What do I do? - Recently got rejected by a BB

Hey guys,

Just wanted to get some advice on what I should do. Just recently got rejected by a BB after the superday and starting to get pretty nervous about not being able to land a FT IB offer. I have four round one interviews with MM firms this week and still waiting to hear back from my round one with a MM firm from last week.

Frankly, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get anymore interviews either. My background isn't the strongest (low GPA, no IB internships) and I'm pretty sure that I've gotten all my interviews because of networking (put in TONS of time this summer) and I've done my best in terms of preparing (probably gone through 40ish mocks). All the other firms (tons of boutique/MM firms) I've networked with/applied to I haven't heard anything back from and I know most banks are starting to wrap up recruiting.

I have a return offer with a BB in a middle office/back office type position, but I really don't think that'll put me in a strong position to break into IB later. Additionally, I'm struggling to even get interviews for F500 finance programs as well due to my low GPA (despite my extensive work experience). However, I really want to get into IB. What else can I do at this point?

10 Comments
 

What is your work experience if not IB? There's not a whole lot to say except keep working at it and make sure to kill it in the interviews you do have. With a low gpa (how low?) it may not happen, but definitely don't stop trying.

Depending on where you're from you probably know a decent amount of people at F500, you should be able to reach out to them if F500 is on your radar.

If you're getting that many interviews, you are doing something right.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy
 
Best Response

About the BB you have a MO offer with - did you already interview with that BB for an IB role? If not, maybe you can try and get something in the works there.

For the interview(s) where you were rejected - did you ask for feedback on what you did right/wrong? If you haven't already, you may want to get on the phone with someone you developed a connection to at the BB during the interviews and ask for his advice.

Normally I would say let it go - but you got to the superday rounds, so I think you can do this without being a bother. Just be respectful - ask them if you can have a few mins of his/her time. Also - there have been people who were initially rejected from offers, who were later given them because spots have opened up. Or sometimes, rejected (but on-the-cusp) candidates were well-liked enough to be considered for other locations or groups' interviews. I've seen this happen to friends before, because they reached out to people they interviewed with.

You may not be doing anything wrong. With a low gpa and no IB experience - you could simply be going up against some really tough competition. If it boils down to you and another kid, you're both equally well-liked, but he has more exp. - they will choose him.

 

you still have four interviews, relax and focus on nailing them instead of fretting. re-read the M&I and WSO guides and stop apologizing for your GPA.

edit: just looked at your resume (you posted it earlier), you have good experience. i think you will land something for sure.

 

Sigh, rejected again after another superday and my chances are looking pretty bleak now. Just waiting to hear back about final rounds from two banks and got like one phone interview left. Been applying to F500 rotationals and still have one final round there left but can't land any other interviews.

What should I do now? Should I just take my BB middle/back office position or start applying for summer internships and graduating a semester late and taking another shot at recruiting? Or should I start hitting up all the no-name boutiques (already been trying but having little success, probably went through 1-2k emails and talked to over 100 people on the phone over the summer)?

Anyone got any advice?

:(

 

I think your issue is the "close". Seems like you had at least a pretty good resume to get interview offers from multiple banks. How are you in the interviews? You need to come off as confident and hungry as fuck.

 

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