Shall I retake A Levels I did 5 years ago as I keep getting rejections? (London)
TL;DR Rejected from summers last year, managed to improve my CV dramatically but still rejections at the first stage. A Level grades are beyond below what the avg candidate has (BCC and major extenuating circumstances) - should I retake them as I feel as though it’s the main thing setting me back (I took them 5 years ago to get into uni (top 10 UK uni sends a few to MBB a year I believe)).
I'm studying STEM at a top-10 UK university, aspiring for MBB (like everyone). Between last year’s application and now I got a National award, big name summer internship in a different industry, pro-bono consulting experience, niche and very interesting hobbies. I included my previous internship abroad in Asia, I mentioned activism work - over 100k followers and reach millions of people monthly, multiple news articles, raised thousands, celebrity support, etc. I received a numerical reasoning invite from BCG last year but not even an invite to that this year so I’m just not sure what’s going wrong.
Last year, I was rejected by McKinsey after their Imbellus test. Although I don't meet their A Level grade criteria, I received an invitation to Imbellus test (idk if they send it to everyone). Despite this, McKinsey emailed back stating if I feel I’m a strong candidate, without the grades, to apply.
BCG rejection - after numerical reasoning. I heard they screen for the numerical reasoning but think they just give everyone it. Applied this year and got rejected before the numerical reasoning. Idky as my CV is a lot stronger this year.
Bunch of other rejections by Investment Banks and no first round interviews.
Had one assessment centre so far this year and still recruiting. Managed to get past CV screening for a couple.
Currently not heard back from anywhere else.
Despite facing significant extenuating circumstances during my A Levels, resulting in poor grades (BCC), I've made substantial improvements to my CV since last year to counteract that. Despite these efforts, I’m just getting rejected. Not saying I deserve interviews, I just don’t know where I’m going wrong.
My only weakness CV wise from what I see are just my A Level grades. I can’t even make it to first round. I don’t know what to do this year at all. If I don’t get an internship, I’m pretty much f*cked as I know there are hiring freezes for grad schemes and barely any spots as they mainly hire from internship cohort.
Shall I retake whilst at uni? Or what else should I even consider? Make an app? New business? Cure cancer? I feel as though there’s nothing more I can do to succeed.
Ah, the classic conundrum of A-Level grades haunting you like a bad banana in a fruit bowl. Let's peel back the layers and see what we've got:
A-Level Grades: BCC is not the golden ticket for MBB, but it's not the end of the world either. You've got extenuating circumstances, which is like finding a bruise on the banana – not ideal, but sometimes you can cut around it.
Top-10 UK Uni: That's a shiny sticker on your CV! MBB does love a good brand name, and being at a top university is like being a banana in a bunch of organic, fair-trade fruit – you stand out.
Improving Your CV: You've been busy! Internships, awards, non-profit consulting, and activism? That's a fruit salad of experience right there. It shows you're not just a one-trick pony, or should I say, one-banana monkey.
Rejections: They sting, don't they? But remember, even the best bananas sometimes don't make it into the bunch. It's not always about you. Sometimes it's just not the right season.
Retaking A-Levels: Now, this is a tough one. It's like going back to the tree you were picked from and trying to grow again. It could work, but it's a long shot and might not be the most efficient use of your time.
Alternative Strategies: You mentioned making an app or starting a new business. That's the entrepreneurial spirit! It's like planting a whole new banana tree. It's risky, but it could bear fruit in ways you haven't imagined.
Cure Cancer: If you can do that, well, you're not just the top banana; you're the whole plantation.
In all seriousness, retaking your A-Levels could be an option, but it's a significant investment of time and resources. Before you go down that path, consider these alternatives:
Networking: Use your university's alumni network, attend industry events, and reach out to professionals in your desired field. It's not just what you know, but who you know.
Tailor Your Applications: Ensure your CV and cover letter are tailored to each application. Highlight your strengths and how your unique experiences make you a great fit.
Seek Feedback: After a rejection, it's okay to ask for feedback. It might provide insight into areas you can improve that you haven't considered.
Consider a Master's Degree: Sometimes, a further degree can help overshadow undergraduate grades, especially if it's from a prestigious institution.
