Dumbest Reason for a Rejection?
I know oftentimes we are left feeling confused as to why we didnt get an offer (i.e., nailed the technicals, connected with the interviewees, etc.), but what was the most bizarre reason you ever got rejected?
When I was a UG student, Key Banc reached out for an IBD role in one of their shit tier cities (think it was Minneapolis) and asked if I was interested. I didnt have anything lined up at the time so I figured why not take the call. I was interviewing a fair amount and at this point had never been dinged first round (was like 12/12 for making it to the second round). After all, the first round is usually just tell me about yourself and why IBD, so I figured it would be easy.
About 20 out of 30 minutes through the call, the Analyst asks me something and I respond with an answer that gives away my age (was on the 5 year track for UG due to switching majors). He immediately asks what year I graduated high school to confirm I was not graduating on time, not even slightly subtle about it. I respond honestly, admitting to being 22 as a junior. He then says, "thanks for your time, we'll be in touch."
Of course never heard from him again.
To this day I think it is so petty that I was dinged for being marginally older (its not like I was 30 as a junior in UG).
Anyone else get flat out rejected for a preposterous reason?
Just wanted to add that it was Akron not Minneapolis.
Your MD might've been LeBron
#TheKidFromAKRON #jamesgang #bronknows
Not being diverse enough
Nobody has ever told you that. Stop lying.
Many "diverse candidates" like Asians, Iranians, Jews and Indians happen to be way smarter than most "Europeans" nowadays.
Cry.
No they are not smarter lol
When I was an idiot in undergrad, looking for my first SA gig, I didn't know "Investment Operations" was a back-office operations role having nothing to do with actual investing. Did a whole Operations interview for Capital Group talking about how much I wanted to work in an investing role, how much I love investing and how much I wanted to be involved in the core competency of the firm (investing). Dude finally explained to me, sounding defeated, that it's an operations role and they don't actually invest. I'm completely thrown off like "Oh, so you just do research and high-level PM work then?" and he again has to explain to me, even more directly, how ancillary Operations is to the actual investment work Capital Group does.
I felt so bad by the end of it lol.
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agree. every back office job nowadays sounds like they are changing the world.
Definitely a more common one, but I did the same thing talking about investing and trading when interviewing for investment banking roles. Once I learned that investment banking was M&A, I was surprised and disappointed. Still recruited for it and did it though. Now I’m in PE, which has also been disappointing.
Why is PE disappointing lol. Though it's paradise
I suppose they rejected you after that?
I believe that was the end of my candidacy, but it isn't like I would have pursued it further once I learned what Operations is within the context of financial firms.
Something similar happened to an interview I had with a F500 company. I was interviewing for a Finance role but I thought it was an Operations Management role. I was so embarrassed when the interviewer told me I had the job confused.
Ended up getting the job anyway somehow
happened to me several times too (applying for positions not realizing what they are), but I said I would be interested in such roles as well since they're in the realm of my career aspirations - didn't hear back though
"it didn't seem like you wanted the job, just didn't seem excited about the opportunity"
Went through 3-4 rounds and met with 4-5 MDs in the final round, I clearly wanted the job. Not sure WTF they wanted me to do other than go full Tom Cruise and start jumping on the furniture.
Similar reasons to you, OP. One for age: was flat-out asked my age and life circumstances as I was a little more "experienced" for the role I was chatting about, and one for not being the correct gender (I actually have this one in writing via email lmao). Really dumb, but on to the next one(s).
These are both insane. If you dont mind me asking (and since were both posting anonymously), how old were you and what was the role? Any tips on responding to these types of questions. Have a few friends that are 3+ years behind the "preferred" track.
The gender one is beyond insane. Sounds like a potential lawsuit waiting to happen.
~30 looking at a Sr. ASO role but in a completely different strategy and "tier" of firm, like think moving from a LMM buyout shop to a better-known VC/GE firm (or vice-versa). My argument was well... faster ramp-up time and more value add in other areas of the firm. Didn't cut it apparently, I think they wanted someone they could grind a little more (i.e., younger with fewer familial responsibilities) and thought I'd balk at the comp even though we didn't discuss numbers.
Gender one could absolutely be a lawsuit given that it's in writing, but a small settlement isn't worth professional suicide, haha.
Ok wow now that's really nuts. Female here and I mean those are like literally the two things that so many of the women in finance worry about concerning more senior roles (i.e., in terms of fitting into a team from a gender and age standpoint).
Well if it makes you feel any better, I'm a guy.
Vet/Transfer students 👁👄👁
Mentioned in an equity trading internship interview that I like fixed income more than equities when they asked about what kind of equities do I find more interesting.
