Yes, you’re a top banker, but will you ace your next interview?

In this short piece I intend to share inside information gathered over many years of preparing candidates for interview processes that went very well and occasionally, not so well. My intention is to shed light on situations experienced once every few years for most banking professionals so that, as a candidate, you could be much more prepared than most.

Whether you are actively looking for a job, simply browsing the job market or you have been proactively headhunted, it would benefit you massively in all those situations to be prepared for your interview, rather than trying to “wing it”, there is no second place in the world of interviews…

First things first, “know thy self”, sounds cheesy right?

When going into any interview situation, your possible employer wants to know what they are investing in. If they hire you, you will become part of their human capital and ultimately, either add value or have a detrimental effect on the company’s performance. For those LinkedIn users in the investment industry reading this, think of yourself as a possible portfolio company and the interviewer as the possible investor, they want to know all your strengths and weaknesses and take a calculated risk on hiring you. Take some time to think about your accomplishments, skills and aspirations, you may be worth more than you think!

Are you the only candidate?

Be aware that as a candidate, you are one of a few select individuals who is being considered for that role. The interviewers are trying to work out, based on a multitude of factors, who would be the best long-term fit. Make sure you bring your best.

Are your expectations realistic?

In an ideal world, you could get the pay rise you expect, but that’s not the world we live in. Try find out from your recruiter or possible employer what they could pay for the role and base your expectations off a realistic figure, allowing your friends & families opinions to affect your judgment may be great for matters at home, but please, leave them at home where they belong.

To move or not to move? That is the question.

After finding out what the role entails, possible compensation package, who you will be working with, if there is room for growth, you should be able to decide how interested you are to move forward, this coupled with the chance you are motivated to leave you current employer should give you a good understanding of which decision to make.

A final piece of advice to all candidates, whether you are at CEO or analyst level, enthusiasm is a powerful tool which can be used to win people over. A bright smile, strong handshake and genuine interest in what the other person has to say will work wonders on another person’s perception of you.

If you are a banking or finance professional and have an interest in relocating to Middle East region, please feel free to reach out to me on [email protected], Madison Pearl are the largest pure banking & finance focused search firm in the region, we are headquartered in Dubai with a large regional office in Bahrain and international offices in London & Hong Kong.

If your firm is looking to build up their teams, please feel free to approach me and we can set up a call or meeting to discuss your needs.