How to Decline a Final Round Interview?
Hello guys.
I have applicated to lots of Consulting companies, including Bain, BCG, Roland Berger and some others Tier 2 firms.
I've already schedule my final round on Roland Berger and I've been called to go on the final round on another Tier 2 company, and I'll need to decline it.
Roland Berger will be doing a huge event as Final Round, with groups solving cases against each other all, so they will not postpone it.
In the other hand, this other company's Final Round are just regular interviews with Partners; so MAYBE it is possible to post-pone it to another day.
I'm here to ask for you guys advice. What should I tell to ask for a postponing? I find really unconfortable asking to postpone a final round; I mean, it's the most important round, what else can I have that's more important than it?
And I'm afraid of explaining that I have an interview in other company. I mean, they could understand it in two different ways: they could see me as a good candidate (as I'm being requested by lots of companies), or they could see me as a bad candidate, as I'm choosing the other company over they.
Regards,
Luiz
Since you seem to value RB over the other firm, that is clearly the most important, which means you need to reschedule the other one. There is definitely a possibility that they can't reschedule, but there is no harm in asking. If they can't, then you politely decline. I would say that it is fine to tell them you have another interview, they aren't expecting you to only be interviewing with them and they should be able to reschedule.
I'll ask for a reschedule at Booz, but I still don't know how I'll ask it: or I'll come up with a lie, or say that I have already schedule at other company. I know that they don't expect that I'm just interviewing with them, but I don't think that they'll be OK with me choosing another company over theirs.
I recommend just being honest and say you have another interview that was scheduled prior to this and can not be moved. They understand and expect good candidates to be interviewing with multiple firms and there is no reason to lie about that. You are not doing anything wrong by giving priority to an engagement that was set prior to these following interviews.
If they can't move it then you'll just have to live with your choices of RB over the other. In most cases I've found firms to be pretty accommodating when there isn't an group event.
I would actually tell them they are your first choice, but Roland Berger scheduled the interview first, and you want to honor the date. They may even give you an offer there.
Simple, final rounds get rescheduled all the time. Just be honest, I have another interview w/ another firm on that date that was scheduled first. Would like to keep the date. Possible to move? Don't just decline it outright, people are usually accommodating.
Plus they expect all their best candidates to have other interviews.
This happens all the time. Just tell them you have another interview and need to reschedule. If anything, they'll note that you are having multiple final rounds and may want you more
Best way to decline an interview (Originally Posted: 04/28/2015)
What's the best way to handle this and leave doors open for the future? Is it better to respond through email or pick up the phone? What would you write/say? Thoughts are appreciated. I've been getting interview requests from top ER groups that I had applied with months ago. Now I've accepted a job (ER at a solid MM firm) and cannot go back any more.
Call them on the phone and don't overthink it.
Just call up the recruiter, thank them for the opportunity to interview for the position, and then let them know that you've already accepted an ER position at XYZ firm so you won't be able to interview. End the call by saying that you were really excited about their position and ask them if you can keep in touch regarding potential future opportunities. If they agree (they will), then wait a few days and add them on LinkedIn so you stay connected.
Basically, just be professional and you won't burn any bridges. They'll respect that you're not wasting their time when you've already accepted another position.
Cheers
declining a final round - etiquette? (Originally Posted: 03/04/2008)
I agreed yesterday to a final round with a NYC consulting firm scheduled for this friday, and they already booked plane tickets for me. Today i got an offer from a different firm which wasn't my #1 choice but is certainly above this consultancy. Is it alright to call them up and say that I got another offer and wish to withdraw my name? I'd rather email them actually. Anyway, what are the rules for this?
hmm... i found myself in this position during recruiting and just sucked it up and went. It would have been worth it to call and say no thanks if i'd had another opportunity that wknd but I didnt have anything going on. Some firms will actually make you pay for the travel if you dont plan on coming - so if you call and say that you dont want the offer be aware you could get stuck with a bill. You can ask career services if they have any policies about this but they probably dont... Anyway, dont you have some friends in NYC you could go out partying with? Its not like you care about getting the offer so sounds like a free trip to me. You know what you could even do if you fly up a day early... volunteer ur seat to a standby and get a free roundtrip plane ticket out of it - then just get on the next flight to nyc. Thats how I think American works anyway - definitely pulled that at least once.
