Dont Trust HR, HR is Asshoe

Basically interned at a small Asset management firm. I Was given a stellar reference, and got referred to a Local Government Fund, as they had a graduate programme running.

The CEO at my firm sent an email to a few people he knew there (Seniors) and told them about myself and gave a reference. Was told to just apply as usual and it will be all good.

So then I sent an application and Fucking HR email me back within 4 hours thanking me for my application and tell me there are stronger candidates than me.

I feel like a fucking idiot. I emailed my old CEO and he is raging at the situation. He sent an email to a few of his old chums asking for feedback for me.

Fuck HR and their crappy screening process. Honestly im so pissed off right now

Anyone else ever been in a similar situation where HR just go and do whatever the hell they want?

3 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Honestly it probably isn’t HR, unless the firm operates very differently than all others I know of, you are blaming the wrong group.

If there is a strong reference from a strong relationship to the fund then candidates get interviews.

As an example, at my firm and others that I’ve been at, if a reference comes in, HR will flag it to me (if it is for my group). If I know the reference I’ll either already have context (they’ll have sent an email) or I’ll reach out to them. If they reached out to other people at my firm I’ll ask them about it.

If the recommendation is strong and the resume is fine, the candidate almost always gets an interview. That’s because, while resumes are fine screens, if there is someone I know and trust vouching for someone that is a much stronger indicator of what that person is capable of (especially if they worked for someone else). HR only turns down candidates without references, they will screen resumes and bring stuff to me (and on the border cases), but never cut a reference without checking with others.

HR doesn’t make the decision on these, they ask for what the decision should be. They will only override it if there is something crazy in the file (felony for defrauding investors type stuff).

So maybe HR did screw up and not reach out to the connections, but more likely, the connection either wasn’t strong enough or the senior people weren’t impressed enough (or they are already far in the process and couldn’t accommodate, in which case they should have handled it differently).

 

Generally if the hiring manager approves from his end, it comes down through HR. Its the better way to go than using a recommendation through HR.

So get a verbal offer from the manager and then he just emails HR and HR sends a packet to you and says 'fill this out'.

I have made politics mistakes in corporate life involving using HR too much as once they reject, its very hard for the manager to reverse.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Omnis et et voluptas quia consequatur laborum dolor. Non illum omnis et alias illum labore vero. Ad architecto itaque cum quos quia veritatis quod omnis.

Molestias vel eum corrupti doloribus accusantium saepe. Sed pariatur odit totam minima quibusdam. Hic vel inventore quaerat nulla ut quo aut voluptatibus. Voluptatem nam vero veniam dolorem cumque.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”