So I applied to an IBD analyst position in NYC a few days ago and got a call back today (Saturday) from a member of the group I applied for. He asked if he could set up a phone interview for Sunday afternoon. I told him that that wouldn't be a good time as I already had plans -- my friends rented a beach house for the weekend and I would be heading down there on Sunday. He said ok and that I would get a call back some other time and hung up the phone.
I get the strange feeling I'm never getting a call back. As soon as I hung up the phone, I wanted to slap myself. In hindsight, I should have grabbed this opportunity by the balls, canceled everything on my plate, and just agreed to the phone interview at the proposed time, but what initially stopped me from doing so was that my friends paid a sizable sum of money to rent out the beach house and were expecting me to chip in. I didn't want to leave them hanging. I wasn't able to convey this to the guy over the phone -- only that I would be going to the beach. Also, I wanted to give myself some more time to go over technicals and behaviorals so I would perform better in the interview.
So did I fuck up or am I stressing out over nothing? The fact that he called me on a Saturday and wanted to schedule the interview for a Sunday makes me think that these guys are balls-deep in live deals (of course, this only comes to me after I hang up the phone...). Should I email HR (where I initially applied as I have no contact with anyone in the group I applied for) and explain my situation? Or just leave it and revel in how much of a dumbass I am? If I never hear back from these guys, I'm ok with that because I deserve it, but if I can salvage this opportunity, I would love to know how...
You should never say "you have plans" even if you really do.
I was in the same situation and I just said I had a family member pass away and need to support the family. works a charm.
I'm not sure about your situation. He probably just went to the next guy on the list. If he's good, you're probably not going to get a call back.
Who the fuck rents a beach house on a sunday?
It was for the whole weekend, but I'm only going down there for Sunday.
Anyway, yeah, thanks for confirming my suspicions.
Woah... you told the guy you couldnt do the interview because you were going to the beach!? I hope that was not the reason you gave...
its like getting a call from your staffer and saying hold up i gotta sleep.
That was a dumb move. Put yourself in the analyst's shoes. He gets shit dropped on his head every day and do you think he gets to tell his MD "hey, sorry I can't put this pitch together for you, my buddies and I rented a beach house for the weekend?" Fuck no. If you're not willing to make small sacrifices like this one, then IBD may not be for you. An analyyst I knew left their vacation in Italy for the team. And we've all heard the countless stories of doing due dili on Christmas Eve or being on a roadshow during an important event you'd like to attend. I know making time to do work when you actually have a job verse making time to interview for a job you may or may not get may not be exactly the same, but the analyst was probably thinking "if you can't make a small sacrifice like this one, then how cut out for the job could you really be?" Also gives the impression that you just don't give a shit. A hundred other kids are itching to get that call.
First impressions are everything.
All that aside, I hope you get a call back, but you shouldn't leave it up to hope or chance. Call the guy if you don't hear anything by Tuesday.
Hate to tell you this, but you definitely fucked up. Big time. He probably already called some other kid who isn't going to the beach.
Sorry bro.
Exactly what I needed to hear, and I'm not being sarcastic. Thanks, guys. Lesson learned. It's just that I've never had this situation happen to me before and I just went with my gut feeling, which was to tell the truth. Needless to say, I'll have my shit together for next time...if there is a next time...
This depends on the guy on the other end of the line. If it were me, I would be annoyed and it would be a serious ding. It's been a long time since I sat around picking out the next analyst class but I don't think things have changed that much. Consider what kind of image you are projecting of the future you when the SHTF and they need you to step up. Beach house? Come on. Even if I were to call back my mind would be made up.
The only case I have seen where this would not be a ding was a chick analyst who thought that having personal shit trump work was actually laudable. She is a rare exception. Don't make this mistake again. You're not applying to work as a Big 4 auditor.
Actions speak louder than words -- nothing you say will change their impression of you
douche bag use email and say my bad
You did right, mate. The bong will always be far more important than the bling.
bet thing u can do now is get fucked and and laid this weekend. have fun.
Guys, fellows, gents calm down I have the solution.
All you need to do is invite him to the beach house...
:D
You're done, unfortunately... update us though.
why didnt you just agree to the interview even though you were going to the beach? you could have just sat in one of the rooms of the house and do the interview for 30 mins. I dont see the problem.
i wouldnt call you back but maybe you get lucky.
You stupid asshole.
LOL...I think that's everyone's sentiment. Seriously, you couldn't have held the interview right before or after breakfast? I mean, you could've had some privacy somewhere in that beach house, right?
It sounds like you learned your lesson, though...this just doesn't fly in IB.
Anyway, I didn't end up going down to the shore because I felt like shit after this whole fuck-up. Just stayed at home going over BIWS lessons ad nauseam. I'll still be paying my part of the rent, though, because I don't want to leave my friends to foot that bill when I initially said I would be going.
And yes, on the bright side, I guess there are worse ways to learn a lesson, but I'm certain I'll be looking back on this 5 or 10 years from now and still shake my head...
Nm
Sunk cost...anyone...anyone...
There are worse ways to learn a lesson... but if you told an ACTUAL BANKER (not an HR person) that you were going to the beach there's very little hope he'll call you back.
All you had to do was say that you were busy on Sunday. That's it. You don't need a reason, it's none of his business, you're not working for them yet.
Straight up bad decisions all around
Wow, you must be really young and dumb. It's as simple as giving up one fucking day on the beach for setting up the rest of your life.
Smells trollish to me. I believed you until you said you didn't go. Why would you not go if you already fucked this up?
And I didn't go because I'm not someone who can drown his worries away in alcohol. If I start drinking in my current state of mind, I'll turn into the raging drunk kind of drunk. Not good when others around me are just trying to have a good time.
And yes, txjustin, I am young and dumb, although a little bit wiser now.
Understandable. Its good you know your limitations. If you could get a callback from this bank, you can certainly get one from somewhere else. Shake it off and move on. A lot of people do a lot of things that are far more stupid.
wow, just wow
Well good news is this won't ever happen to you again, right?!
Also I would try and save this--if you do have the guy's email or name, you can email him with a quick follow up? If not just for next time always you are working on their schedule! I just rescheduled a call for 7:30 am on my vacation because I have a call with a partner and we all know my schedule means nothing...
Good luck in the future though!
This is one of the funniest threads I have read on WSO. I don't even know what to say haha
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