You’ve applied for a banking job via a recruitment agency in Singapore or Hong Kong and your CV and cover letter are spot-on. All that now stands between you and interviewing with the bank is an initial meeting with the recruiter, a mere box-ticking exercise – you think.
Your situation is not as straightforward as it may seem, however. Global banks in Asia have been cutting costs for the past few years, and are putting more pressure on recruiters to only find them exceptional candidates.
If you don’t come across well when you meet a recruiter, they won’t hesitate to reject you. Here’s what to avoid doing.
Starting out with disrespect
Show respect to the recruiter when you first meet – even if they’re less experienced than you (this isn’t uncommon in Asia) and even if they’ve never worked in banking. Dress and behave as though you’re at a job interview with a senior banker. If you make a bad first impression, the recruiter will assume the manager at the bank will think the same and they won’t waste time recommending you, says James Incles, group country director at recruiters iKas in Singapore. “Do you make good eye contact? Are you wearing smart attire? Decisions are often made when you walk through the door.”
Mid-interview phone use
Switch off your device! Recruiters in Singapore and Hong Kong complain that too many candidates are checking their smart phones in the midst of job discussions. This doesn’t show that you’re a connected, sought-after finance professional; it suggests you’re not interested in the new job. Evelyn Lee, a director at LMA Recruitment in Singapore, has even seen candidates answering phone calls during interviews.
Monologues
“Sometimes candidates go on and on about their experience without realising that the recruiter already has their CV and knows what they do,” says Farida Charania, Asia Pacific CEO of search firm Nastrac Group. “It’s better to engage in a dialogue rather than rattling off a monologue. The consultant can’t help you by just listening to your experience – they need to know how its relevant to the job.”
Leaving your research too late
It’s a big problem: candidates who think they can do their research into the job only when they clinch an interview with the bank. “You’ll be expected to have done your homework and be able to talk about the employer with the recruiter. If not, it doesn’t really signal that you want the job,” says Lynne Roeder, managing director of recruiters Hays in Singapore.
Covering up your mistakes
Too many candidates in Hong Kong and Singapore think career mistakes should be covered up to save face rather than properly explained. “They sometimes rush through talking about their CVs like a runaway train,” says Sandeep Mohanan, manager of front-office financial services at recruiters Morgan McKinley in Hong Kong. “Whether it’s a low GPA or joining a firm because of a manager who left shortly after, use it as part of the story you tell the recruiter – will help engender trust.”
Getting aggressive
Don’t expect a recruiter interview to be a light-weight chat; except to get grilled on the same subjects that you would at a bank. And when you’re asked tricky questions, don’t lose your cool because you’re ‘only talking to a recruiter’. Vince Natteri, director of recruiters Pinpoint Asia in Hong Kong, explains: “I once had a candidate with a top-notch CV who seemed perfect for the bank. But when we probed into her background, her answers weren’t consistent and she became defensive and aggressive. Her attitude meant we didn’t refer her.”
Hiding your reason for leaving
“If we sense you’re not being truthful about your reasons for leaving a company, alarm bells will ring,” says Mohanan from Morgan McKinley. “This can have implications later on, particularly at the reference stage, and can jeopardise the whole hire.”
Badmouthing
If you’re sick of your current bank or colleagues, it’s tempting to use a recruiter as a sounding-board for your grievances. “Criticising other people is never a good idea in an interview with a recruiter. Focus on the positive when talking about your experiences,” says Roeder from Hays.
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