chairmangilinc

I think I got an interview because I have actual trading experience (and I applied for the S&T position). I've been trading fx on my own for the last year.

chairmangilinc

I've also done a ton of volunteering and have had an internship managing a volunteer group here at my school.

thatbiggbadwolfy

Speaking of the whole "race issue," I must say that SEO is more open to Asian Pacific Islanders than InRoads, which is predominantly African American and Latino.... ok there I said it. Let the flaming begin.

thatbiggbadwolfy

This message is for taffy:

It's awesome how affirmative action helps Asians in college admissions, doesn't it? I mean, ... not. But it will get an African American with a 1050 SAT Combined (2004) into UCLA and 3.6's from some no name high school into Harvard. But hey, I don't want to be the token minority kid from fixed income who has to skip work to attend SEO meetings either.

By the way, do you know why Asians are hired in finance? Because they come in on quant strength alone and punch numbers without whining about it. But you just pulled some random numbers from one industry, so I guess I'll believe you.

redlinekid2

Not to stir up the race pot, but I do feel that Affirmative Action is overrated to take the attention away from the issues that matter the most by the media outlets. This whole affirmative action issue was rarely talked about prior to the 1992 Supreme Court Hearings on Clarance Thomas nomination by President G.H.W Bush. From that moment onward, all we ever talk about are Affirmative Action and Sexual Harrasment issues. Let's concentate on what matters. Not by what others have been given, whether they deserved it or not.

In the long run, their actions will reveal their true talents to do well on the job or not.

Firefly88

Hey guys, I did my phone interview this Tuesday and just received an offer to interview in person. I'm a sophomore applying to Corp. Finance. Has anyone here gone through the SEO process before? I read some of last year's stuff but just wanted some first hand stories.
As for affirmative action, I view it as a band aid that allows Congress and the educational system in general to sleep better at nights. It's not fair to the thousands of underprivileged students NOT benefiting from this token procedure. I grew up in a tough area where lots of kids dropped out or didn't even try to get into college. Affirmative action doesn't help them. What we should really be focusing on is providing better education on the primary and secondary levels so that kids don't need the stigma of being an "affirmative action kid" to get into good colleges.

JMIONE1

Just because no one has talked about the in person interviews...They are going to start to happen in a few weeks. My is scheduled for Nov 30th. Anyone have one sooner??? or am I part of the first group for SEO 2008 going up to what should be a very interesting and intense interview?

JMIONE1

hahaha Firefly88 you beat me by 60 seconds

Firefly88

JMIONE1 did you have any problems uploading your resume? Because I'm trying to sign up for a Nov. 30th interview as well and I keep getting an error. It's infuriating because I don't want to type my resume into their little box; it loses all the formating.
Where are you interviewing? I'm in DC.

JMIONE1

No trouble, it was a word doc. I hear you though I would not type in my resume, try it again (log off then log back in) or try different computers. If you are paranoid like I am about making my resume look perfect with all the formatting that I want. haha

DC Corporate Finance here too.

dhl3

Just a question here...

If I were to compare getting an accounting intern position at a Big 4 firm through "regular" process (attending career events, sending in resume, getting interviews, etc.) versus getting the same position through SEO program, which would be less competitive?

ah nvm. didn't realize the Big4 doesnt participate in the SEO program.
Screw this. I hate ibanking.

good luck to you all!

chairmangilinc

Good Job Firefly! What did they ask you in the phone interview? My phone interview is at noon pst today!!

Firefly88

The phone interview asked how I heard about SEO; what SEO is; why I want to be in SEO; what's happening to the dollar, oil, stocks; and how I learn about the markets. That was it really. I wasn't very articulate so I was afraid I wasn't going to get interviewed. Do they interview everyone pretty much??

JMIONE1

On that topic....
Anyone have any stats?

-How many IB specific interns they pick up?
-How many interns go to each IB House?
-Percent of applicants that go through the in person interview and later get final offers?
-Does the number and proportion of students that move on to the second round mirror the spots they have? (Meaning once you make the in person interviews an applicant in lets say accounting and IB both have a XX% chance of getting an offer?)
- On Firefly88’s point how many phone interviewers make it to the in person??? (I thought this was the cut off for most since if you make it to the in person interview now SEO is actually using a measurable amount of its resources on you)

-Please expand on the information we all know like 450 or so interns in all 7 industries are selected each year for over 45 partner firms (12 IB specific firms).

-Any ideas if the recent hiring freeze in Investment Banking will effect or even decrease the number of SEO IB interns?

I guess most of this information will not be public, if then please just throw out some intelligent estimates???

chairmangilinc

Hmm, they didn't ask me any macro questions! Only the basic "How did you hear about us?" "What make you a good candidate?" "Tell me about your previous experiences regarding finance." I'm not sure, but do they tell you on the phone whether you get an in-person interview? She spent 7 minutes giving me tips and advice for the in-person interview, so I don't know if is a sign or not. Overall, the interview was very easy and kind of disappointing (because there were no tough questions).