Called to interview....for far more advanced job??

[sports_brah]

As per the title, I received a phone call today from a really big company offering me an interview tomorrow. I applied for their graduate program, but this is a clear step above it.

I've got a rough knowledge of the topic, and I'm certainly willing to learn, but I'm panicking at blowing my chance of the graduate programme.

Is it normal to get called to another interview which is of a far higher ranking and how can I best prepare? (It's for a financial position with a very strong emphasis on certain instruments of which I've only really touched upon in my Masters).

Should I try and blag it (without lying obviously), or should I be upfront about my current levels, but temper it with a strong desire to work?

Thanks

 

[sports_brah]

You shouldn't need to blag anything... you likely won't be able to blag this sort of thing anyway. They will already know you've not got too much experience going by your CV... if you're a student then they won't necessarily be expecting you to be an expert in a particular area. You might have an issue if you've put a bunch of things down on your CV which you only really have a shallow amount of knowledge of - I think you posted a few threads recently regarding some rather diverse topics where you basically just wanted an overview. Just be careful as you can potentially be asked on anything on your CV so if you've say put down 'machine learning' but in reality it was just a small section of that business intelligence exam or whatever it was you posted the thread about then you may well be asked questions you can't answer very well. If you've just stuck to mentioning things you're happy to discuss with them then there shouldn't be an issue. Either way its still good interview practice regardless.

This is a valid point. My CV has been fairly brief (my degree and masters are summarised merely by module titles) so in that respect I think I'm grand. The job seems to demand a very very high level of excel (derivatives) and a high level of maths.

I'm capable, but I'm not sure I'm capable enough.


Still like you said, its good interview practice.

 

[sports_brah]

That is for them to decide, not you. After all, they know exactly what the job entails. Tell them exactly what you can do, tell them it is exactly the type of opportunity you dreamed of, and that, with the right guidance you believe you would be able to excel in the position.

How did the machine learning exam go, btw ?

Good advice thanks. I'm just conscious of the fact that the job market is so damn tough, that slip ups cannot be tolerated!

The BI exam went grand, I had a good understanding of the questions that came up. Scored highly in my coursework as well so I'm confident for that module.

 

[sports_brah]

Yup, I'm sure this forum can continue to provide you with all the answers to the questions your new career poses!

Haha, when I get a job, I think I'll be busy with that rather than this!

 

[sports_brah]

So is it something along the lines of you've applied for a bank's grad scheme to join as an analyst and they've decided to interview you for an associate position? Presumably because you're doing a relevant masters of some sort?

Something like that yep. The associate thing seems to be above a dude who has just done his degree+masters with no experience.

 

[sports_brah]

Yup would usually require an MBA at a bank... but 'something like that' indicates this isn't a role at a bank... They wouldn't ask to interview you if the qualifications weren't enough for the position they've got on offer and they can't expect too much if they're happy to offer the role to someone with no experience. Also be aware that some employers do oversell positions, especially in finance, it might turn out its really not quite as demanding as first anticipated.

Its a very large company one of the largest financial service players. Don't want to say on thread.

Your comments mirror my own fears, hopefully you're right and they are overselling.

Would you mind if I send you an email later with the job spec for your opinion? You seem pretty damn knowledgeable!

 

[sports_brah]

You work fast, 2 weeks from asking how to quickly learn accountancy for an exam to an interview offer for an advanced job in a bank

Now you know why I'm questioning it.

(I get what you are insinuating, if it satisfies you I'll post proof after interview )

I'm not sure how much help I'd be, probably not my area - I wouldn't have any experience of asset managers, accountancy firms, consultancies etc... I currently work at a fintech firm and the clients I work with are large banks. Aside from going through the Hull & Wilmott books you could probably take a look at this coursera course:

https://www.coursera.org/course/fe1
https://www.coursera.org/course/fe2

As for how much they've hyped up the role you can normally use some common sense there - for example IT roles they might try and make sound appealing by emphasizing how much exposure to the front office you'll have etc... simply asking where you/the team will be sitting could be revealing there.

Here's an example

edited out

 

[sports_brah]

Feedback time!

Did interview, very tough but I took the advice here of honesty and portrayed myself as a diamond in the rough, ready to do good etc

Got a call inviting me to a second interview. Also got a bite of another fish elsewhere (for a more corporate type of job at grad level.

Roll on the weekend! Going to revise like hell!

 

[sports_brah]

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18546138

I remember his database question. I assume his IT skills are better than his accountancy skills so maybe he is going to be some kind of data analyst.

Edit: good luck with the interview/second interview/job etc etc .

My accountancy isn't bad, I was simply looking for some concise material to take into an exam (open book) rather than my terrible notes.


For the record: Third interview!

 

[sports_brah]

Boom. It's there for the taking, s_b. Do you want it ?

Honestly? No.

Well, I do, but the responsibility and the work load from the go seems to be very high, and I'm unsure of being mature enough to be able to handle it.

Going to push again for the elements of training associated with the job etc to see if it is my fit.

So is the job to feed cash into a counting machine then stack on pallets to be pushed into the bank vault

I wish. That job might have an early retirement plan.

 

[sports_brah]

Just be yourself and you'll be fine. Good luck.

Oh God, anything but my true self.

I did this before and it was just embarrassing. They knew I didn't have the relevant experience and yet still asked me the same questions they'd ask someone who clearly had. It was very uncomfortable to sit there and do your best to answer their questions while they sit there, impatient. You know you aren't going to get it, they know you aren't going to get it... it's not an experience I'd wish to repeat and I wouldn't just assume they're going to tailor their interview for you - especially if you have been approached about the job from a recruitment company. They just want to throw anyone in there with the opinion that if you throw enough darts at a board eventually one will stick.

If I could do it again I would have gotten a couple of questions in and just said to them "this isn't going to work is it? so lets just not waste each others time. Many thanks for your consideration"

B@

Sounds awkward! If they did the same to me, I'd give it my best stab. I've nothing to lose. Also at this stage, they should have an idea about me and my experience...

Half my career has been blagging my way into positions and then learning on the job.

It's the only way to progress, that and a portfolio of notable work.

I haven't got a portfolio and my work experience is limited. I'm happy to learn on the job, and if given an opportunity I genuinely would be happy to put the hours in to get up to scratch.

 

[sports_brah]

Blagging is no way to conduct yourself in serious roles though. It might get you far in Management as there are very few managers actually worth their salt, and the roles are hardly difficult, even when they do them badly.

Roles requiring specific experience, and specific tests of knowledge of skills/process seem to all over my profession. The easiest part is the drugs and alcohol screening, the hard part is the psychometrics and knowledge checks as you are often so nervous you mess up simple questions which normally you could answer without a second thought.

Screw psychometric tests, they're pretty damn useless. As long as you keep them in your mind, its easy to see the same pattern of questions come up.

Blagging isn't great, but surely it has to be done to a degree with everything new?

 

[sports_brah]