A whole circle

Life has come a whole circle around. My last post was about an interview. This one is about one too. The previous one was a good one.

Somewhere in between
 I was admitted to NYU Stern!
 I quit my job!
 I flew to the US!
 I stood around in circles!
 I went through the recruiting!
 I did not slept!
 I drank a lot!
 I connected well with people!
 I got my a** kicked at a few banks!
 I prayed to make it to yet another event!
 I heaved a sigh of relief when i was invited!
 I screamed with joy when I got my first invite!
 I was content with the invites that I had!
 I spent sleepless nights for the exams!
 I partied 14 hours on the trot after the exams!
 I took a couple of days off!
 I started studying for interviews!
 I did my first MBA1 mock!

That is briefly what I did... will try and fill you up with a background as I try to start getting this blog alive again!

Today was the first MBA1 mock that I did. I may be later than a few. I am earlier than most. It was a guy in my group. Wanting to set the tone for the interview, I acted as the interviewer.

- Tell me your story!
- Questions on the story and grilling on possible loopholes!
- Grilling on why MBA and Stern!
- Grilling on why not the other school in the city!
- Why not asset management?
- Why not consulting?
- Do you have an experience working in global environments?
- Do you think you will fit in within ACME Inc.?
- What are you strenghts?
- What are you weaknesses?
- Why should I hire someone like you, when I could hire a 20 guys who are just as good if not better?
- Why ACME Inc.?
- Where else are you recruiting with?
- What if another firm offers you more money?
- Rapid fire round of 6 questions (Yes/No) on ethics, integrity etc

I had decided to act as an a**-hole. The intent was that if I did so, I would be preparing him and myself for interviews such as these. There is a misconception that Investment Bankers are a*-*holes. If you have met all the people that I have, you would think otherwise too. A dear friend often tells me that I am too good a person to be a banker. I tell her that she is sadly mistaken!

It was good to see that he took it really well. He answered decently, but faultered a lot as well. Initial blues.

He liked the approach. He found it interesting as it was exactly like an actual interview. So smiles and no brownies. I asked he do the same for me.

We started off well. The story went off as usual. He asked questions on the same lines. He didnt seem to like a few of the things that I said. Need to work on them. He also said that I was too long winded and need to be succinct. He cut me short at many questions to unsettle me. I did well at that.

It was nice to do the mock. Shows us where we stand and shows us where we need to work. Also, I may have a few things in my head. But to word them correctly and succinctly is the key.

I take this as the reference for all interviews.

On the right track...
Yet way to go Jack!