Real Estate Acquisitions Analyst

Alumnus within the group reached out to professors in our finance department and to our career center about the opening, professors then sent the job info and contact information out to relevant students. Had an initial phone conversation with alumnus after reaching out about the position, then a subsequent one with the alumnus and another member of the group. Had a third phone interview with a more senior member of the team that did not go as well. Did not make the next round, which would have been in person at the firm with the other candidates.

Third phone interview did not go as well because I no longer had the alumnus backing me up about my university experiences and courses, which for the record is not a target school. I felt I had more to prove as a non-target undergrad and just didn't meet the high expectations of the interviewer. Disappointing but nothing much I could do.

Advice to people applying: the first few interviews are mostly fit, they want to get an idea of what it might be like to work with you. Don't be overly formal, make some casual conversation, and don't come across as a robot who only loves finance. At the early stages sharing you personality is much more important than emphasizing your finance skills.