Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – Long and Intense

Negotiation Details – There was none. I didn't negoiate. I would negotiate fro money in invest in the business building phase

Interview Details – I was referred by a friend so my interview was a breeze. It was more of a conversation really, and whether the position was right for me.

Negotiation Details – None, I was happy to get anything

Interview Details – The interview went very smoothly. It was a lot less structured than I had expected. The stockbroker had seemed more concerned about finding a perfect fit than someone intelligent enough for the position. With my finance background, it seemed more important to impress with my personality. Overall I was very satisfied, but it may differ from broker to broker.

Interview Details – It was just one interview with 2 managers at the same time and it lasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Interview Details – Can take a while to make a decision but when they do be ready to get after it.

Negotiation Details – none

Interview Details – simple, asked me basic questions. Phone interview was easy and revolved around why i want to work there. In person was more in-depth about my experience and how it would relate.

Interview Details – Applied online, five days later I received a personality test which I completed and sent back the same day. Three weeks later I received a phone call from the Branch managers assistant to come in a week later. I went in to the interview and the manager was very down to earth; he liked my past experience and sent a business plan template to complete. He stated the whole process would take about 3 weeks (which is complete BS. They are such a big organization; they are clueless on what is going on). I received a call 3 weeks later to meet with an FAA that told me how hard of a time I will have raising money, and talked about his little piker business and how MSSB's salary is a draw that has to be paid back (which is expected in this industry).

I made the mistake of holding informal meetings with family and friends telling them I was making a switch into wealth management. I waited and waited for the last interview for 4 weeks. I met with a senior FA for another redundant waste of my time interview and I could clearly tell he was intimidated by my track record and connections.

Reason for Declining – This people are a waste of time when it comes to interviewing professionals. No wonder they are collapsing since all they do is hire people with no real work experience or recent grads, and make no accommodations to real producers. They talk to you as if you have no clue what is going on in the industry.
I decided to take my business to an asset management firm that is very accommodating.

Interview Details – met with VP and Analyst.
Tell me about yourself...

Interview Details – A friend of mine was already employed there and was asked to find suitable candidates for an intern position with one of the wealth management teams. He passed my resume on to his higher ups and I got a call shortly after. We arranged a time for me to come in for an interview. The interview itself was pretty relaxed. It included me and my two potential bosses. We just talked about what I did at my last internship and that turned in to a natural feeling conversation. It didn't take very long and they kept it very friendly, which I really enjoyed.