F.A.Q.

[toggle_content title= »How exactly does a seminar work? »]

AlumnEye offers preparation seminars for interviews in banks and consulting firms. These seminars take place in hotels in Paris. The seminar day lasts 10 hours and it is structured around 3 points: the process (when and where you should apply), the fit questions, and the technical questions. Speakers from the biggest banks – Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley… – are present to answer all of the participants’ questions (schedules, salaries, lifestyle, atmosphere…).

90% of our participants got an offer within the 3 months following their seminar. The participation to a seminar can change according to the option you choose. It also includes the workbook, as well as access the the Afterworks organized by AlumnEye, where participants and speakers meet in an informal setting.[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »What does AlumnEye bring compared to an individual preparation? »]

The AlumnEye seminars do not replace individual preparation (which lasts at least around 60 hours of work). They are complementary and they make a difference since they teach you how to react to each question and you’ll be aware of the specificities of each bank in which you apply.

Moreover, thanks to the AlumnEye network, you get to meet young professionals of the banking world, our speakers with whom you may exchange and understand what it’s really like to work as an analyst at Lazard or JP Morgan, which will give you an edge during your interviews. [/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »How can I prepare for these interviews? »]

These interviews necessitate around 60 hours of preparation before you can claim to an honorable performance. The technical content you need to master is important, but you must not underestimate the fit questions (HR questions) as well as the numerical online tests. In order to prepare yourself, there are key manuals (Vernimmen, Vault guides, which you can access through your school’s intranet or at the school library).

In order to be ready for all of the technical questions, you need to go even further and the AlumnEye seminars suggest a preparation through four steps. They cover all there is to know about :

–       which tactics to apply

–       brainteasers and numerical tests

–       technical questions asked during interviews

–       fit questions, to win-over the recruiters.[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »How can I prepare the numerical online tests? »]

The numerical online tests are a way of pre-selecting candidates for the first round of interviews. They are of the utmost importance and they need to be prepared beforehand. The difficulty behind these tests lies in the fact that your time is limited: the usual format is 20 minutes for 20 questions. The calculations however stay quite simple, and the primary obstacle is the speed of which they need to be answered. The AlumnEye seminars offer exclusive batches of hundreds of questions to enable our participants to train and thrive during their online tests on D-day. [/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »What is a brain teaser ? How can I train for them? »]

Brain teasers are logic questions and their purpose is to test a candidate’s reasoning ability. These questions can be very unnerving if the candidate wasn’t prepared beforehand. Indeed, they aren’t technical nor behavioral, and can seem pointless. It is therefore essential to inspect a certain number of them in order to identify the reasoning techniques needed to answer them.

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[toggle_content title= »Are Spring and Summer internships recommended? »]

In a harsh job market, these internships in banks are essential in order to get a permanent job offer.

The Spring internship : (one to two weeks) enables the discovery of the sector
The Summer internship : (eight to ten weeks) familiarizes candidates to an analyst’s job
These two internships enable candidates first and foremost to network: the goal is to stand-out and receive a job offer for the following year. [/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »How important is one’s network in relation to these internships? »]
It is essential. The current context requires you to be in permanent contact with a professional of the banking world in order to be updated on the recruiting opportunities. With AlumEye, broaden your network.[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »I was told I should do an M&A internship. What do you think? »]
An M&A internship on a resume is first and foremost a strong signal for recruiters. Indeed, even if you do not wish to continue in mergers and acquisitions afterwards, this experiences shows a true quality in your work, rigor in your documents, a capacity of managing both pressure and deadlines, all of these in hard conditions (sleep-deprived). Furthermore, an experience in M&A proves you have solid technical knowledge and a total mastery of Excel and PowerPoint (often crucial for recruiters).[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »How many hours a week is the average M&A internship? »]
The answer can be very different from one bank or sector to another, but either way the hours are very long, and interns need to learn how to be available at all times. One can for example be called back in during weekends if the Partner wants to present a new pitch to a client. It is a very demanding environment where expectations are very high in terms of availability and personal investment.[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »What are your tips for a good resume? »]

The resume, along with the cover letter, are the only two weapons we have during the first step of the recruiting process : your application.

There are key tips and things you need to avoid, which are taught during the AlumnEye seminars: insisting on professional experiences, highlighting any extraordinary results you may have (GMAT, TOEFL), adding an extra-curricular activity which shows accountability, organizational skills or a capacity of handling pressure.[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »When should I start sending resumes and cover letters? »]
This question is essential. The recruitment process follows an extremely rigid calendar, and you cannot miss the key moments to apply. All dates aren’t the same, depending on banks, and are available on each bank website. AlumnEye gives each participant a complete calendar as well as the websites to apply.[/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »Who do we send them to? »]
The applications, for programs such as Summer internships or Graduate programs, have an online application process. For off-cycles (long internships), the procedure is less standardized and the applicants can apply on their school’s intranet or through their school’s alumni network. [/toggle_content]

[toggle_content title= »Do I need to speak French to do an internship in Paris? « ]

In banks, the Parisian teams are usually coverage teams. Although they work in English, they are mostly involved in operations  with French clients. For these reasons, mastering the French language is essential. However, the AlumnEye seminars are also specialized in Summer Internships and off-cycles for English-speaking countries, which make them relevant if you wish to work abroad. [/toggle_content]

 


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