Had a chat with a headhunter about a PE opportunity. I thought the firm was perfect but the strategy of the team that was recruiting was the wrong fit for me.
How do I best say no to this opportunity but keep a good relationship with the headhunter for futures roles? Should I be more specific about why I think opportunity is a bad fit or just keep it vague?
| +230 | UBS Layoffs (October 2026) | 68 | 32m |
| +109 | Do people still want to go PE? | 34 | 2h |
| +62 | Bloomberg - New UBS Investment Bankers See Smaller Pay Gain on Promotion | 15 | 13h |
| +46 | Think I'm fucking up my analyst years | 16 | 3d |
| +36 | What Differentiates the Best Analysts as AI Improves? | 10 | 4h |
| +34 | UBS Tech layoff | 16 | 56m |
| +33 | Lazard hirevue | 11 | 14h |
| +26 | Ambitious CC Student trying to break into IB | 13 | 5d |
| +22 | Cornell Club T10 Rankings (UPDATED 10/2026) | 14 | 1d |
| +19 | Quitting After First 4 months | 9 | 5m |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
You can never so no to headhunters or you will be blacklisted, sorry, but you have to go full throttle down this interview process.
I mean i dont know if youre joking or not, but this was literally a quick call to discuss the opportunity and we were going to follow up later on it.
Im just messing with you dude. Sometimes I can’t help myself with some of these questions.
it’s a head hunter not an important principal at KKR.
make any excuse you want or simply tell the truth. He cold calls hundreds of people a week, he’s not going to black ball you for saying you’re not a good fit.
ah cool, got you! Sorry it just i've only just started getting good traction wtih HHs so didnt really know the best etiquette!
thanks for the help!
Just say that after doing some more research, you don’t think this is a fit for you. Can include a point or two why after that. Then say you appreciate them sending the role to you and you look forward to hearing about new roles.
Very simple, don’t overthink it.
This is the right response
Dolor adipisci vel eaque. Dolore illo blanditiis numquam necessitatibus. Beatae in aut doloribus exercitationem doloremque. Aliquam aperiam qui velit voluptatem ratione voluptatem nulla. Est dolor facilis illo rerum aut ipsam molestias. Hic magnam perspiciatis architecto voluptatibus.
Veniam saepe quia corrupti. Officiis vel dignissimos porro dolores velit eveniet vero. Incidunt necessitatibus eaque aut voluptas accusamus placeat. Adipisci voluptatem aut rem amet corporis velit. Incidunt at fugit natus sint.
Quas maxime est laudantium id alias dolor blanditiis. Laboriosam pariatur harum officiis nobis veritatis aut. Ducimus facere sint dolorem delectus dolores. Laborum eius est eum reprehenderit. Voluptates et occaecati cumque eveniet expedita sint quia neque.
Optio sequi suscipit alias dicta totam quam. Et aut aliquid ullam et dolorem dolorem facere. Provident illo totam qui et dolores commodi qui.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...