Need some advice: things didn't go quite as planned

So I went through ft recruiting as a senior, hunting primarily for an equity research gig mixed with some consulting (heard that there are some ER firms that look for strategy consultants). Got painfully close on a couple (waitlists...), but now I'm left with a middle office valuation role in a BB (continuation of summer internship). The role itself is rotational, and 1 year in duration. I'm trying to figure out what I should do. What I've considered: 1. Take it and try to move internally to ER 2. Decline it and look primarily for smaller ERs, consulting firms, and perhaps some others 3. Masters? Alternative careers? Quit and do something completely different and aim for B-school?

I think that my biggest problem is later interviews. I got 13 first rounds and advanced to 6 second or final rounds, but no offers. My grades are excellent, I go to one of the Ivies. I'm convinced that because I *almost made it at a top ER research firm, I would be competitive for a smaller ER firm. I'm just worried that I might not have anything lined up after college, or end up in worse shape. I appreciate any advice insights.

9 Comments
 

Honestly, I would take the offer and look for alternative routes to ER. Turning it down would be a really risky play at this point.

It sounds like your just as good a candidate as anyone else, your just failing to stand out. Maybe at your next superday, prep like a madman, network with your on-campus-interviewer and come up with a few reasons why you are better than all the other candidates.

 
Best Response
everythingsucksWhy don't you take it and apply to smaller shops anyway. If you get an offer, you can consider renegging then.

This is without a doubt your best option. You know what looks worse to an employer than a kid who exceled in a 1 year rotational program that is only tangentally related to the position he's applying for? A kid who's still looking for jobs after being unemployed a year after graduation.

I don't know much about your offer, but if you spent the time interviewing for it there are probably some decent qualities to the position. Plus, I am a big believer in rotational programs in general. Maybe you decide you love something else, maybe your passion for ER grows stronger. Either way, it does matter - stay hungry and stay employed.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy
 

Yep, take the offer and you can always get on that renege wagon later if you find something better...

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Take it, but be ready to renege later on... it's kind of an asshole thing to do, but it's your life you're talking about here. If you have good grades from and ivy I bet you'll find another job, but I don't see why you have to turn this one down to look for another.

Maybe I'm wrong?

 

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