I know people get rejected cause they come to interview without a tie or with a beard, which are bizarre reasons for rejection
I'll never understand the dress attire requirements. Obviously don't go into the office wearing ripped jeans and flip flops but I'm not going to somehow be magically better at my job because I'm wearing a suit and a tie over jeans and a polo.
Had a first round interview for a private equity analyst intern position. Interview went well, didn't hear back for a few days, so I followed up and asked about a timeline. The associate I interviewed with politely told me they pivoted into hiring a full time analyst, which I understood....
...until I saw them repost the intern job application about an hour later.
Ooooof, this big time sucks. Not exactly the same but I was interviewing for a different regional boutique (not Key Banc) and made it to the final round. In the end I got beat out by someone with a better resume, but they mentioned a different location was hiring, and encouraged me to interview there, stating I was a strong candidate they really liked.
Went through an expedited process with same firm location #2 only to get rejected again, with HR claiming fit was where I fell short. Ended up eventually securing something better but this was a huge blow to moral as recruiting had not been going well.
Hope you were able to land on your feet and it all worked out.
Your situation sounds equally as ridiculous, but happy it worked out for you!
I definitely feel you on the morale part. It hurts in the moment and is tough to look forward as you're going through it.
Fortunately for me, I found what I'd currently describe as the perfect role for me, so all is well!
Cheers!
To the people that got ding'd b/c of age. Isn't it technically illegal to ask someone's age during an interview. I'm no fool and understand how to back into someone's age from context info. But it seems a bit fishy...
I think it's only illegal to discriminate on age if you're above 40... and then even then, they don't have to say the age is the reason
Not particularly dumb reasons for rejection, but rejection and redemption nonetheless: I was asked to apply to a SFA role under a manager on a different team. I did, and ended up getting rejected because they liked another candidate more. No foul, still stung to get rejected after being asked to apply.
A few months later a new manager role opens on the same team- I apply and again get rejected because they want someone with more experience. They end up taking my boss.
A few weeks later I get a call from the director of the team asking if I'm interested in a different SFA role on the team- felt pretty good to say that unfortunately that was my last day with the company, and that I was about to start as manager elsewhere. Nothing better than feeling like you are worth more and then being able to back that up.
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I had a shit gpa and was looking at graduating without a job until an uncle of mine hooked me up with a first round interview at Deloitte for human capital consulting after one of their incoming analysts reneged on an offer. Interviewer had to explain the difference to me between working in HR internally at Deloitte (what I thought the job was) versus what they do. Even though I broke in via the MBA this one still bothers me so much.
Was once told that after being the best candidate for a PE Associate role...they ultimately ended up offering someone else because "while everything was great...it sounded like we were talking over a beer...versus a more formal environment...maybe its socal vs norcal thing". I was really dejected but it was for the best bc clearly the culture would not have been a good fit. Of course the opposite could play out if you come across as too stuffy, depending on the firm. Lesson learned...find the right culture...don't force something.
I find this wild as most offers I secured had a coffee chat-esque feel to them. Yes, I had the buttoned up technical reviews but after those I really connected with the interviewees and it truly felt like we were chatting about life at a bar (the best interviews IMO). What a ridiculous reason, but I agree with you about it being the wrong fit
Not dumb, just strange. Had a stage one at a PE firm, received positive feedback and was told they would be in touch to set up the next round. HR came back and said they would be going another direction because they wanted to hire someone straight out of college who was cheaper. Would have made sense but I was less than one year out of college at the time.
Once I was told my answer on "Last time when you showed teamwork?" wasn't precise enough (obviously my interviewer could have told me to be more precise but I think he was happy that there was a reason to reject me)
Another time HR called me, told me that I am not selected but the HR person admitted she doesn't know why, because the feedback on her sheet was perfect (she even apologized for not being able to tell me a reason)
This was my feedback from headhunter after an interview:
"- You were very well prepared, you were strong on technicals, you had very good knowledge about the M&A market and the current economic environment, you seemed very motivated and were well informed about the bank, you have strong CV with relevant experience
- Thx, but so why am I not selected for the AC?
- I did not manage to really feel who you are beyond banking
- But you only asked me questions about banking...
- Yeah, it is very competitive."
I got rejected from a WM firm because I did too well on my personality exam and they told me that I was too analytical. Recruitment manager said, "I'd be doing you a disservice putting you in a sales role. You should pursue something like Investment Banking, being a Director or Revenue, or an actuary" and thus I am here today. This is a real story I'm not making this up.
I also got rejected from a consulting job at a big firm without interviewing because they didn’t think I was qualified for the job. This is from a firm that contacted me directly telling me to apply.
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