Just experienced the worst interview ever
Just finished the 3rd round of phone interview this morning with a MM hedge fund in NY. First, the HR team messed up with the time schedule and I received the call 6 hours earlier than expected.
Then the interviewer asked me technical questions not in a straightforward way. I nailed some and bombed some.
The worst part was that, he asked if I’m interested in political science, and I said I follow politics. He then asked about my views of Mao and Chiang Kai-shek, how important I think democracy is, China-Taiwan relation, my nationality… He even said my opinions are uncommon for average Chinese people he asked.
It is beyond shocking for me to hear such questions being asked. The interview was so strange that I don’t even know how to describe my feelings now.
This is not a weird interview for an HF especially if it is macro.
That would be concerning, since several of the questions asked could easily land the fund a lawsuit in the state of NY.
In macro hfs (I'm assuming this is the role) it is your job to know what is happening, why it's happening and what impact it will have. I think it's pretty normal to be asked slightly left field questions to make sure you understand your investment area and the wider landscape. Anyone can read FT and BBerg news but being able to articulate complex opinions on complex manners is a vital prerequisite for macro roles.
I will admit commenting on your ethnicity is not something I would do at all but it is difficult to gauge the extent to which this is a throw away comment versus a meaningful point in the interview.
First, it's a risk analyst role for credit and convertible. Second, I think you might watch too much Billions and these questions are so normal in your imagination.
Surely the correct answer on the Taiwan / Mao etc type questions is simply to say: "great profit making, arbitrage, etc opportunity"
Name and shame
I guess he was....your daddy
Yeah the question on your nationality is definitely illegal and the political questions are legally dubious depending on how he asked. Macro and geopolitics are important topics but should be framed as asking for your analysis not personal political opinion.
Which fund is this?
Man people are soft, good luck suing a MM hedge fund for asking random questions who probably has an army of lawyers ready to go. The moment the interviewer started trolling you, your chances went out the window you should have known. Could always say truly I do not have a strong opinion about that but I keep up to date about the issues in terms how the market is impacted, what would be your take on the markets if XYZ happens and so on.
One, you should have never taken the call 6 hours early if that was not the best time for you. Two, it seems you would never want to work with such people anyways so not sure why you care.
Trust me I have had many such interviews in the past and long ago learned this industry has aholes in it but good luck suing every guy who asks an odd question.
Thank you. All the folks who compare this stuff to other corporate jobs don't have a full understanding of what's happening. I'm not saying what we do is god's work, at all. It's very often over-glorified. But we all make too much to be worried about companies' compliance with interview questions. Go ahead, make a stink about a firm asking you where you live and using that info against you. You really want, at best case, a small cash settlement so that you can be blacklisted from the industry going forward? No headhunter would touch you
I know the possible consequences of making it public that’s why I haven’t named the company. The point is that I’m not being over-sensitive and the questions he asked are out of the line, especially in the US.
which fund is this?
Can you be more specific on what was asked (or how it was asked)? I don't see the issue (but then again I don't have Chinese heritage so perhaps there is a cultural sensitivity I'm missing).
sounds like he just didn't want to work with a communist...I don't see the problem
lmao stay mad you fucking commies
Wouldn't be a problem then, given that the Chinese communist party is actually zero percent communist
God Americans are soft, you never hear these complaints out of Europe or Asia
Funds aren’t banks they know the profile they want and don’t care about what is “ok” to ask
Stop being so soft if you want to work in this industry
Otherwise go in tech or marketing
loll i saw worse questions/ comments in blind so tech is insufferable for OP as well
What are examples of the technicals asked?
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