rejection but still future potential

hi guys......i went through many rounds with one particular firm (3 different phone interviews, lunch interview in ny, and full-day interview in boston).......after all of the rounds i just got a call saying that the other applicants were stronger so they werent able to select me.....they asked me to try to get a position at a larger firm, gain experience and then try to touch base after one year......my question is when they tell you to contact them after one year of additional experience, are they just trying to be nice or does it mean that i did well and that there were higher qualified candidates and so i should actually try to apply there next year

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After that many rounds, you were a top candidate and they went with someone with some more experience/better understanding. Wall Street is a very small world and it is very relationship centric. Stay in touch and tell the MD or whoever you were generally close to what you have been doing. If you are serious about pursuing them next year, get another finance related job and start reading a lot of book on the field that you were not strong in. Keep up to date with the market s ect. If you lacked a particular skill that they were looking for, such as VBA..learn that. They feed you that bullshit line after 1-2 rounds, but after that many interviews, I would take it seriously.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

I agree with Gekko and actually just had a very similar experience - made it to the final round, everything was looking great, offer suddenly was taking too long and finally was told a current intern dropped their name in the hat at the last second but I was a very close second and they want me at the firm soon.

Keep in mind that for that it makes things easier for the hiring manager next time around if he/she can take less steps in their internal interview process. They know who you are, know your skills, etc.

 
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