Commitment Questions Flashcards
Where else are you interviewing? Is it just banking? Consulting? Other companies?
I’m focusing exclusively on banking because I know that’s where my passion and skills align best. I’m not interested in consulting as it doesn’t align with my career goals and interests. I don’t want to waste any recruiters’ time, which is why I’m concentrating solely on opportunities in the banking sector.
Are you mostly interviewing at larger banks like us? What kinds of options within banking are you considering?
I am primarily focusing on larger banks because I’m interested in working on large-scale deals where I can make a significant impact. However, I have also received interest from other firms such as [SPECIFIC NAMES IF APPLICABLE], and I am considering a few options that align with my career goals and interests.
I see you switched jobs about once a year. How do I know that you’re here to stay for the long-term?
Each opportunity I’ve had in the past was presented to me, but banking is an opportunity I’m actively pursuing. I’ve done a lot of research and spoken with several friends, alumni, and other connections and am certain banking is right for me. I’ve looked into the other career options before me and nothing has been as attractive as banking.
Recently some Analysts and Associates have left “early” and jumped to hedge funds or private equity. If the opportunity comes up, why would you stay here instead? [WORK IN PROGRESS - in-depth research of hedge funds and private equity firms]
I’ve looked into investing but realized the nature of the work doesn’t align with my interests. There’s too much due diligence and “looking at deals” rather than taking action and actually doing deals. I prefer the dynamic environment of banking, where I can actively participate in deal execution rather than solely conducting due diligence. As a result, after all my research, speaking with alumni and other connections, I’m set on banking.
Tell me about a time when you failed to honor a commitment.
There was one instance during my sophomore year of college when I was working on a group project and fell short on my assigned task. My responsibility was to compile data for the visuals in our presentation, a task that was not as straightforward as I initially assumed it would be. Due to this oversight, I prioritized other academic responsibilities and didn’t gather enough data in time for the presentation. I promptly informed my team about my shortfall, took responsibility, and committed to rectifying the situation. I worked extra hours to collect the necessary data quickly and offered to assist with creating the visuals. This experience taught me a valuable lesson in proper time management and the importance of not making assumptions. Since then, I’ve always allocated extra time for tasks to account for unforeseen challenges and there have been several instances where this has proven beneficial.
If I gave you an offer right now on the spot would you take it?
Yes, of course! Show me the dotted line and I’ll sign it.
Let’s say that we were to give you an offer – how long would you need to decide whether or not to accept it?
Give me an offer and I’ll sign it right now. I’ve evaluated that this position aligns with my career goals and expectations. I’m ready to fully commit to the opportunity and contribute to your team.
