Why am I getting cut?

For reference, I am H/Y/P, with a 3.9+, and 3 relevant experiences as a sophomore. I'm honestly recruiting for anything in financial services, from IB/RX, PE/growth equity/Venture, and publics.

Internship apps opened for Point72 fundamental, canvas almost 2-3 weeks ago and still have not heard anything. I applied to Verition and haven't heard anything from anyone else. I applied to riverside pe and did the hirevue and didn't hear anything (though it's only been a week). I got to one final round for a HF that I ended up getting cut from as well.

Honestly, much of my networking has been in IB and PE for SA27, but I need something for sophomore summer, and frankly, there aren't as many options anymore since banks cut their sophomore internships.

Is anyone else in the same position?

18 Comments
 

Nobody wants a 19 year old kid who isn’t going to return to their firm because they provide negative value. What could you possibly provide at this point that would return value without sinking weeks into training.

 

Yeah i understand, but these are internships oftentimes, open to sophomores and juniors, some with returns, some without. On the WSO threads about these internship processes (take Verition), legitimately, nobody has heard back

 

“3 relevant experiences” if you are going into your sophomore year, you cannot have relevant experiences. Even if you worked at blackstone as an analyst, you being 18 years old when you did so makes it impossible for that experience to be equivalent to someone who did the same exact internship at a junior.

 

3 relevant experiences as a sophomore sounds like a lie. Just keep applying and remember that turn around from application to next step can take awhile.

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As others said you don't have relevant experience and are applying to stuff not meant for you. 

But lets put that aside as its obvious. 

The competition also has your metrics - so how do firms pick from 10 people with identical metrics?  

You need to apply the human side. That doesn't just mean being likeable or affable or something, it means you know how to communicate you "get it" 

The problem is very few people your age actually "get it" because you don't have the experience and exposure that gives you that perspective.

Its kind of tough, because on one hand, its super super cringe to have 19yr olds be so self obsessed that the only thing they care about is being a "markets guy" or "IB guy" and their whole identity is wrapped up in landing that role, but they also have at most a tenuous understanding of the actual work. At the same time, the competition is so fierce that it basically requires people who are like that. 

So if possible, make sure you figure out how to demonstrate some authenticity and sincerity for your passion and knowledge of the industry so far. Show an eagerness to learn and humility not just arrogance. 


 

 

Disagree - OP is a damn stud… there is a reason he is HYP with a top GPA. 

To OP, keep at it, you will get something soon. Keep being keen and hyper focused on what you want. You have already accomplished something most people cannot do (attending a top undergraduate school and getting your internships)- you definitely have the raw talent and grit to succeed. Do not let people bring you down or otherwise try to “humble” you… fuck that, be exceptional… grit it out! There is just a certain level of difficulty with these things, just grind it out.

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