Seriously - make the trip. The other offer isn't finalized and could still fall through (although highly unlikely.) Let this firm know you've already got an offer from another firm and interview as though you've got nothing to lose. You'll get a free trip out of it, some interview experience, a bigger network, and who knows maybe another offer to consider.
I have to agree with the last post. I actually just interviewed this past weekend for the experience. It was a nice paid vacation.
i cancelled an interview with top 3 consulting firm once i had accepted an offer in S&T full time. had things going on at school and didnt want to be gone for a day and a half for a job i had 0 interest in. i would call and tell them you accepted another offer and cancel. they can then at least find an alternate to interview who actually has an interest in the job.
I'm also with fafa & nys on this. It's a free trip and will be anxiety free now that you have an offer in hand. Could turn out to be a good experience and who knows what could happen. At the very least, you'll meet some interesting people, learn about another business, and maybe expand your options. If you have no conflicting plans, why not go? Congrats on the offer though
thanks, ill take the high road and go - although i am sick of flying into NY.
How to Withdraw from Interviewing? (Originally Posted: 11/11/2015)
I've already accepted an offer elsewhere, and neglected to withdraw several applications. Now I have been informed that I should book interviews, but I can't withdraw my applications on the websites at this point.
Should I just inform the recruiters that I cannot do an interview? Alternatively, will they notice if I just do not book the interview and quietly ignore the e-mails? Will this affect my chances in the future of entering those firms?
Also, some of these interviews are investment banking ones. I've only prepared for sales & trading interviews, and that was a month ago. I can't even do some of these interviews just for fun.
Thank you for the advice in advance.
I would send the recruiter an e-mail, telling them something like: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet your firm. Unfortunately, I am already committed to another firm and therefore I do not want to take someone else's place in the process.
How do you reject an interview you want to do? (Originally Posted: 02/16/2013)
I accepted an SA offer from a mid-tier investment bank a few weeks ago (it was the only offer I had).
I've just found out that I have been granted first-round interviews with 2 top-tier firms, to which I had applied at the beginning of the year (I guess I was quite low on the alternate list…). I'd much rather work at one of these two places, but I can't interview/accept an offer because I already accepted the mid-tier offer.
So I'll go ahead and send them an email declining the interview. However, how should I word the email? I want to:
1) Notify these banks that were my first-choice 2) Tell them I’m only declining to interview because I already accepted another offer (when I was a bit desperate) 3) Mention that I really would like to do FT interviews with them
I figure the fact that these firms gave me an interview means they saw something of worth in me. How do I stay on their radar so I can guarantee I get interviews when FT recruiting rolls around?
EDIT: I got the interviews through online apps, not OCR or alumni.
if you have any alums that pushed for you, call them specifically and tell them the situation, and ask to be considered for fulltiem opportunities. tell them where you're gonna be interning/keep in touch.
HR doesn't mean shit. You need an actual banker helping you/keeping you in the running for full-time.
Would not renege as a junior SA. Worst case scenario, you'll get banned from OCR.
Thanks for the reply - so, I guess this means the whole thing goes to waste?
Also, in regard to reneging on an SA offer - if I got the SA offer without using OCR (i.e. nobody at career services has any idea I have this offer; this firm has never had any OCR postings at my college), would it be okay? Or would the company I renege on call up my Dean or something?
If you got the SA without using OCR, you might be ok. But honestly, the street is a really small world. Cross one/two degree of separation, and you can get in touch with just about anyone.
Depends on how big your risk appetite is. I'm going to a top MM this summer, but just got the chance to interview with a BB a couple days ago. I turned it down because I didn't want to risk getting fucked.
I'm probably in the minority on this, but I would interview and if I felt it was better for me I would renege on the first offer. Frankly in this market (and really even before that) banks will drop you at the drop of a hat -- they'll get the same level of loyalty from me.
I show loyalty to people that I owe it to - not to the institutions they work for.
Honestly, this. This +9000 if you didn't get it through OCR (so no OCR ban for FT).
I'd still interview with the 2 firms. If these places really are better and you get an offer from one (or both), I know you wouldn't hesitate to renege.
Do what's best for you.
I understand the thought process with showing loyalty to those that will show you loyalty and that these banks probably won't. In my personal opinion, it is all about what you stand for as a person. I was always taught to keep my word or it was worth nothing. And remember how small Wall Street really is, inevitably you will run into someone who remembers you reneging if that is what you decide to do. All just food for thought. Seeing as I was in the same situation as you not long ago, I understand how hard a call this is.
