Killer interview question: Could you tell us something remarkable?

21 September 2010

1 minute read

Killer interview question: Could you tell us something remarkable?

This question was asked at an interview for a junior-level position at a US investment bank.

The background

It was a third-round interview and the panel seemed to have exhausted their questions. But as the interview drew to a close, the head interviewer said: "As we have five minutes left, could you tell us something remarkable?"

How the candidate responded

My mind was blank, but before I could stop the words leaving my mouth I said: "Well, I will tell you something remarkable. I have been dating my girlfriend for three years at university and have never once been faithful, and she has never once found out. That is remarkable."

Did the candidate get the job?

I sat back to a strange silence, then the head interviewer lifted his head and said: "I cannot put this simpler: banking involves trust and integrity. You have just blown this interview."

Stunned by my own stupidity, I stood up, shook hands and left.

What would you say in answer to this question? Leave your response in the comments box below.

AUTHOReFinancialCareers Singapore

Insider Comment

15 comments

Co
Coldfire
27 September 2010
It was a stupid response (why not just say "Hey, I can't be trusted!") but the head interviewer's comment is deeply - if sincerely - delusional. As a Ponzi scheme of cosmic proportions, investment banking involves neither trust nor integrity, but the appearance of such. Investment bankers are simply brokers who gamble. And as a result of the global financial crisis they precipitated, they are brokers whose bad bets are covered with money stolen from the public. The coming karma storm may be delayed, but it won't be denied. Take cover appropriately.
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ci
cisabu
27 September 2010
You could have told something related to your current assignment.
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Jo
JohnMcKeown
24 September 2010
I would say, 'I find it remarkable that I could get an interview at all in this climate'.
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Fr
Freddie
23 September 2010
It looks like the panel was undecided on the candidate and was looking for any stupid reason to trash the application. Trust and integrity in the marketplace have nothing to do with one's personal life. The candidate's answer might be stupid but the panel;s justification is baseless. I'm a GM of an international comapny and if my company, or even the former ones, ever knew about my personal life, I would have never been hired. Trust and integrity.... We saw how many had those during the global crisis..LOL...starting from AIG and Lehman Brothers executives..give me a break..live and let live...
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js
js1977
23 September 2010
Between you and the and the first single cell organisms there is an unbroken chain of life that stretches across countless generations and billions of years. If one of those ancestors had not survived to reproduce, or chosen not to, then you would not be here. Think about all those decisions and accidents that have led to this point. Isn't it remarkable that we both exist to have this conversation at all?
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