blog Bonorum et Malorum

4 Ways to Analyse How Your IB Interview Went

Written by Fmi.Online

After a job interview is over, you will have some time to reflect how your interview went. You might feel confident about certain parts and nervous about others. You desperately want to understand if the interview went well or not. Are there cues that can help you analyse how you performed? To some extent, yes. Here are four of them. 

  1. The length of your interview 

If your interview went longer than it was scheduled for, that’s usually a positive sign. When a conversation runs longer than expected, it’s usually because your interviewer was keen to know more about you and had an interest in your answers. 

According to Muse career coach Emily Liou, a former recruiter, if she knew that the candidate wasn’t a fit, she wouldn’t prefer to waste her time. Instead, she would wrap up the interview right at the scheduled time. On the contrary, when she found a stellar candidate, she said she would try to spend additional time gathering the information she would need to make an informed decision.

On the other hand, if an interview ended before the stipulated time, it may not be a great sign. However, there can be exceptions such as when the recruiter has evaluated you quickly to progress to the next round. 

  1. Were there follow-up questions?

Interviewers are also human, and they will ask you follow-up questions if they are eager to know more about you. These could be about your career trajectory, your interests outside of work, and so on.

However, you must be able to differentiate if a follow up question is stemming from an answer that you did not clearly or satisfactorily. Keep your calm and answer any questions, no matter how detailed they get, with ease, confidence, and poise.

  1. You got a timeline for the next steps

Employers should share a timeline of the next steps as general protocol. Depending on the bank you are interviewing for, you can still have some steps left before you get that offer letter such as internal checks, approvals, or even another round of interview. If the recruiter shared the hiring timeline, the next steps, and what you can expect, it can mean that they were interested. This could also mean that they were giving you an idea of what could come next. If they don’t give any information about the next steps, you should not hesitate to ask the interviewer. There is a chance that they forgot. You can also use this as a way to understand the culture of the company you might be about to work for. Sharing information in advance shows that the organisation is transparent, and has a clear and structured process for their candidates.

  1. Interviewer’s Body Language

Body language is a major way to gauge what a person is thinking. According to Eliot Kaplan, a former recruiter, it is imperative to observe if the recruiter seems engaged in the conversation. Signs like leaning forward when you are talking, smiling, and staying focused during the conversation are all positive signs.

You may be too occupied answering questions to notice some of these cues but you can make a mental note before the interview starts. For example, remember to notice if the interviewer maintains frequent eye contact because that’s a positive sign.

On the other hand, if the interviewer appeared to be distracted, did not maintain eye contact and focus and was doing something else during the interviews, they might be disengaged in the conversation.

Conclusion

Regardless of how your interview turned out, you must remember that you need not be harsh on yourself and you must have learned something. You can make the most of it and use that experience to improve your chances for the next interview. To improve your interview prep, you can refer to FMI’s detailed guide. It is generally considered favourable when the interviewer asks questions and shows positive body language clues during a lengthy conversation. It’s even better if they share the timeline of the hiring process. If you observe opposite characteristics in your next interview, you can take that as a hint and try to make the conversation more engaging. On your end, you should send a thank you or follow up email and always maintain professionalism. 

More Articles

Investment Banking

The role of investment bankers in the financial world: what do investment bankers do, and why are they important?

Investment bankers play a critical role in the financial world by helping businesses and governments raise capital, facilitating mergers and acquisitions, and providing strategic advice on corporate restructuring. They are vital to the functioning of the capital markets, and their work helps drive economic growth and stability.

Read more

Preparing For Case Studies And Other Interview Assessments in 2023

At FMI, we understand the importance of interview preparation, including case studies and other assessments. That's why we offer an Interview Preparation Bundle course to help you prepare for your next interview

Read more
Investment Banking

How can you earn a six-figure salary at top investment banking firms without any experience in 2023

To earn a six-figure salary as a fresh investment banker, you need to work hard to get a full-time job at a top investment bank and maximize your bonuses. A strong educational background, relevant skill set, and investment banking internships can help you secure a job.