Broaden Your Horizon: MBB is the dream, but there are other bananas in the bunch. Look at boutique firms, industry roles, or other areas where your skills and experiences are valued.
Remember, the path to success is not always a straight line. Keep swinging through the trees, and you'll find your way. Keep your chin up, your spirits high, and your bananas ripe. Good luck!
Sources: Screwed up my A Levels, what courses can I go for to still make it in IB?, Should I retake the GMAT? 710 (41Q 47V 6AWA), What Was Your Biggest Career Setback; How Did You Recover?, A Trading Story :Encouragement for the rest of us, A Trading Story :Encouragement for the rest of us
I fear this was too emotional for a WSO post to initiate a discussion haha.
All jokes aside, any help would be amazing. I just am very confused with how I actually strengthen an application
Harsh truth is that there's very little inclination for large companies to look beyond whatever arbitrary requirements they have - simply because so many candidates meet them. Interestingly some of the strongest people I've worked with don't have a top academic background, but it is what it is. As someone who got similar A levels - breaking in definitely wasn't easy.
Happy to talk in a bit more detail about my personal experience over PM but you'll need to come off anon.
Very happy to come off anon!
Thank you so much. It is really difficult and I understand that thousands of people have it all so there’s no reason for them to take me on.
The website is glitching for me so not sure if you can see my username
Would you mind PMing me? Similar situation so would be interesting to hear your thoughts. Thank you!
It would help if you shared your A-Level grades…
You wrote a post with multiple paragraphs entirely on the topic of how your suspect your exam results may be preventing you from acquiring a job, asking for advice on whether you should retake them, and you didn’t actually provide the grades themselves in order for readers to be able to give you appropriate advice.
If this is anything to go by, your A-Levels aren’t the immediate priority here. It’s likely that this style of writing (not getting to the point and omitting crucial information) overlaps to some extent into everything you do, including how you interview.
Placed all the details in my post again.
I edited the post after the last comment and removed a lot of the information (including A Level grades and specific extracurriculars) as I assumed no one else would respond.
I don’t think that’s correct considering I don’t even receive first round interviews. In fact, I was rejected before the numerical reasoning invite for BCG when I was invited last year :S so I’m more thinking it’s to do with my A Levels. Could be my CV but my CV was worse last year and I still made it past the CV screening?
But I understand you didn’t see the post before so apologies for omitting. I just genuinely didn’t think anyone else would read so I removed it all.
Thanks for providing your results. I’ll touch on them in a sec, but there’s something else I want to speak to first. I will be quite direct, because this is important, but please don’t take this too hard:
You haven’t read my post properly. I didn’t say that your grades weren’t a problem. I said that your writing style is a perhaps a greater problem for you at this moment in time. I wasn’t necessarily referring to it affecting your ability to get a first round interview, but rather how it may affect your overall early career opportunities and progression. The fact that you’ve completely overlooked this (again) suggests to me that your ability to RTFQ and answer it is more of a priority to you than worrying about your A-Level grades. If you are doing an online interview case study, or if I was to give you a case in person, and you were to miss key parts of information or completely misunderstand something I was to say (as you have twice now), it would end your chances of getting an offer. Now, this is an online forum and you’re not interviewing, but it’s something to be mindful of.
Onto your A-Levels. Yes, they’re a major impediment. Even firms that say they will overlook minimum A-Level requirements will likely pass over you this year because the market is on its arse. Firms have their pick of grads; they aren’t going to interview you if they have a hundred triple A* applicants. You likely won’t even be getting past the automated screening. By all means, shoot your shot at the best firms, but you will need to be casting a very wide net and likely looking at related roles which position you for lateral opportunities down the line (i.e. audit).
Thank you for the advice. I’ll definitely re-evaluate and take this into consideration. I will agree to disagree just because it’s harder to understand someone over text. I don’t think I misunderstood, I just applied it to my current situation of not receiving first rounds only as that’s my dilemma rather than my entire self.
Ah interesting. I had assumed the same. I was looking at WSO and most people said going into audit and then trying for consulting is very difficult and although it happens, it’s unlikely to work out? Do I retake my A Levels? It’s quite expensive so I’m not sure if I can retake all of them this year 😩
How much is it?
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