Dealing with Rejection
Got rejected from my two top EBs after having superdays with both. Feel as if i worked hard but not hard enough given the outcome. I’ve focused so much time on these two firms the past year and now feel discouraged about the rest of recruiting.
So close yet so far and that’s what stings the most about it. I’m trying to use it as fuel and motivation to keep going but I’m struggling. I know it’s not the end of the world, but would appreciate hearing some of your rejection stories and how things worked out in the end.
Cheers
Don't dwell on it. Try to analyze what could have gone wrong. If you missed technicals, then study those topics until mastery. If it's fit-related, that's not something that can be helped - make sure you're being yourself though. There were interviews where I wanted to be more strait-laced or fratty based on stereotypes of what I've heard about a group but that is the wrong way to approach superdays. I was rejected from my top choice after the superday (pjt rssg) then ended up getting offers from every superday afterwards. Also, never take things personally. Understandable to feel sad for a day or two, but then you should focus on what exactly you're going to do to ace your next superday. If you already superdayed at two EBs, I'm sure an offer will come soon
That really sucks, I'm sorry and I really feel for you. My mom likes to tell me everything happens for a reason, which in the moment isn't what I want to hear, but looking back she's right every time. Keep your head up, and I'm sure things will work out.
Life offers you many on-ramps. You don’t get the internship, you go for FT. You don’t land it then, you lateral in later. That doesn’t happen, maybe you get an MBA. If not that, maybe you end up in some other job where a new colleague joins from IB and tells you how lucky you were to skip IB.
Things work out fine for people who keep at it. I don’t know any 30+ year olds who are stuck in sucky careers because they missed a shot when they were younger. You end up in the right spot eventually.
I was rejected from probably 30+ banks where I had interviews, and from about 5 superdays. The best way to keep moral high is to implement a 12 hour rule. Reflect for 12 hours or less, then move on. I had a few nights ruined after finding out I was rejected from yet another bank following a strenuous superday, but I woke up and decided to forget it ever happened. I received feedback and went through some self assessment and applied it moving forward.
Eventually, I got the acceptance email. 1 is all you need, and it can be better than expected. anyone receiving multiple superdays is obviously talented, and you should remember that.