[Invictus]

I'm usually pretty good at job interviews, but there are a lot of guys who have their shit down and I want their take.

I have a job interview end this week with a small (16 employees) private asset management house. It's only a student job (kind of like an internship, but with pay), since Im in grad school.

My long term plan here is to go in and do a great piece of work and build a powerful network. Get the skills, and slowly start building my own portfolio and then break loose like the resident G here on the forum.

Besides the obvious, look snazzy, be fresh, bring tight game - any other tips or worth considerations I should make. resources I should look at?

I am going to blast the competition out of the water.

[zanetti]

prepare some good, insightful questions to ask; a good one is to ask their policy/strategy with regards to emerging markets, a major theme for all asset management houses these days

ask the interviewer(s) what they think are the key qualities of the successful applicant

[kimleebj]

(05-17-2011 09:06 AM)Invictus Wrote:  

be fresh, bring tight game

This is vague and goofy. You need to create a genuine rapport based on your interest in the industry and the specific job requirements, and project an image of congeniality.

Explain you are eager to learn more about markets and "real" asset management based on your exposure to theories. You love writing code, generating reports, crafting Powerpoint presentations, and doing the things they need. You are there to learn at the feet of masters, and will cheerfully do this with no attitude problems. In other words, show you are a good fit for the industry, the job, and the organization.

[Roosh]

If the person who is interviewing you wouldn't mind having a beer with you afterward, you'll probably get the job. Be chatty and get them talking about themselves in a personal way.

[MiXX]

Confidence!!

Getting a job is like getting ass. You are selling yourself, and must primarily show confidence in your abilities, and be able to engage and control the person that holds the job you want (or girl holding the pussy you want)

Mixx

[Invictus]

It all sounds like great advice. Thanks a lot, gents. Especially since it's getting me in the right mind-set to think of terms of understanding their needs and requirements, and finding synergies with my own goals. This helps.

Keep it coming.


PS. This is probably a separate post... I did some VBA programming for my company when I was younger, just out of highschool without ANY education whatsoever, and I made an amazing tool. But I generally think Im crappy.

Were I to get into a situation where I was to program something in VBA, Id like to delegate it to a virtual assistant I could trust. Is this idea ridiculous? With the appropriate caution, I can see it bringing enormous benefits if I can outsource complicated VBA and SQL programming tasks to VAs. Anyone else used VAs to help them increase productivity on the job?

Yes, I read the 4HWW.

[Tuthmosis]

I've found that if I make my interviewer laugh, I get the job--or at least a second interview, with the higher-ups. Bring some good, straight-up canned material. I'm serious. Think of a good, entertaining story to tell (that, of course, conforms to office decorum and, preferably, sub-communicates high value).

[Dash Global]

Know EVERYTHING about this company and the industry!

[kimleebj]

(05-17-2011 12:07 PM)Invictus Wrote:  

Anyone else used VAs to help them increase productivity on the job?

WTF, you are interviewing for a job with the idea of outsourcing it?

(05-17-2011 03:41 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  

Know EVERYTHING about this company and the industry!

Decent advice.

[JasonM]

After being so close on several interviews I knew I had to alter my preparation. I was missing out not because of my qualifications but because of my interviewing skills, very frustrating! After trawling Amazon for books etc I came across "The Complete Job Interview Preparation Course" DVD. I worked through the 30 something page work booklet (which was straight to the point and full of great advice and examples) and then applied my new skills in their interactive virtual interview program. Man, I could really see a massive improvement in both the structure and delivery of my answers. This course gave me so much more than any book could have, and yes, Im now employed in my dream job!

[Dash Global]

and what is "ur dream" job?

[iknowexactly]

I like asking as much as I can about what they need done. And then I ask them how it should be done.

I basically start learning how to do the job during the interview. They can see by my follow up questions that I understand the problem space they're dealing with and that I can and will learn how to deal with it. So by the end of the interview I'm already the most qualified applicant.

I don't think it's like gaming a girl at all, you don't want to act superior unless maybe it's a sales job where cocky is necessary. The last thing most bosses want is someone who doesn't care what is expected or doesn't want to to what they're told.

