: nice resume) and “team, I’d like you to meet our new analyst/associate/etc” (read: congratulations, you got the job!). If you can’t clearly and articulately express your interest in banking and the firm, your analytical/quantitative/financial/accounting skill set (depending on your background), and your ability to think on your feet and run with projects, you won’t be getting that callback. Remember this, if your interview skills are top notch, you will find a job and you will leave a lasting impression – regardless of market (yes, it may take a broader effort in bad vs. good markets).

While there are other options out there, none will be able to offer a package as extensive, including a realistic interview experience (meaning a full interview, drilling questions and all), the investment banking-specific questions, a broad, yet detailed, Q&A session to cover each aspect of your interview (what worked and what didn’t), as well the freedom to set up the specific schedule for your session (discussion topics, specific types of questions, strategies, follow-ups, etc). I am incredibly confident in my ability to help you to shape and hone in on the skills necessary to not just weather a few interviews, but to thrive in virtually any interview situation – the 2 on 1, the lengthy interview, the angry interviewer, the super day interview gauntlet, the “friendly” interview, and the rest. Nailing the interview isn’t just about the responses you give, it’s also about the answers you hold back, knowing when to talk and when to stay quiet, and reading your interviewer’s responses, follow-up questions, and so forth. Being tuned in to this entire process is what separates the decent interviewers from the good interviewers and the good interviewers from the great interviewers.

Testimonial

Just a few of the more common questions I can cover include:

Pre-Interview Prep and Post-Interview:

• Should I wear a suit or tie, what if it is hot, can I get away with no blazer

• What should I bring besides my resume and how should I carry my resume, how many copies

• What kind of questions should I ask my interviewer

• When is too soon vs. too late to follow up with the “thank you” note

Common Interview Questions:

• Walk me through your resume

• Tell me about a time you acted as a leader/team player

• Walk me through a challenging project you took on

• Tell me about a time you failed

Brain Teasers:

• How many golf balls in a building

• How many sewer caps in NYC (that’s a favorite)

The Whys and Other “W”s:

• Why banking

• What are your goals – short term/long term

• Where else are you applying, and where in the process are you

Analytical Questions:

• Walk me through the 3 financial statements

• What are the 3 parts of the statement of cash flows

• Give me 2 ways to value a company and walk me through the process

So, what are you really getting:

In short, an investment banking-focused interview prep service designed to teach you all of the communication skills, ideal responses and key interviewer clues necessary to ensure that when it comes time to interview, you aren’t just ready to go, you are ready to crush it. Specifically, the session can provide you with (depending on how you wish to tailor it):

• A summary email containing your weak points, strong points, where and how to continue to improve your skill set

• An hour-long (or longer depending on the package that you purchase) interview prep session

• The ability to custom tailor the format of your session through email, before the session begins, so that you can maximize the value of both your time and the session (the session can be tailored to discuss networking and cold emailing strategies, interview prep, mock interviews that are general or focused on a certain topic or question type, Q&A, mock interview feedback, role reversal, etc – it is entirely up to you)

• Unlimited email assistance to fine tune any issues/points, test out potential answers or questions to ask the interviewer, and so forth

• The tips and strategies to help you avoid the wrong answers, and to give you the insight needed to discover what to say vs. what not to say – as a “wrong” answer can be a catastrophe

• The confidence to attack and conquer any behavioral, technical or ambiguous question asked of you

How to get the ball rolling:

1. Use the links below to pick up your package of interview prep sessions

2. Shoot me an email with your confirmation number, contact phone number, and when you’re thinking about scheduling your first session, along with some general areas of interest to cover during said session (interview prep, mock interview, networking, Q&A, etc)

3. We will then have a back and forth to iron out the details and general outline of your session, and solidify a time that works for both of us

4. I will call you up to hold our first session

5. Following our session, I can provide you with a summary page of what we covered during our session, as well as additional helpful pointers if you chose to do a mock interview

6. If at any time you have any additional questions regarding the session, or a quick follow up to an aspect of the session, I offer unlimited email feedback to keep you on the right path and help you to nail each of your interviews

Note: If you choose to have me conduct a mock interview, know that it will be intense and will be structured in the same way and with the same types of questions that you will go through during a real interview. I will not stop the session in the middle to correct you, but will, instead, keep track of your responses and my feedback to go over with you after the interview. I will cover your strengths, weaknesses, good and bad answers, where you need to focus on improving and how exactly to go about improving your interview skills. The interview will generally last about 30 minutes, with the remainder of the time dedicated to going through my feedback of your performance, crafting better responses to some of the questions that may have stumped you, and answering any additional questions that you may have. Towards the end of the interview, there will even be a bit of time left for you to ask any questions of me (as the interviewer) – remember, the questions you ask matter too; just because you are done answering questions, does not mean the interview is over.

As I mentioned before, remember, you can use your time in any way that you believe will yield the greatest benefit to your candidacy. If you want to discuss cold calling, emailing and general networking, we can do that. If you want to discuss different banks, locations, BBs vs boutiques, we can do that. If you want to focus on fit questions, “why” questions, case studies, a little extra on brain teasers, etc, we can certainly do that as well. It is your time, and it will work best if we, together, use it to address your most pressing needs (as you see them).

How much does it all cost?

The total cost for the interview prep package varies based on the number of hours purchased. I offer several packages ranging from 1 hour sessions (at an introductory rate of $99) up to 5-hour sessions (at an introductory rate of $405). Additionally, if you would like to purchase a bigger package than that, just email me with your interests and we can work out the price from there.

What’s the next step to get started?

Decide how many hours you would like to initially purchase, and then click on the PayPal link below, which is 100% safe and secure.

After making the purchase (or before if you have any jitters or questions), shoot me an email with any initial questions, specific areas of focus, time constraints, 1st session potential times, and other info you think is worth mentioning. From there, we will agree on a time, and work, prior to the call, to set up a broad schedule encapsulating what topics you would like to cover, how you would like to cover them, and the best way to utilize our time to accomplish these goals.

Breaking into banking is not easy, but with the right tools, there is no reason why you can’t thrive in your interviews and turn your dream into a reality.

Email me here with any of your questions, comments, suggestions or concerns. I look forward to working with you and helping you to realize your goals.

1-Hour Session – $99

2-Hour Session – $180

3-Hour Session – $259

5-Hour Grand Slam Session – $405