Read more

How you can get a front-facing role in a top investment bank without any experience in 2023

Learn how to get a front-facing role in a top investment bank without any prior experience. Understand what front desk jobs in finance are and the skills required, get the right qualifications, internships, network, and build the right skill set. Show your willingness and dedication to the role through internships, and make a good impression through networking.

Read more
Interview Prep

How to make a successful career in the derivatives market in 2023

A career in the derivatives market offers job paths of derivatives trader, derivative operations analyst and derivatives risk analyst. Traders need finance/economics degree, financial market knowledge and technical skills. Operations analysts need business administration/accounting degree and derivative knowledge. Risk analysts need risk management experience and education. The career is demanding but offers high compensation and growth opportunities.

Read more

Here are the top investment banking internships you should be aiming for in 2023!

Explore the top investment banking internships for 2023, including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America. Learn about the duration, requirements, and responsibilities of these highly competitive internships, as well as the benefits of gaining experience with one of the top investment banks in the world. Discover how an internship with a top investment bank can boost your resume and improve your odds of landing a full-time job in the industry.

Read more
Interview Prep

How an investment banking simulation can train you for your dream career in IB

Simulation replicates the real world to deliver a specific experience in a controlled environment. It prepares candidates to answer case study questions asked during the investment banking interview.

Read more

Here’s what your resume should look like as an investment banking aspirant in 2023

Here's what your resume should look like as an investment banking aspirant | Fmi Online

Read more

Here are the top 3 investment banking interview questions in 2023

Here are the top 3 investment banking interview questions Investment banking interviews are designed to evaluate how fit a candidate is for the leading job role in the field of finance, and therefore should be attended with a decent level of preparation.  Candidates must have a solid understanding of corporate finance fundamentals, and company valuation, […]

Read more
Interview Prep

What you might be lacking in your IB interview prep

Going through the fundamentals of finance, working on DCF calculations, and preparing financial models are some of the more obvious things that an aspiring investment banker prepares for before interviewing for a job at a top investment bank. But what about the subtle nuances that could determine whether you will land a job or not? […]

Read more
Our Courses are designed to boost your career

Launch your career with Fmi’s Learning Pathway

Choose a learning pathway that best meets your needs and ambitions. Not sure which Fmi learning pathway is right for you? Explore our CareerBuddy videos for help and advice.

Investment banking pathway

Investment banking pathway

Monthly Subscription
  • courses-clock60+ hours
  • courses-desktop9 courses

Investment banking offers many exciting career opportunities for students. From Financial Analysts to Investment Management, and Sales & Trading to a wide range of roles in infrastructure such as IT, Risk or Compliance. This pathway is designed to help you understand the investment banking industry, the roles investment banks are recruiting for, and most importantly, help you to develop the practical skills you need to get into the industry and your preferred role whether this be as part of a school leaver, intern or graduate program.

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
55,000+ students currently enrolled
Global markets pathway

Global markets pathway

Monthly Subscription
  • courses-clock70+ hours
  • courses-desktop10 courses

Global markets provide a range of important products and services to corporates, institutions and governments worldwide from executing trades and managing risk to providing quality research content. A key business area in all investment banks, global markets offers a wide range of career paths for students to consider across all functions and at all levels from school leavers to internships through to graduate programs.

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
85,000+ students currently enrolled
Asset management pathway

Asset management pathway

Monthly Subscription
  • courses-clock50+ hours
  • courses-desktop8 courses

The asset management industry is a global industry worth over 100 trillion US dollars. It plays a crucial role in managing the assets of retail and institutional investors, offering a wide range of exciting careers in doing so. If you’re looking to forge a career in asset management, our Asset management pathway is perfect for you. We help you build the skills all asset managers are looking for and explore everything you need to know about the industry and the wide range of roles available in the sector

FMI Online Student join-student-img2 FMI Online Student
100,000+ students currently enrolled