So my odd handling of my college job fair seemed to work, as I've managed to score an interview with Charles Schwab. I always strike out for the in person job fair due to what seems to be my nervous confidence looking much more awkward than I perceive it to be. Stuck it out, nothing, but I applied for a dozen or so jobs that had a deadline on the same day as my job fair through our job hosting site (my thinking being most will be focusing on preparation for the job fair), and managed to get this interview. I did a practice phone interview in high school with a friend of my dads, but it was for a scholarship, and I ended up interviewing in person after my school gave me an excused absence. That was four years ago, and it was for a completely different beast, as I'm sure the preparations are completely different.
I guess I'll open it up to you guys, because I'm sure someone on here has either conducted these, or interviewed via phone. I'm more so nervous because you lose the ability to vibe with the interviewer in person, and I feel they might not get the feeling I have what they need over the phone. I've done numerous interviews in person, and have nailed a few big scholarship interviews and a job interview at the Clinic, where I've worked for the past two summers. I'm a junior Finance major, and I haven't gotten into the gist of my major (although next semester I will have taken classes that would certainly help me in this interview) so I'm worried that if they spring a question about planning for retirement (the interview is for a Retirement Planning Internship) and what would I suggest to their customers that I will just fall flat. Would generic research be something I should utilize due to the nature of a phone interview? I appreciate any help anyone can give me, although I'm prepared for the ribbing and jokes that will more than likely come. I also will not be putting stock into any advice Dave_K will give, because this has to do with a real job, and not a ponzi scheme, some sort of fraud, or Bible Community College.
holy shit if you think that you are going to be suggesting anything to any clients, which you have referred to as "customers", then well nevermind.
Demonstrate that you are a go-getter and problem solver. Do this by calling and speaking to roughly a dozen financial advisors at CS. Just figure it out. Call them all and don't leave messages and get 12 on the phone. Hell, call a different state's advisors so that you don't have to fuck up sounding like an idiot to someone who you might meet. If rapport is good with one of the local guys, go over there and bring one the dudes a coffee. Just ask what his day looks like and how he spends his time, if he was ever an intern there, and if he knows any interns or former interns there.
You really should approach this like you are unsure if this is worthy of your time. Like "is it a good fit" type of attitude. After all, is it a good fit? There are so many different Financial majors with different specialties and career paths, maybe it isn't worth your summer. That's 1 of 87 summers, since you are young, maybe 1 of 100 summers, and none of them are guaranteed. So what can you find online? Who was an intern? Maybe a job posting sight or a linked in search can yield resumes that have CS intern in there somewhere. That's a good place to start.
If they ask you anything hypothetical regarding client scenarios, just play it cool and return serve. I doubt they ask it whatsoever, but if so, say that of course you would need to know the family's assets, liabilities, income, and expenses and map that to there goals, and you aren't sure how you would do that, but that's exactly why you want to get in there and knead the dough. Make sure you find a way to tell them that the classroom is great and all, but what's lacking is application. Too many recipes, and you want to knead the dough. don't say it twice, douchebag. and don't talk about your favorite recipes, unless they involve pecan pie, which is awesome.
Tone match and smile through the phone. I can't tell if you are going to get some HR douche or a rainmaker, so there are fairly obvious points. Really let some of yourself come through - if they don't like it then f- em anyway. Make sure that you ask some questions about the interviewer as well. First pleasantries, then career-path questions.
Finish it by saying something like l value your time and I imagine you want an intern who can get stuff done, be on time, professional, and can be a sponge without getting in the way. Then somehow ask to get in the door. I would figure out if the interviewer is local, and if he/she is, try to get the face-to-face interview anyway. If not local, see if they have skype. If no skype, set them up a skype account and email them instructions on how to download.
If you ever get any questions about people that you know or anything that could remotely be construed as "can you bring business to the firm through your connections", the answer is yes. You don't have to do that, but the answer is yes.
That said, if they want you to be some analyst herb behind a desk, and that's your thing, then disregard most of what I wrote. If you've read this much, then you win the prize: an ex-intern of mine works at Schwab in Orange County. PM me your email and i will tee up an intro and you can ask him about the interns that came through the Schwab system. You're welcome, America.