Thanks for the replies everyone. Anybody else have any advice? This is how my thinking is going right now:
1) I have no issues with loyalty - I didn't network with anybody/have somebody put their trust in me to get my current offer (the only such thing I did would be to say "you are my top choice firm" at interview). I know they are totally willing to kick me to the curb if necessary, and so I'm willing to reciprocate.
2) Where I am worried: the "whole finance-is-a-small-world" thing. I don't want to get screwed by the firm whose offer I've accepted. What would they do once I tell them I'm reneging. Would they just write it off, or would they ask everybody they know, "Did you guys extend an offer to rm1234? That guy's scum; he reneged on us."?
Anybody here ever renege on an offer? How did that turn out for you?
EDIT: My contract contains language saying either party can back out with 2 weeks' notice. Does that have any significance regarding being able to renege, or is that standard language?
Also: so, is it at all possible for me to decline the interview while reiterating my interest, in order to increase my chances of an FT interview from the top-tier firms?
I really think you should be careful here. Honestly, it'll probably be all fine, but there really is a chance that 1. the other firm hears that you're interviewing through the grapevine and rescinds your offer and tells the bank you're interviewing with that you pulled that shit, and you'll be internship-less. 2. your reputation. finance really is a small world, and people switch firms a lot, particularly bankers. you never know if one of the bridges you burn by doing this might be your interviewer in 2 years when you're interviewing for buyside positions.
I can understand you doing this if you took an offer at somewhere like UBS and got an interview at MS/GS, but if the bank you accepted is doing well, I don't think you should risk it.
Canceling Superdays (Originally Posted: 10/11/2009)
Hi All,
I received my top-choice offer from MS/GS last week. This week, I have final rounds with several other BB's (Citi / Barclays / others).
What is the most professional thing that I can do in this situation? Go to these superdays and decline the other BBs' offers should they come? Or, let the banks know that I have already accepted an offer.
By the way, the actual offer letter from MS/GS is coming at the end of the week. What I have now is a verbal offer from several members of my team.
Thank you very much!
I have always thought it was best to give them a call to explain that you have already accepted an offer and dont want to waste their time and money.
Nobody wants to take time out of their day to sit and talk to you if there isn't a chance that you would join the group. I canceled all of my other interviews after receiving an offer this past week.
If you only talked to HR then a call/email to HR is fine, but if you talked to anyone in the firm who was pulling for you, personally let them know as well. Also, I would send an e-mail to/call people I interviewed with first round especially if they took an interest in having you in their group.
I would cancel the other interviews once you receive the paperwork for the offer you plan to take. Did you receive an offer from GS and MS, or one of the 2?
Congrats, btw
thanks ra.
i have not yet received the paperwork, but it's scheduled to come on friday of next week - the day i have two other superdays. i am very conflicted about what i should do...
i got an offer from one of those two.
Cancelling Superdays & Deciding Between Offers (Originally Posted: 10/05/2009)
Hi,
I'm a student at Penn, and I'm in a weird situation.
I have Superdays coming up for
MS Fixed Income & Equity S&T Barclays S&T Bofa S&T Bofa IB Citi IB KBW IB MS IB
I have offers outstanding at:
BlackRock PAG (summer internship), I keep hearing about long, sweatshop-like hours Boutique IBs (HLHZ, Greenhill, Rothschild, Evercore, Moelis), apparently hours can be worse at these boutiques, but there could be more significant responsibility at the analyst level
First off, I know it's strange that I have both S&T and IBD interviews. To be honest, I applied for both because I wanted to maximize my success rate attaining jobs this season since recruiting is particularly tough.
Is it rude if I cancel 2nd round interviews with most of these firms? Is my boutique IB offer an easy choice over Bofa/Citi IB? Could anyone provide some input on the choices I have right now? Should I go through with the superdays even for firms I don't think I'd end up working for?
Finally, would MS S&T or BlackRock set me up for better exit opps down the line (larger network)?
My offer at the boutique explodes at the end of this week, not giving me time to attend any of my other superdays. As such, I have to decide between my boutique offer and taking a chance with the other firms that are lined up currently.
Thanks in advance for the help.
-Confused Monkey
try your best to get an extension with the boutique ... otherwise your situation's pretty tough
I would probably sell a testicle to be in your position : /
shouldn't your school have a set deadline of when offers expire. For example, all offers received through Penn recruiting should have a deadline in late October/ early November?
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