When the Interviewer caught me red-handed

deppo

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At some point at a different point in my life I was having second round interviews with a top Wall Street bank. You know the kind, fancy lux lobby, tie is compulsory, everyone going in and out with id cards locked on their belts, everyone cares about money only and everything else means weakness, sexy women in high heels and light grey attires in reception, elevators that take you to the 45th floor in 15sec. and without any noise.

I was placed at an office room to have the interview while in awe of the high stunning view of the water through the bottom to ceiling windows all around the office. First interviewer comes in, we talk for 15min, goes ok, nothing spectacular and then goes out and I'm waiting for another guy. Being a little impatient as I am I start walking around the office a bit and spontaneously I open couple cupboards of an office closet on the wall closing them again right after. I was more like bored than curious to see what's inside. Despite my quickness, second interviewer comes in when I'm about to close the second cupboard. I was sure he did not catch me in the act. But judging from the quickness of the interview and in hindsight later, I can only imagine what he transferred to his supervisor regarding my quick dismissal.
 
Ha, that sounds slightly awkward. Even if he didn't see you trying to find their magic powder, probably the expectation was to see you waiting in the chair rather than going on a expedition around the room.
 
I think it had nothing to do with your actions. WS is a highly toxic and competitive place. You might have been rejected for any other reason
 
You might have been rejected for any other reason
Wrong tie/shirt/hairstyle - you gotta fit or you are not in the click - its highly toxic in those high risk/reward financial places.
I spent one morning in the financial district of London and that was more than enough - and I was there to do something for them electrically.
Not an interview thankfully.
You are probably well out of there irrespective of the later consequences...because you would morph into 'one of them'!!!
 
At some point at a different point in my life I was having second round interviews with a top Wall Street bank. You know the kind, fancy lux lobby, tie is compulsory, everyone going in and out with id cards locked on their belts, everyone cares about money only and everything else means weakness, sexy women in high heels and light grey attires in reception, elevators that take you to the 45th floor in 15sec. and without any noise.

I was placed at an office room to have the interview while in awe of the high stunning view of the water through the bottom to ceiling windows all around the office. First interviewer comes in, we talk for 15min, goes ok, nothing spectacular and then goes out and I'm waiting for another guy. Being a little impatient as I am I start walking around the office a bit and spontaneously I open couple cupboards of an office closet on the wall closing them again right after. I was more like bored than curious to see what's inside. Despite my quickness, second interviewer comes in when I'm about to close the second cupboard. I was sure he did not catch me in the act. But judging from the quickness of the interview and in hindsight later, I can only imagine what he transferred to his supervisor regarding my quick dismissal.

Yeah, peeking in those cabinets wasn't ideal. Interview jitters are brutal, and in that high-pressure atmosphere, it's easy to do something crazy. The first interview might have been fine, but the second interviewer seeing you go through those cupboards could have thrown a wrench in things. Top Wall Street banks, like the one you described, are all about professionalism and keeping things confidential. Even if they didn't catch you red-handed, the super quick second interview might have signaled something weird. Maybe your vibe changed a bit after the cupboard incident, or your body language shifted. It's hard to say for sure, but hey, lesson learned.
 
So that would be an example day at work if you got hired.
I don't know if it's worth working there if you want to be normal.

 
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