So on paper you look like the ideal candidate, but if you are not fully prepared, and able to present yourself in a confident and persuasive way, then you are likely to blow the opportunity. Here are five things I tell every candidate I coach to get right in the days and weeks running up to the interview. First, check your mindset. Do you believe you deserve to be in the room? And do you believe you can land your dream investment banking job? If you don't, stop now, accept that you are not alone in experiencing these feelings, embrace them. Then challenge your internal dialogue, and reframe the conversation. Only start your application when you truly believe you can nail it, and land the job. The same goes for the interviews, themselves. If you walk into the room believing that you're an imposter, and frozen by the fear that you're going to mess this up, then you probably will. Check your mindset in the hours before the interview. And if in doubt, try visualizing what success will look like, how a really great interview will feel, both during, and when it's done. Second, understand what the firm is looking for. It goes without saying that firms are looking for a broad knowledge of the industry, and a deep understanding and acceptance of what it means to be a successful investment banker. In addition, they're looking for a well-rounded candidate, who combines the aptitude and drive to succeed, whilst ensuring they're a good cultural fit, and somebody who can be trained, coached, and mentored to be the firm's next star investment banker. Always take time to check out the firm's recruitment pages on the web. These will give you specifics on the firm's culture, and how that translates into what they look for in the ideal candidate. Third, put in the preparation time. Practice, practice, practice. Start early. Never leave it too late. Stay constantly up to date with the company and industry news and events by reading widely. Talk to others who've gone through the process, and learn from their experiences. Grab a friend and rehearse handling the tough interview questions. Practice brain teasers and logical reasoning questions. There are tons of resources to help you online. Try glassdoor.co.uk and e-financial careers, where you'll find details of each bank's recruitment process, commonly asked questions, and much more. Most firms also have a wealth of resources available on their websites, to both guide you through the process, but also to help you prepare and avoid common mistakes. Firms post this stuff for a reason, so use it. Fourth, own your story. Think about how best to tell your story in an engaging way. Know your resume, your strengths, and be able to articulate the areas you are looking to develop. This demonstrates a humbleness and a willingness to learn that will appeal to recruiters. Be ready to talk about past experiences that demonstrate why you'd be an ideal candidate. Present a diverse background of experiences by highlighting relevant jobs, projects, coursework, and extracurricular activities. Remember, too, that your social media presence tells your story, and any good interviewer will, at the very least, check you out on LinkedIn before they meet you. So do a social media audit on yourself. Before you start applying, ask yourself, is your social media showcasing you in the way that will appeal to the firms you are applying to? If not, spend some time choreographing what others will read. Fifth, get comfortable with selling yourself. Be able to present your resume and experience in a compelling and persuasive way, by walking the interviewer through your CV, signposting key highlights, and linking these to answering the critical question, why you're the right person for the job.
