Worked on a week long case study the past two weeks, got a rejection letter today citing that I made the model far too complicated and beyond the scope of what they had asked for. Meaning, I can't follow instructions.
Fuck my stupid self.
| +324 | UBS Tech MD hires Son (from no-name college) as an Intern | 54 | 14h |
| +89 | [Official] 2026 IB Analyst Bonus Megathread (with 2025 Consolidated Pay and Perks/Benefits) | 12 | 1d |
| +75 | Evercore Intern Seizure | 16 | 14m |
| +54 | Is DCM actually underrated ? | 20 | 11h |
| +46 | Are all Tech / TMT groups sweaty? | 33 | 6h |
| +41 | UBS Groups Ranked by Future Outlook | 20 | 5d |
| +41 | JPM M&A is Gone??? Purely Coverage Banking??? | 20 | 19h |
| +37 | Am I behind? 31 Year Old Analyst | 9 | 23h |
| +36 | Losing my personality in Banking | 5 | 1d |
| +32 | UVA McIntire vs Cornell Dyson for IB | 19 | 3d |
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.
Be easy on yourself my man, another opportunity will come up that will value your drive to perform above expectations.
You (meaning everyone, not just you) will get hundreds and hundreds of rejections throughout your life: career, relationships, general life events. I'd estimate I've been rejected over 1,000 times.
You absolutely cannot allow yourself to take it personally or to reflect negatively on your mind. I know it's not easy, but you can't drop into the pit of despair everytime someone isn't interested in what you're bringing to the table.
My best advice is to take the lesson (ask better follow up questions, review the prompt more critically, etc.), let it help you grow, and keep moving forward.
There are a litany of anecdotal "[insert famous person] was rejected x times before they made it" and volumes of research on how the growth mindset is far more beneficial than the fixed mindset.
Take a minute to grieve for a lost opportunity, then refocus your efforts. If you got to one case study round, you'll get to another one.
One other note, with a LOT of personal bias, don't do so much excel masterbation in your modeling. It's supposed to be a tool to conceptualize the business. Show an understanding of how the business works and how key drivers would impact the key metrics to come to a decision. It makes your life easier, makes the audience's life easier too.
Don't take it too personally. Same thing happened to me with the "P-test" at everyone's favorite buyside shop. Spent 100 hours on the model and deck for a week and then thought I aced the presentation only to get a no with zero feedback (at least I ended up being right with my sell and the stock tanked). Just the way it works sometimes...keep plugging away. Professional life has a tendency to work out in the end if you don't give up.
Reiciendis totam doloremque odio nulla id. Ut in et ex quia aut. Ducimus adipisci ab aut ipsum quibusdam sed quis. Quam excepturi molestiae quod enim sed. Est veritatis qui aperiam alias amet velit. Quia et repudiandae dolorum vel facilis.
Sequi sunt quas accusantium sequi sed et fugiat excepturi. Nesciunt unde sed ut vel natus ea eveniet a. Sequi itaque optio nesciunt molestiae.
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...