How to Decline a Final Round Interview?

ai215:

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?