Reply to: Fustration in investment banking

[smithsi]

Re: getting rejected because you corrected their technical misunderstanding - when I have been the interviewer and the interviewee has pointed out a mistake, I definitely put that as a plus point.

I remember asking a few detailed questions and code snippets about java threading, which this one candidate passed fine but then added "of course, you'd never do it this way now because of all new concurrent package."

The problem was he was alleging I didn't know my onions, because of his less than 100% knowledge of the technology (I would give him that the other 90% was very good). So I think I had to correct him slightly.

Problem with IB is that they do tend to interview at least twice for a job, but then renumeration is better than outside the industry. My rate reflects significant IB knowledge.

I try to see technical interviews that I don't get the job as training (where I don't know something). Fustration being when one has done their homework.

[bobhope]

Re: getting rejected because you corrected their technical misunderstanding - when I have been the interviewer and the interviewee has pointed out a mistake, I definitely put that as a plus point.

I remember asking a few detailed questions and code snippets about java threading, which this one candidate passed fine but then added "of course, you'd never do it this way now because of all new concurrent package."

[Shimano105]

I once walked from an interview when they announced that they were planning a days worth of interview 'tasks' from 9 am to 5 pm for a panel of interviewees.

In fact, one by one we all got up and just marched out.

It really is too stupid to contemplate why anyone would need to go through this.

Summat else will turn up with half the stress levels and you'll be glad you didn't get it.

[Zippy]

The attitude in the market by employers today is appalling.

F' em all. As they reject more and more candidates, the price just seems to go higher until they find that "special" candidate for the job.

WHS

[moorfield]

well...it's not ironic is it....who do you think you are Alanis Morrisette?

It rained on my wedding day. That was indeed quite ironic.

[herman_g]

The attitude in the market by employers today is appalling.

F' em all. As they reject more and more candidates, the price just seems to go higher until they find that "special" candidate for the job.

[nomadd]

You were probably interviewed by a jealous permie who did know he was interviewing a contractor.

There you go. Fixed that for you.

Contractor, eh? Well you aren't getting in here and making me look like the "winker" I am, no way. And so the interview silliness begins...

Been there, seen that, bought the teeshirt (too many times, unfortunately.) Permies, don't ya just love 'em.

Nomadd

[Menelaus]

IB is full of ego maniacs (as I'm sure that you're aware).

In the light of your having to take a day away from your work to attend their premises, I'd bill the ****ers.

[SantaClaus]

You were probably interviewed by a jealous permie who didnt know he was interviewing a contractor.
He was probably brought in by his manager to do the technical stuff and found out a little too much about you. His jealousy then turned into the feeling that you really didnt know about B-trees, mutithreading, java beans or whatever the latest buzzword is.

Happened to me once. Interview went really well and job was almost in the bag until I let slip the "C" word.

[HairyArsedBloke]

There is nothing that would make me want to do a contract in the City ever again (not that they would have me back). From what I see from report by other members of the CUK congregation, the stress levels for contractors in the financial sector are enormous, even worse since my day. I would be dead within a week as I could not take that now.

[TheOmegaMan]

In a highly competitive environment where supply outstrips demand, interview decisions are determined by the interests of the hiring manager. These interests may not only be about recruitment, they might include information gathering, free consultancy, or just someone to talk to about technical issues where there is no downside for the interviewer. Many IT/quant bankers like interviewing: it gives them a sense of superiority and it's more interesting than talking to traders. So that's why the interview are so long, and the recruitment decisions not clearly any better than any other industry.

[SuperZ]

Honestly if I was put under 7 hours of interviews I would bill them for it.

But then again would never submit to 7 hours of interviews in the first place. If they cannot make their minds up in an hour or so I most certainly do not want to work there as it would clearly show they were to a large degree:

• Incompetent
• Always busy covering their ass's
• Did not have enough real work to do
• Utterly crap staff and management

Like really, adding up all those people time that's at least two days lost productivity (generally at least 2 people at all times) per contractor, multiple that by 3 (generally minimum how many they are interviewing), so total of week's worth of lost man hours just to fill one contractor role!?! (this does not include time spent reviewing CV's and other task's which were probably just as drawn out)

Talk about a place well overdue a working practices audit

As to why you did not get the gig, you said it yourself, you corrected aka showed up one of the interviewers.

What they said ^

I was reading this thread thinking "what numpty would agree to 7 hours of interviews". Even if I had been out of contract for a while, I`d say no to that.

[Not So Wise]

Honestly if I was put under 7 hours of interviews I would bill them for it.

But then again would never submit to 7 hours of interviews in the first place. If they cannot make their minds up in an hour or so I most certainly do not want to work there as it would clearly show they were to a large degree:

• Incompetent
• Always busy covering their ass's
• Did not have enough real work to do
• Utterly crap staff and management

Like really, adding up all those people time that's at least two days lost productivity (generally at least 2 people at all times) per contractor, multiple that by 3 (generally minimum how many they are interviewing), so total of week's worth of lost man hours just to fill one contractor role!?! (this does not include time spent reviewing CV's and other task's which were probably just as drawn out)

Talk about a place well overdue a working practices audit

As to why you did not get the gig, you said it yourself, you corrected aka showed up one of the interviewers.

[jmo21]

Your "face" probably didn't "fit" the interviewer's team - that's all.

Sadly that's nothing to do with your skills, which is quite ironic really.

well...it's not ironic is it....who do you think you are Alanis Morrisette?

[KentPhilip]

Just send a photo in future.

Are you suggesting that the OP is ugly?

<sorry>