IBD Target Recruiting w/ 3.0+ GPA: Parent Sick and Passed Away.
Hi everyone so this actually happened to me. I go to a target (non HYP ivy) and I have previous IBD experience at a boutique. One of my parents had been sick since freshmen year. I have had to work in the dining halls for 10-15 hours/week. Last year I had to go home because I wanted to see my parent before they passed. I'm currently a junior and going into recruiting.
Do you think I should bring this up to HR before obtaining any interviews? I think it's a legitimate reason for the GPA being so low, but I don't want to use it as an excuse.
Sorry to hear about what had happened to you. I was in a very similar situation like yourself and I had similar grades and several internships as well. However, I was not given any first rounds from the BB firms and I am currently considering delaying graduation and aiming for MM firms at the moment.
All the best for your recruiting.
You went to a target / ivy - league and had boutique IB experience?
If you do bring it up, it would be during the actual interview. You have a perfect explanation for the "Why the low GPA?" question. I do not think its a good idea to try and reach out to HR beforehand.
Of course, actually getting the interview might be difficult since you would very likely be filtered out of OCR with a 3.3... Curious to know if your GPA within just your major is higher? If so, you should list both.
Nah its not. I messed up a bit, but I think I'm going to crush it this semester.
That's the thing. I'm afraid that it might get filtered out by an automated machine just because of my GPA. I want to get in front of someone to tell my story. That's why I was considering if I should tell HR
I wouldn't use it as an excuse... just weave it into your story when you are networking with people."I worked 15 hours a week throughout the school year to help make ends meet as my parents couldn't help due to a severe illness... ... ... When my parent passed... ". People should get it then.
I'm sorry that you had to go through all that... that would be so rough. Just remain confident - but you are going to have to network with people and have some ground to catch up. Most resume drops might kick out your resume for the GPA, so you need people pushing it through. If you get interviews, you are going to have to crush them to show that you are smart and just went through a rough last few years.
Just realize that and get to work on it. Good luck!
The only way I see to go about this would be through networking - however, you may be a bit late to the game. Try to see if you can get in front of people on the recruiting team at the banks that do OCR. Telling HR is unlikely to do anything for you in my opinion, but of course it cannot hurt.
This is going to sound real cold, but HR won't care. List your major GPA if higher and leave cumulative out.
Explain if asked during interview.
Best of luck to you.
Well, at least you are telling the facts. Its so much better to know now than learning things the hard way where people with higher gpa but zero prior working experience take the interview slot.
That excuse might work at Piper Jaffray, or whatever shit boutique bank you worked at last summer, but do you think it will work at Goldman fucking Sachs? Try telling your Goldman MD, "Sorry my operating model has several busts in it, but my parent just passed away." You're fucking dead, kiddo.
I guaran-fucking-tee if your parent passed away any managing director would understand. But that's besides the point, you are a heartless dick for this response. From the bottom of my heart, a sincerest fuck you to you, you piece of shit.
OP, I wouldn't mention it to HR, I would try and get in contact with OCR or someone with some pull (MD's have worked well in my experience) and see if they can pull you through. To be frank, I wouldn't mention your recent family tragedy, but would rather say something along the lines of "I work to support myself through school, while still managing a good GPA at a reputable school," and leave it at that. I wouldn't mention anything unless they ask about your GPA specifically, and in that case I guess it would be appropriate to explain your situation. I'm not saying you mentioning your situation is seeking pity and sympathy, but some people may take it that way or it may leave a bad taste in their mouth if you're quick to mention it. Not saying it isn't a valid reason, but that's the way some may view it.
Again, Sorry about your loss OP and best of luck.
Yeah that's what I thought too - that I'm just using it as an excuse and some people will be like wtf why is this kid telling me this. Networking has helped. I've gotten first rounds at Houlihan, Jefferies, and Tech DB IB. I just haven't been able to close them.
Lol if you're working in IBD, I've no idea how you got through the screening process with that attitude.
Lol, shut your fucking whore mouth. Have you been influenced too much by some TV series/movies?
Just round your GPA up a few turns to 3.8 or so. It's only fair considering how god fucked you over.
You're low GPA (depending on what major you are) will definitely not help you get through a resume screen. You're story is very moving and completely understandable, but getting the initial interview will be the issue. Recruiters and investment banks are very accommodating and understanding to extreme cases. I had a friend who was diagnosed with cancer during summer analyst recruiting and every bank (that had initially given him a 1st round) postponed his interviews until he was done with his 1st round of chemotherapy. He ended up at "Goldman fucking Sachs" as the asshole above called it.
Case in point, your GPA may hurt you in the interview selection process, but your story will 100% check out and not hurt you at all once your have an interview. It all comes down to technical questions and behavioral preperationl
i had similar situation, i didn't bring it up unless challenged on the less than stellar grades.
I guess that it probably took a lot of effort to get that IBD internship given your grades. However, I can foresee that you will end up hating the HR people as they did not bother to take into consideration what you had done and what you had been through. On the other hand, dont give up and keep working on it.
I used the ivy-league network, which definitely helped. I have had interviews with some banks already. I just can't close them
Its definitely great to have an ivy-league network on. Keep working on it.
It is not a reason it is an excuse. Put emotion aside as all the emotion is yours, not anyone else's.
I don't know much about your question but I'm just here to show my respect to you..
Death of father (Originally Posted: 08/30/2014)
My father passed away in college and it really affected my for the first year and a half so my grades weren't that grade. If I'm asked why my grades are so low or what was the toughest obstacle I've had to face, should I leverage this?
I'm asking this because I don't know if this is too personal or acceptable to say in an interview
Depends on the situation. I've mentioned it in very few interviews as the "biggest obstacle", and it has never seemed inappropriate, but it's only been when I've felt comfortable with the person. I wouldn't use it as my "go to" answer or think of it as something to leverage, but if you want the person interviewing you to know you better it can make sense.
I had a similar situation in college. I would focus on how you rebounded from his death so it does not come off as if you are trying to gain sympathy. Instead show your emotional stamina. For example you explanation could be: "I struggle with grief for a year and a half but I realize I could not let it affect my life. Plus my Dad had higher expectations for me. I decided to throw myself into my studies and start a journal to manage my feelings. Dealing with his loss taught me how to handle difficult personal situations while managing my academic career.
I had some medical issues, I never brought up my GPA first.
Use your discretion based on how the interview goes. I say that since the only time GPA would reasonably come up is in an interview. Don't forget that if/when your resume got screened nobody knew who you were or why your resume had the content it did.
Chances are GPA isn't an issue unless you make it one, otherwise why were you (theoretically) invited to interview?
my father died november of senior year of hs, sucked. grades took a fat hit and it took me about a year till things got somewhat back to normal.
i've never brought this up in any kind of job interview, thought it wouldve been too personal but i could see situations where in the right context it would work to bring up i guess
I had some pretty serious health issues during my second year in school that hit my GPA kind of hard. It was never mentioned. Since I have my GPA listed, if they called me in for an interview my GPA is obviously a non issue.
But if they were to ask, I would skid around it. Not because it's inappropriate, but because it's personal and I don't feel comfortable spilling my life story to anyone who asks. I would just say that I had some health problems that impacted my school work but did not want to take time off. That may have been a mistake, but it's what I chose.
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