How to Ruin Application Chances

Assuming someone has most of the wanted qualifications to get past a resume screen and potential PST, is there anything very easy to miss that may sink an application.

Essentially, what could a 3.9+, 1550+, semi-target+, and etc. person unconsciously do that would sell them before the R1 interview?

5 Comments
 

Not networking at all, or networking and being really awkward/unpersonable/inappropriate during the chats. Some people honestly don't have a ton of self-awareness and might think a networking chat went well, but it actually fell into one of the buckets above. 

 
Funniest

If you want to screw your chances you could:

- Commit a felony or capital offense
- Speak in riddles during coffee chats
- Put a partner’s address in the “anything else you would like to tell us?” section
- Say the wrong company name every time during interviews
- List “taxidermy - self taught” as one of your interests
- Include your parole officer as a reference

Hope this helps!

 

In case the above didn't get the job done and you're still trying, a few more suggestions:

  • Hock a loogie on your palm to make handshakes more official
  • Call the janitor at your in-person a 'brokie'
  • Explain Italian brain rot compulsively
  • Say you're interested in the firm to improve your chill to pull ratio
  • Aggressively inquire about political beliefs, take the polar opposite view
 

Repudiandae eum tempore itaque earum provident voluptate dolorum. Incidunt distinctio voluptate culpa iusto. Possimus voluptatum cum sapiente id exercitationem reiciendis est.

Blanditiis non qui odio iste. Nihil illo provident et quo iure sint. Et et eligendi non sequi quisquam quibusdam. Alias nisi et aliquam optio optio et expedita.

Aliquam quibusdam omnis molestias sit officia dolorem. Accusamus voluptatem vel ducimus. Saepe voluptates optio rem vero eos hic impedit. Inventore vitae quod amet ea a.

Dicta sint ut saepe suscipit id explicabo. Ipsam modi alias nisi tenetur exercitationem. Itaque esse ut occaecati eos mollitia est. Voluptates est voluptatibus qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey and Co 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey and Co 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (53) $247
  • Engagement Manager (113) $232
  • Manager (170) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (116) $135
  • Senior Consultant (355) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 1st Year Associate (577) $121
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (391) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1164) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (633) $68
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”