I've also asked 2 "Magic Questions" about the work:
1) What is the most important thing that you SHOULD do in relation to the main task.

2) What is the rookie mistake, the easy-to-make bad mistake that people tend to do.

[Mrs. Chocolate]

1) Dress something nice according to the company policy. Casual if is casual, sharp if it is sharp.
2) Talk about your goals between the questions.
3) look in the eyes, but don't stare!
4) Relax your body.
5) study about the company.
6) Dont get late. If you feel like you will, call them at least.
7) send an email apreciating the visit to the company even though you didn't get the job.
8) be kind to anyone in there.

[kimleebj]

(05-20-2011 11:49 PM)iknowexactly Wrote:  

I don't think it's like gaming a girl at all, you don't want to act superior

Exactly. You are applying to be part of "the team". You want to show up early, dress in the right "uniform", and show your committment to the mission. You want to project the image of an earnest eager-beaver who fits into their culture. The dull man in the grey flannel suit is not a dashing Romeo who stands out. He is the quiet guy who works long hours without complaints, and gives his boss and teammates all the credit.

Contrast this with Roosh's old posts about his job. I have been there - frustrated, alienated, and hostile to the objectives of the organization. This is what they do not want. Even if you do your job, turnover hurts. They want happy campers who pull their weight and stay long-term.

[Invictus]

kimleebj, you make it sound like people who regular hours are sheep.

Anyways, my interview is tomorrow, and I'm still prepping. Writing out questions they may ask, rehearsing answers, reading their financial reports and getting a feel for the organization, doing a bit of reflection on the world situation and where things are headed.

Reckon I need to go over my app and the ad a few more times to be on top of what they're looking for.

[kimleebj]

(05-25-2011 04:59 PM)Invictus Wrote:  

kimleebj, you make it sound like people who regular hours are sheep.

Good, we are getting some effective communication. You make sheep sound pejorative. Actually sheep are warm, fuzzy, lovable animals. So are cats. But you wouldn't want to herd cats, and neither would your boss.

All joking aside, I really reject your comparison of "game" and interviewing. The PUA paradigm of game involves acting disinterested and aloof. It involves peacocking to stand out and be different from other guys. It even involves "negs" (insults). But large corporate cultures need you to fit in and be happy. You will often interview with many people. Afterwards they will discuss you, and anybody who thinks you are an asshole will have veto power.

Seriously, read Roosh's old description of his jobs. He seemed like a competent junior scientist who had a bad fit. So he grew to loathe his jobs. He didn't want to work extra hours, do extra projects, etc. I'm not criticizing him for a bad fit. But eventually such employees become bad colleagues, or quit. Both are costly. Other employees might have been so enthusiastic that they stayed late to wash test tubes so they could chat with the boss about graduate school. Teammates wear uniforms so they look identical. You need to fit the team. In this respect, a job interview is more like meeting your girlfriend's mother than picking up a girl.

[Menace]

There's some good advice here already, so some of this may be repetitive.

You do need to act confident and relaxed, but not confident and a know it all. You should know as much as you can about the industry, but do not make the mistake of thinking you know how things actually work, because you're a student. You want to convey intelligence and adaptability. I would not try and over impress.

Be able to carry a conversation. The main purpose of an interview is to determine whether you're the kind of person they can work with (if they didn't think you were qualified, you wouldn't be there in the first place). You would be amazed at how messed up a lot of people are at interviews.

Act like a professional.

[Invictus]

You misunderstood me and what I meant by the word "game".

By "tight game", I meant "be on top of your game".

I guess it's easy to assume the word "game" only has one meaning on this forum, but I was using its slang-definition as it's usually used in the English language. Perhaps poorly.

[Pepini]

One bold moove you can do is say in the end of the interview:

"Your wasting your time doing more interviews. I´m the right man for the job".
After smile.

It worked with me.

[kimleebj]

(05-26-2011 06:47 PM)Pepini Wrote:  

say in the end of the interview

That didn't happen at Google, or Microsoft, or Goldman Sachs. There isn't one interview with Human Resources. Those places bring you in many times and have you talk to everybody. They may have pairs of people talk to you at once. Then they dither for a month and call you back again several times.