GUEST COMMENT: How to maximise your chances of landing an interview

With application frenzy fully underway at the LSE, the library is packed with people re-checking their applications for the umpteenth time, cramming around computers with their friends to do numeracy tests (and for the lucky few - preparing for interviews).

This year is proving to be extremely tough for students to even get their foot in the door of an investment bank. Record numbers of students appear to be applying, especially for the most sought-after front office positions.

What most applicants don't seem to understand is that once you have submitted your application and completed the relevant numeracy tests, the application process is not over.

After you have sent off your application the ball is never fully in the bank's court. Yes, the ultimate decision on whether to interview you likes with the bank, but there are still things you can do to massively increase the likelihood of getting an interview.

It was after watching a Q&A session with Ray Baptiste, the former head of recruitment at Société Générale, that I realised this. He mentioned that at the worst point during the Financial Crisis, up to 200 applicants were applying for certain positions at the bank, and that many times a simple call from the applicants would get their application screened with priority.

Students may be sceptical about this. Campus recruiters get hundreds of phone calls every week and clearly not everyone is interviewed. The key, however, is what you say. If you ask for a general update on your application you will simply be given the generic response, as you get when you email a HR with an update request. The key is to say something which will ensure they make a note of your name and flag your application.

The secret to getting priority treatment

There is a chicken/egg element to this, but the best way to get HR to sit up and take notice of you is to talk about how much interest you're getting from rival banks.

Last year I used this method with excellent effect. I submitted 12 applications to the biggest investment banks and got 12 interviews.

Once you're invited to one interview, it's relatively easy to get others. When HR know another bank is interested in you, they're usually keen to get you in as soon as possible. Make sure they write your name down; push to be included in their next available round of interviews.

Using this method, last year, I submitted 12 applications to the biggest investment banks and got 12 interviews.

This technique won't work if you become a nuisance. DON'T call every other day. A call every few weeks will more than suffice. It may also lead to you developing a rapport with the recruitment team, which can also work to your advantage.

The author is an anonymous student with several offers from investment banks.