Yes. I'd guess you're on a short list of up to half a dozen candidates. Whether or not that's the case, it's unlikely that anyone gets "close to an offer" before interviewing in person.

On the programming side, be prepared to write code on the whiteboard and to answer Kernighan/Pike type questions. As for interview questions on the finance side, I'm sure you got plenty of information from other threads here. And if you're unlucky, you'll also get thrown some ridiculous brainteasers (which rarely shed much light on a candidate's worth, but are strangely popular nonetheless).

Good luck!

If you're unprepared, and blow it, you should kick yourself. (I've done that more than once - long ago.) But if you go in well prepared, give it your best shot, and still don't get the job, you shouldn't feel bad about that; it means the job itself was a poor fit and you wouldn't have been happy there.

Thanks for your opinion. I suppose it would be a good idea to look at some brainteasers. I do, in fact, have a copy of 'Heard on the Street', so if I have time I'll look at a few problems.

Thanks

Thanks for bringing this up. Your anecdote is well appreciated. It underlines just how complex or simple the interview process can be. I like that you underscore the importance of human-interaction. I feel I already have a good repoire with the head of the group I am trying to get into, and I have done this not only with my skills, but just by being 'sociable' and charming. I was afraid that I might come across as too sociable, but your post reminds me that most of us like to be treated with civility and are by nature social. I will keep this in mind next week, but I will watch out for the programmers who do not like to be social -- I know a few of these guys here at the bank. They are real automatons.

...I stopped him and told him to ask me another...

That's awesome.

You could do that in such a way that it would be to your benefit:  "I really shouldn't tell you this, but I've heard that one before".  I would think that you would score on: honesty, confidence, 'likes games'...But that could only work for an analyst, nobody would hire a trader who would give up such advantage.

-t.

• As far as preparing for the inteview break things down to really make sure you prepared.
• From the perspective of what questions you'll get asked:
• Quant/Business Questions: be prepared, know what you know, and don't be afraid to know what you don't know (it's better than trying to make it up)
• Tech: same as above
• If it is on your resume be able to explain it forwards and backwards
• Culture/Motivation: this gets trickier because how you do is very subjective
• what are you looking for? what's your greatest ackomplishment? what would you say was your greatest failure - what did you do about it? etc...
• If you know who you'll meet in advance read something they authored or wear involved in, it will impress people that you did your homework.
• Usually in most interviews and some point the person conducting the interview will ask you if you have questions. Asking the right questions is as important as getting the right answers.
• What is your role here?
• How long have you worked here?
• What were you doing before you came here?
• What do you like about working here? What don't you like about working here?
• What is your perspective on the role I'm interviewing for (ask 5-6 people this question and you'll get some great data and how synched up people are on the intitiative)
• ALWAYS ask open ended questions (not yes/no). Get people to talk, then you may see questions pop up that you would have other wised missed.
• It's ok to let silence fill the room, it shows you're centerred.
• Pack a bag: don't laugh
• Pack water, power bars, gum/mints, etc....
• you don't want to be dehydated or let your blood suger drop when your 6-8 hours into a critical interview
• you don't want to "need" to ask people to help you on this - you're prepared!
• bring something to read (WSJ, FT, Economist, or other relavent literature)
• it will keep your mind fresh if you have down town so you don't over analyze another interview and makes for good points of reference in the conversation.
• bring extra copies of your resume - someone may need one and you don't want to lose half the interview time because they needed to go get one
• bring a pad and a pen - outline your questions before the meeting so you make sure you covered the points you wanted to.

You can email me if you want me to elaborate - the harder you work the luckier you'll get - brains don't hurt either

Depending on how much actually got passed on to your recruiter - I would say more in your favor than against.  The group probably has a couple more candidates and some group think they have to mull over.  If you were out, I think you would have got the bad news right up front, not that he was glad to meet you - But here is the question, when they drilled you did they ask any brainteasers?  Especially ones that you already knew. 

May seem silly but think about sending a thank you note, including how glad you were to meet them.

Just got a nice offer from that place I interviewed at. I am very pleased. Thanks to all my fellow NPers for your help. Now I'll have to figure out how to leave my current employment gracefully, which is a whole 'nother issue. Stay tuned for another post.

Thanks!