The key to your banking interview success Viewpoint careers advice blog

The key to your banking interview success The key to success in your banking job interview: preparation and presentation. 1. Preparation I have met too many candidates who wrongly assume that interview success is achieved by putting on a great performance. That helps, of course, but the key to interview success lies in the planning. “Interview preparation is essential,” says my colleague Philip Charsley, Business Director for our Investment Banking recruitment operations in London. “The most important element in the whole process of securing a new role is being as prepared as possible for the conversation you are going to have.” If you haven’t prepared in advance, you are already making your life difficult “If you haven’t prepared in advance, you are already making your life difficult. To simply go in and assume you understand the business and its culture and know the profile of the interviewer will result in you looking uninformed. This in turn will diminish your chances when compared to a candidate who has spent several hours researching the company and its senior management, the board etc. Coming prepared means that they can talk with an informed opinion of why they want to join that company.” Candidates should also have given some thought to the type of questions that typically arise, such as: “Why should we hire you?”; “What can you offer us that other candidates can’t?”; “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”; and so on. Ahead of your interview, take the time to do some self-analysis and think about what you are good at and/or not so good at. Prepare to be able to demonstrate your skills by giving practical examples of each of the below: Communication the ability to get on with a wide range of people Team working the ability to be an effective team leader or team member IT skills most roles need some IT skills Good attitude hard worker, honest, polite, cooperative Problem solving using your initiative to identify solutions Enthusiasm employers like someone positive Quick learner so you can take on new tasks Determination shows you are focused on achieving goals Flexibility doing a variety of tasks to achieve a common goal. 2. Presentation Once you have done your research about the organisation you want to work for and the person you are meeting, another challenge awaits: making a positive first impression. Perhaps unsurprisingly, research shows that early opinions are formed very quickly. The bad news is that those initial opinions are difficult to shift and have a disproportionate impact on a candidate’s chance of landing a role. It is all about developing a relationship with someone for the very first time very quickly Philip comments wryly that job interviews have a lot in common with speed dating: “It is all about developing a relationship with someone for the very first time very quickly. Think in advance about how you will present yourself, in terms of your clothing, your grooming, the way you engage with people and your body language. These are the things your potential employer will immediately look at as you walk through the door.” In terms of how to dress for an interview, a certain level of appropriateness is required. Whatever the role or the employer, candidates should always look professional. Philip adds: “Even if you are going for an interview somewhere informal like Google, you may not want to wear a tie but you should at least wear a jacket. If you turn up in jeans and a t-shirt, people would assume you already have the job or you’re not giving it the respect it deserves.” The ‘validation’ stage is next, which is when the interviewer assesses the strengths and weaknesses of an individual; effectively validating the pre-conception they had that prompted them to invite the person in for an interview. Is this person right for the job? Typically, this is done through a series of competency-based questions or an investigation of the person’s experience. “You need to have your sales pitch and think ‘I’m selling a product and the product is me’. This has to come across in the first couple of minutes of the conversation,” highlights Philip. Finally, if a destabilising question is thrown at you, remain calm. “How you compose yourself when put on the spot and asked difficult questions is a key part of making a good impression,” concludes Philip. To share your thoughts on this article and to stay up to date with the latest business, employment and recruitment news in the financial markets sector, please join our LinkedIn group, Financial Markets Industry Insights with Hays. Join the conversation If you enjoyed this blog then you might also enjoy some of the following: Want a pay rise? Heres how to get one Successful people create their own luck 15 questions to ask your interviewer Focus your interview on fit Prioritising personality in your hiring process Jobseekers, theres really no excuse: Research before your interview Make your interviewer love you Asking the right questions