<p>I got contacted today to schedule a 15 minute phone interview with SEO. I have no clue how these go, and how I'm supposed to conduct myself. Anyone been through one of these and can tell me what to expect?</p>
<p>treat it like as if you were interviewing with them in person. it will all depend on the tone of your voice, how you present yourself with words, and how articulate you are. practice is key.</p>
<p>Actually...no. After my phone interview went off well and my resume was well received, I was contacted for a regional in person interview (last stage). But more on that later. The phone interview is not some push over thing. Be prepared to discuss EXACTLY why you want to apply to your specific program and WHAT you are going to offer. Be prepared to discuss important aspects of your resume and make sure you didn't just put filler because that was a major topic of discussion in one of the applicants from my school who ultimately didn't advance.</p>
<p>Show your knowledge of financial sector/business sector events impacting the SEO program(s) of your interest. If you are app'ing for IB or GCFL, then be EXTRA articulate and knowledgeable. </p>
<p>Sorry to be sorta intimidating, but the in person interview was uber hard core. I was thoroughly prepped and my regional rep told me I had done very well afterwards, but inside the conference room, I felt braindead. They are EXTREMELY antagonistic towards you (not in a personal sense). It is a spitfire interrogation of your resume and analytical and applied business acumen. They want to see how you think so thinking aloud is helpful and they never say, "Good job" or "Good answer." It just keeps going. I drank three cups of coffee afterwards to soothe my raging brain. If you have any more questions, just pm me.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I've heard how tough the case study or guesstimate questions are; I hope they won't ask me too many over the phone though. It seems that you are getting through the application process mighty quick. When did you submit your app?</p>
<p>My phone interview has nothing to do with anything on my resume. The guy asked me about how I found out about SEO, who I networked with. Know how to DEFINE the division you're applying for. Also, keep up with the news. I was asked about an article on the WSJ. Be able to articulate why you'll be a good candidate and your expectations of the program.</p>
<p>yuki_i is dead on about reading the WSJ. My interviewer asked me to explain one particular industry event and I talked in detail about the Amaranth collapse. Just make sure to keep abreast of events.</p>
<p>ugh this sounds painful...maybe applying directing to the banks would be easier? i have an interview coming up as well but have no clue about the WSJ nor do I have any idea what the job entails (i just know what ibanks do...pitchbooks and then sell stocks) =/</p>
<p>I guess you could apply directly to the banks but then application requirements become tricky and you'd probably need to be at a pretty decent (good) undergrad program with preexisting relationships with the banks you're interested in. That's the beauty of SEO's program-doesn't care about your undergrad school, just the student's ability.</p>
<p>well, a large majority of SEO alums come from ivies and top 25 school, so I would imagine that the percentage of SEO students capable of finding internships at ibanks directly is much higher than the average ibank internship pool. although we can't say that a top undergrad leads to SEO, the probabilities are between acceptance on school rankings are definitely correlated...</p>
<p>Sure, while there might be a correlation between attending a top undergraduate school and making it through the SEO app process, there are definitely opportunities for students attending less renowned schools to make it through. I attend a tier 3 school which had a student make it through last year. My only point is that SEO allows for students from every school to have a shot at this, while students looking at particular firms have a much more difficult shot having to compete head on with top talent from the Ivies etc.</p>
<p>But I do agree with you dpa38d2u that there is a definite correlation.</p>
<p>Cool well i just had my phone interview. Much thanks to yuki and dearsiryes; interviewer asked me to explain some current wall street events (i talked about the corruption of REPO dealers at UBS and briefly noted the Nasdaq bid for LSE), as well as what Ibanking entailed and specfiically what my division was (the problem was that i chose no preference so i geuss i couldn't really elaborate i was liek THEY ARE ALL COOL!!! ) lol</p>
<p>so i think the phone "interview" lasted around 5 minutes..., but at the end the interviewer was like okay so I'll go ahead and pass you to the next round. i guess the first phone call was a just a screening to make sure you knew what you were applying to. Also they told me to do as much reading as possible to prepare for this event, such as indepth knowledge of how government/politics affect prices of various commodities (i am so clueless =/)</p>
<p>No guesstimates though! =)</p>
<p>hey guys have u heard back from SEO? I made first round!!</p>
<p>congrats!</p>
<p>they told me on the phone that i made next round and i got an email the second day (my interviewer was really really really nice)</p>
<p>so i scheduled my second round for the week of december 12; at least we get to know by jan 23 so it's over then!</p>
<p>hey dpa38d2u my interview is on saturday, 12/16. how abt u? btw, congrats too!</p>
<p>So the phone interview was only 5 minutes long and they didnt ask anything about your resume? Just about why you wanted to do SEO and why you wanted to work in your particular field and what is going on in the business world?</p>
<p>For all those individuals who got a call for a phone interview, what were your stats(GPA, school, etc), ballpark figures just an idea, of what you need really to bother to apply.</p>
<p>My stats:
SAT: 2400/2400; 1600/1600
HS GPA: (W) 4.19
College GPA: 3.75
17 AP tests: 13-14 5s (I always forget what I got on Art Hist.)
Tier 3/4 State school-Honors Program
International Awards in Computer Technology/Web Design</p>
<p>Wow a perfect SAT score? Look like you could have went anywhere. Why not a top 25, just didn't want too?</p>
<p>Got into two top 25s. FinAid and family circumstances prevented me from attending. I'm in the process of transferring right now. Trying for UChicago, Georgetown, Cornell CALS, Emory, WashU and Rice. </p>
<p>My 2400 is actually a superscore: I earned a 2390 when I took the test. I got the +10 from my 1600. So it's not like a double perfect, but yeah.</p>
<p>i think my interview is on friday the week of december 12th. i need to start preparing soon</p>
<p>in terms of stats, uh i got a 1550 on my SAT1 and go to an ivy; my AP scores were pretty good several 4s and mostly 5s... i dont think SEO asks about AP scores or any high school stats other than your SAT score directly, but i guess the number of AP credits shows on your college transcript</p>
<p>good luck dearsiryes in transferring; i'm sure with those stats you'll have no problem; and good luck to everyone during their interview; i am sure i will need it!</p>