No way, something is off. Not even BX would ask you the kinds of technicals you're describing. I'm really sorry to hear this, but is there something you're not telling us? 3.9 with relevant experience should get you an interview with 50%+ of the BBs at the very least.

 
FernandoTorres9:
No way, something is off. Not even BX would ask you the kinds of technicals you're describing. I'm really sorry to hear this, but is there something you're not telling us? 3.9 with relevant experience should get you an interview with 50%+ of the BBs at the very least.

Literally 100% of everything I typed is true. I wish I could explain it and every time I tell someone this, they have the same response.

 
BlackHat:
You must be weird as fuck if you can't get interviews with those stats.

This would be true if it made any sense at all. How does being weird have anything to do with GETTING interviews. I can understand if I continually failed interviews but that's not the case.

 
Best Response
Monkey Bone:
BlackHat:
You must be weird as fuck if you can't get interviews with those stats.

This would be true if it made any sense at all. How does being weird have anything to do with GETTING interviews. I can understand if I continually failed interviews but that's not the case.

You forget how small the world of finance really is. Not to mention, you sound like a friend of mine who did his SA at Bear Stearns. He got dinged for being weird and it kind of made its way through the back channels of Wall Street. So you got dinged. Big Fucking Deal. It happens. Get over it and move on.

Or it could be that you suck at interviewing. Or it could be that HR called over to confirm and they got a bad recommendation from a boss. There's so many possible answers here so stop worrying and move on.

 

And Jay Leno didn't get his reserve in for the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, everybody has problems. You have a good background, you'll get some luck and get a good job.

Don't expect good things, appreciate them when they come.

 

Have you thought about reaching out to alumni of your school? Have you thought about looking at areas outside of banking as well? Have you planned your contingency strategy if you don't get shit? You're excuse that "Business Fraternities get 90% of the recruitment slots" is a bullshit excuse. If you're at a target with those grades and background, you're doing something wrong. You. Not anyone else. You. Have you stopped to take a look at everything you were doing in the first place? It's not everyone else's job to guarantee you an interview. It's your own job to get it and if what you're saying is true, then what's not making you stand out versus everyone else? It's something you might be done.

 
Frieds:
Have you thought about reaching out to alumni of your school? Have you thought about looking at areas outside of banking as well? Have you planned your contingency strategy if you don't get shit? You're excuse that "Business Fraternities get 90% of the recruitment slots" is a bullshit excuse. If you're at a target with those grades and background, you're doing something wrong. You. Not anyone else. You. Have you stopped to take a look at everything you were doing in the first place? It's not everyone else's job to guarantee you an interview. It's your own job to get it and if what you're saying is true, then what's not making you stand out versus everyone else? It's something you might be done.

I don't think you should be so hostile. Things have changed nowadays. I know at my school business frats are also this influential. If you're not in one, you're basically fucked. And unless you are at a top target (HYPW) then the banks are likely only going to take 1-2 people from your school. If you're not one of them, then you're also fucked.

OP, I was in a similar situation. I ended up taking a MM offer and although it's not what I wanted and I know less deserving people who got better offers, it's something. It's bullshit but the system is a shitty one and the best candidates are not always chosen.

"Look, you're my best friend, so don't take this the wrong way. In twenty years, if you're still livin' here, comin' over to my house to watch the Patriots games, still workin' construction, I'll fuckin' kill you. That's not a threat, that's a fact.
 

Have you networked? In my experience at a target, business frats dominate recruiting and have a huge leg up in terms of getting interviews because their alumni push for them. Don't use this as an excuse though. I'm not in a business frat and I was able to get interviews at BB's and land 2 offers this cycle, with much less impressive work experience than yours. The reason is that I spent an inordinate amount of time networking.

In general, I think most interview slots go to people that have networked with the firm, regardless of stats. I repeat, if you aren't networking with people at these firms, you're probably not getting an interview. That's just the reality of this recruiting cycle.

I had ~4.0 during my Junior year too. I had a decent number of interviews but didn't even get an interview at certain BB's and elite boutiques because I didn't network with anyone there.

This year, very few BB firms are recruiting outside of their summer classes and the only people that are likely to get interviews are those that network with people there. Send cold emails and set up phone calls. Your alumni network is probably pretty good. Feel out which firms are hiring and try to get your resume forwarded. It's probably the only way at this point. Cast a wide net. Don't rely solely on OCR.

 

Will, I wasn't trying to be hostile. Harsh, maybe. Hostile, not really. You need to remember that I graduated a few years ago. Not just that, that business fraternity line is bullshit. If you're going to tell me that 90% of the SA interview slots at a target go to the business fraternities, I'm just going to smile and offer you a bridge in Brooklyn. That line is absolute bullshit. If that's the case, then please tell me why the hell people should pay to do Wharton as an undergrad or go to Yale, Harvard or Princeton, when all you need is a business fraternity at a target school to get an in with an interviewer. And then you can give me an answer as to how I managed to end up on Wall Street without having a "target school" or a "business fraternity" on my resume.

Will, you also need to remember that when someone tells me something that 90% of the recruiting slots are filled with people in a Business Fraternity, my reactions are 1) You have the pedigree and the credentials. How the hell did you not get selected. 2) Why didn't you join a business fraternity if you knew that were the case already. 3) that sounds like bullshit because it creates a very similar applicant pool. 4) If you go to a target, why weren't you using everything at your disposal in the first place. And then there's number 5) What isn't the OP telling us or carefully not saying. That's always a possibility too. My feeling is that number 5 might be the answer here.

Oh, and Will, don't I recall you also busting your ass off to get it. I'm not saying that a MM bank is a bad thing and that slots at major banks don't go to less deserving people. What I am saying is that with his background, he had to do something (or not do something for that matter) to not get selected. He needs to look at what he did and reevaluate everything he did and how to go forward. It could have been his cover letter. It could have been his resume. It could have been god knows what. But he's the only person that can evaluate it and make the changes since it's his resume, cover letter, etc. or look at other career paths for the moment.

 

It definitely sounds like an unusual situation. I'm guessing that your resume probably makes you look either too one-dimensional or nerdy or something. People often get stereotyped by their resume (and then interview) -- if you fit too perfectly into the wrong stereotype, you can get passed over. But usually, the passing over happens at the interview stage; might just be that recruiting has gotten really tough so they interview fewer kids now.

On the bright side -- it's only September, and you're on top of your game. You've got 10 months to figure your shit out. Network like crazy, cold call, whatever, and something will come through. I know a lot of guys who started my year at less than ideal jobs (because recruiting was super tough due to the economy), but are now in great places. Where you start isn't where you end.

 

you won't get much sympathy or actionable advice from this board; many people will compare your situation to a p diddy complaining that he doesnt have enough bling. while it may not be the case, your profile is on a completely different level from that of 99% of the people who will view your post. at the end of the day, it's impossible for us to "put ourselves in your shoes". that said, a few generic tips that will apply to anyone: (1) network harder (2) look at the elite boutiques; most are hiring

 

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