I recently went through an extremely grueling interview process with a SM and to say the least, I fucked up in the last round.
The mistake I made was not admitting "I don't know" to a few questions and instead trying to answer around the question and making myself just look worse.
I feel pretty dejected now given it was a great seat, spent a shitload of time on the pitch, and I could have easily avoided what I did. Onwards...
| +35 | ADHD ! | 19 | 20h | |
| +33 | Non-Competes Banned | 43 | 23h | |
| +30 | Being Christian in investment banking | 14 | 5d | |
| +20 | Moelis has the cutest Analysts? | 4 | 4d | |
| How do I become Sigma | 15 | 3d | ||
| +19 | What does the richest self-made woman you know do for a living? | 19 | 1h | |
| +16 | Can someone justify why is million written mm or MM? | 15 | 11h | |
| +16 | Underage intern, drinking? | 7 | 5d | |
| +16 | Secretive vs Universal Prestige? | 8 | 18h | |
| +10 | Anyone on Finasteride? | 10 | 16h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, it's not uncommon to hear about interview regrets, especially in high-stakes environments like finance. Your experience resonates with a common theme where candidates regret not admitting when they don't know the answer to a question. Trying to navigate around a question without a clear answer can indeed backfire, as interviewers often value honesty and the ability to acknowledge gaps in knowledge.
One of the key takeaways from various discussions and advice on WSO is the importance of being prepared to say "I don't know, but I'll find out and get back to you" rather than attempting to fabricate an answer. This approach is generally more respected and can even be seen as a sign of professionalism and integrity.
Feeling dejected after such an experience is understandable, but many have found that these moments can be pivotal learning experiences. They highlight the importance of preparation, including preparing to gracefully handle questions you might not have the answers to.
Remember, every interview is a learning opportunity. Reflecting on what went wrong and how you can improve is a crucial step in preparing for future opportunities. The finance industry is competitive, and setbacks can be disheartening, but resilience and the ability to learn from mistakes are highly valued traits. Onwards and upwards, as you said. Keep refining your approach, and don't let this setback define your journey.
Sources: Regrets in job search: Make sure this doesn't happen to you., Interview Failures, Interview with Simple As...Hedge Fund Analyst, Cringiest thing you’ve ever done in an interview, Biggest Regret in Undergrad
- Overdressed in a tech interview for CFO at a startup
- Had an interview with a GS IB person and stayed up all night and created some crazy presentation that made me look completely insane
Ignoring the staying up all night part… do you thinks its a crazy idea to bring some short ~5 slide presentation on a deal pitch idea to an interview?
I think it entirely depends if the pitch is actually good.
Two come to mind:
1. Had two phone interviews the same day. Told the first guy that I really wanted to work at the second guy's company. He called me on it - "You mean...X?" - and the interview ended shortly after.
2. CEO of a major firm had me analyze myself based on animal personalities. I was the same two-animal personality combo as him. That was apparently the wrong answer. He also had me analyze my now-wife and said that we'd make it as a couple but it would be contentious, unlike him and his wife who are perfectly matched. Absolute weirdo.
Not an interview mistake, but I was on a virtual “get to know our company” thing for non targets after their applications came out. This one had breakout sessions with bankers, and I asked an associate what about (bank name that is a direct competitor) stood out to you when you when through recruiting. I had just had a networking call that afternoon with someone at the competitive bank and it was on my mind. I was rejected without an interview shortly after.
Was overly honest during one interview
“Yeah never been a big fan of this city but it’s grown on me the past couple days”
Et incidunt inventore molestias est qui odit minus aut. Aut doloremque unde in reiciendis blanditiis totam ut. Odio nostrum velit voluptatum qui.
Error perspiciatis impedit harum qui rem. Qui neque corporis nihil ducimus aut accusantium. Maiores optio ab ipsum ut.
Ducimus consequatur repellat tempora cum rerum hic minus. Et voluptates reiciendis autem et quod commodi nisi. Saepe officia aspernatur quo error. Et soluta et numquam modi saepe consequatur quae. Quae autem facere sint rerum.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...