Process timeline at fund

Hello, I recently went through a process at a mid sized equities fund. Did the usual process — interview with analysts, PM, case study, and debrief. HH told me I was only final candidate moved on after case study. Met BD as a “fit” check after being told PM signed off on me.

They were very responsive in initial rounds but after the fit round (was told mostly a formality) it’s been a month since I’ve heard back. PM was on vacation until this week (left as soon as I met with BD). Any idea if I should still have hope? HH told me they are still interested but no offer to give me yet but hopefully soon. Any thoughts? Worried since I haven’t heard back and literally can’t do banking any longer due to WLB issues.

16 Comments
 

Based on previous WSO threads, here's what you need to know:

  1. Delayed Feedback is Common:

    • It's not unusual for firms to take longer than expected to get back to candidates, especially if key decision-makers are on vacation or busy with other priorities.
  2. Stay in Touch:

    • Continue to follow up with the headhunter (HH) and express your continued interest in the role. Regular but not overly frequent check-ins can keep you on their radar.
  3. Positive Signs:

    • The fact that you were the only final candidate moved on after the case study and that the PM signed off on you are strong positive indicators. The delay might be due to internal processes rather than a lack of interest.
  4. Managing Expectations:

    • While it's good to remain hopeful, also consider exploring other opportunities in parallel. This can help mitigate the stress and uncertainty of waiting.
  5. Insights from Similar Experiences:

    • In the "Delayed final round feedback" thread, a user shared a similar experience where the decision meeting was pushed. This suggests that delays can happen even after positive feedback.
  6. Keep Hustling:

    • As mentioned in the "Keeping My Head Up..." thread, it's important to keep hustling and exploring other options. Even if this opportunity doesn't pan out, there are always other roles to pursue.

In summary, while the delay is understandably worrying, the positive feedback you've received so far is encouraging. Keep following up and stay proactive in your job search. Good luck!

Sources: Honestly it is feeling hopeless, Waiting For Official Offer For Two Months Already, Basic Questions About PE Recruiting Answered, Motivational Advice - Got the offer, no return offer

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

I mean...not sure asking here is really gonna help much? "Mid-sized equities fund" could be like 1 of 500 shops in midtown Manhattan alone. Just follow up with BD and ask what's up? Senior people with families tend to take vacation during the summer since kids aren't in school and then when they get back there's backlogged work to catch up with. That might be the case with this PM. Anything beyond that would be purely useless speculation. Ping BD or the analysts you spoke with to ask wtf is up. Best of luck

 
Most Helpful

Situations like this it's often they have another candidate they are waiting to hear from, thus why they are dragging their feet on you.

Could also be the PM's suffered a drawdown and has put hiring plans on hold or clearly it's not a priority for him right now.

If it's the former, one option to consider is to bluff that you have a competing offer so you need to know what they want to do. Of course you can tell them you found them a better fit so would accept if similar terms etc.. Not everyone is comfortable with this path, but I've seen it work several times in forcing the fund/PM to make up its mind and make a decision.

 

Definitely annoying as I was told by HH that they rejected everyone else, but I guess it’s either an internal candidate as you described or some issue with the fund itself. Unfortunately not at a stage where I am comfortable bluffing yet.. just started another process and hoping it wraps up soon to get there. Any other ways you think I can push to get an answer? 

 

Update - I was told that PM wants to meet for drinks since it's been a while since he was out and then make a decision soon after. Any thoughts? I know the usual drinks are more of a fit check, but I felt like I already had the sign-off from him and then did a fit check with BD a few weeks ago prior to his break, so I'm not sure what to expect here.

 

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