Name cards out!

Technology away!

Curtis Kuznecov – T25 & T32

Comm 202

Tutorial #8

Agenda

Employment Interview Assignment

Interview Questions

Closing

Words of Wisdom

Action Items

Employment Interview (10%)

When: Apr 4th, Apr 5th and Apr 7th

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING?

RESUME

COVER

LETTER

JOB

DESCRIPTIO

N

PADFOLIO

PEN

Employment Interview –

Things to Remember

Check in with reception at Birmingham

Be Early! – ideally about 10 minutes, if

you are not there when the interviewer

comes out, you will receive an automatic

“0”

Interview is approx. 20 minutes long

Dress to Impress – Business Formal

Common Questions

Tell me about YOURSELF!#1

What are your STRENGTHS?#2

What are your WEAKNESSES?#3

Tell me about A TIME WHEN…#4

*WILD CARD* Question!#5

Do YOU have any QUESTIONS?#6

#1- Tell me about yourself?

The MOST COMMON QUESTION you will get in an interview

Can be asked in different ways!

Keep it 2 minutes or less

Brand yourself – give them something to remember you by

Sound natural, not like you’re reading off a script!

Speak to your skills and accomplishments

Show passion

Provide a well-rounded picture

Your Story

The Beginning

Growing Interest

The Spark

Your Future

Why you are here

Introduction – quick background

Realization that this was the career for you

Your formula that makes you perfect for the job!

Where you see yourself

How this position ties into it all

Your Story – What is your Formula

? + ? ?+

THE GOAL: Tell them a story that no one else

can replicate and impress them in the first 2

minutes

My Story

+ +

=

Studied Finance

and Economics in

University

Showed entrepreneurial

ability and initiative

Exploited inefficiencies in unique

markets by applying various

financial concepts

Aspirations to

become a trader

and fit perfectly

into the fast-

paced

environment at

Goldman Sachs

Activity

Grab a partner and share

“tell me about yourself”

stories

Give some feedback!

#2 - What are your strengths?

Relevant to the position

Links experience to job or

position

There is no perfect answer

#3 - What are your weaknesses?

DO NOT FLIP WEAKNESSES

INTO

STRENGTHS!

✘ “I’m such a perfectionist”

✘ “Too detail-oriented”

✘ “Over-achiever”

✘ “I work too hard sometimes”

Weakness wouldn’t impair you from

doing the job

Show you are actively trying to

improve these weaknesses

Show the “lesson learned”

#4 – Tell me about a time…?

SKILLS MATRIX

Resume

Cover Letter

Interview

Don’t forget to link it back to the company

and position!

#5 – Wild Card Questions

• A way for the interviewer to gauge your interest and knowledge of the position and industry

• Test your ability to communicate clearly

• Shows the interviewer how you think

• TESTS BUSINESS ACUMEN: news, trends, etc.

INDUSTRY/JOB SPECIFIC OR… A SURPRISE!

THE

GOAL

Walk them through

your thought process

Stay calm and

provide a clear answer

FINANCE PITCH ME A STOCK

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS VS DOWNSIDES OF USING DEBT VS EQUITY

FINANCING?

HOW WOULD VALUE A PERPETUAL ZERO COUPON BOND?

DO YOU THINK THE FINANCIAL MARKETS ARE EFFICIENT?

ACCOUNTING WHY DO YOU WANT TO PURSUE A CPA?

WHY THIS FIRM?

WALK ME THROUGH THE MAJOR LINES OF A CASH FLOW STATEMENT?

MANAGEMENT

CONSULTING

HOW MANY WORDS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NY TIMES?

TELL ME YOUR 5 WEAKNESSES… AND ANOTHER… ANOTHER

DESCRIBE A PROJECT YOU HAVE WORKED ON THAT CHALLENGED YOU?

CASE-BASED QUESTIONS…

MARKETING HOW WOULD YOU INCREASE SALES OF X PRODUCT BY X%?

SELL ME THIS PEN

HOW DO YOU THINK OUR BLOG IS DOING? WHAT CAN BE DONE BETTER?

TLOG HOW COULD YOU IMPROVE THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTIVITY?

HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH A DIFFICULT FACTORY WORKER?

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU IMPROVED SOMETHING WHERE YOU WORKED?

HR TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHERE YOU HAD TO MOTIVATE A TEAM

ASSUMING YOU ARE SELECTED, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST CHANGE YOU

WOULD MAKE?

RANDOM WHAT IS 3/16 IN DECIMAL?

TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE NEWS, HOW IT RELATES TO THIS JOB?

WHY ARE MANHOLES ROUND?

TEACH ME SOMETHING YOU LEARNED IN SCHOOL?

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

Examples

#6 – Do you have any questions?

• Always have at least 2 questions

• Avoid asking questions you could find the

answer to on Google.

• Never ask a question like, “What do look for in

candidates?” – probably should have asked

this before the interview

• Do not ask something that has already been

addressed in the interview

• Always safe to get them talking about

themselves – maybe ask something directly

related to their job/industry or some career

advice.

Closing the Interview

Thank

Them

Re-iterate

Interest

Confirm

Follow-up

Solid

Handshake

Business

Card

Remember

Name

ASK QUESTIONS IF IT NEVER CAME UP IN

THE INTERVIEW!

Follow-Up

Email in

24 Hours

Thank

Them

Refer to

Convo

Tailor to

Reader

Re-iterate

InterestCheck for

Typos

DO NOT WRITE AN ESSAY!

Hi Michael,

I just wanted to say a quick thank you for taking the time

to interview me. I really enjoyed our conversation, even

though you did not like my top two classic rock bands, at

least we could agree on Zeppelin. Good luck with your

future at Goldman, hopefully the transition continues to

be a smooth one for you.

Best Regards,

Curtis Kuznecov

Example

General Tips

GUIDE THE CONVERSATION TO

WHERE YOU ARE

COMFORTABLE

SMILE AND NOD

ANSWER THE DARN QUESTION

DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF

BRING ENERGY INTO THE ROOM

Words of Wisdom

Never be a “YES” Person

When an opportunity presents

itself, just go for it!Seek mentorship and provide it

If you are not willing to take

risks, how can you expect

someone to take a risk on you

Make yourself into a person that

people want to invest in!

Assume Nothing

Idolize No One

Applaud Humility

- Professor Robert Gateman

Action Items

Employment Interviews April 4th, 5th

and 7th

Informational Interview due April 14th

at 11:59 pm

Interview stream due April 3rd at 8:59

pm

Lecture next week…..