Top target with top bank summer who’s done more interviews and superdays than I can count with no success whatsoever.
Anyone have experience or thoughts on how to overcome this? I always knew it’d be an insanely hard uphill battle but never did I think it’d be impossible.
Venting but constructive thoughts would be immensely helpful.
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That's not because you didn't get a return offer but because the market is shit
I actually had two banks "forgive" me for not getting a return offer and moved me onto the next round anyway. It's just a coinflip regardless because they're hiring like one person each. I don't really know what I'll do if my current processes don't work out though.
I’ve had many “forgive” me too. But none of the processes worked out anyway. Think it’s because there’s almost always at least 1 kid with a return competing who ends up getting it.
I'm ngl I am so stressed. One of the most demotivating and discouraging months of my life.
Theres still a few solid MM firms that havent moved on with recruitment (I know because that is where I still have hope too) - until you apply without an ego I don't think tis a death sentance. Try networking extremely hard at the places that have not yet moved. Especially firms that may have built up a reputation for recruiting in this tough market.
yeah i think its been very banks that have been hiring aka its just a bad economy, i think the boutiqes the were the only ones that i know had a prcess
Del
I'm not sure if it's because I'm not a target, but I don't think many places did FT this year. From the top of my head, the ones I had were Lazard, evercore, and Centerview for EBs, didn't get any BBs which is funny, along with some lesser-known boutiques. It seems like nobody else has had the process, and it's due to a combination of poor economy and lack of recruiting across the board. So, it's not just you. But when you compare this to last years its barely any
Yeah BB recruitment was incredibly limited this year, which was to be expected considering some of them are still going through layoffs at this very moment lol
You had a FT superday with Centerview?
centerview had a super day a couple weeks ago and took one kid or maybe two. source is my friend is friends with is one of the kids. this was not a big FT process
Have a return offer still recruiting. interviewed with maybe 7-9 different groups. Have yet to get an offer. To many factors out of my control. Non target non diversity. Most of the places I had no networking connections prior
Do you mean groups within the same bank? Because other than like RJ or capital one none of the MMs are hiring
I’ve interviewed with 4 MM banks. Would have been 5 but they paused their recruitment. Most are internal applications not posted to the public.
Santanderis a lot too tbf and there are def a few more
Words of encouragement. It’s a tougher market then last year but I didn’t get anything until November. It came from a place I didn’t network or have any alumni at. I know not pure IB but all it takes is one offer.
Didn’t get a return from a top buyside firm and originally thought it was going to be a brand of death. But after countless superdays, I think just depends on how you conduct yourself in the interviews. If you seem competent and relaxed, that’s a good sign. I’m not telling you to act like you didn’t give a rats ass about your internship, but if you seem calm and almost a little indifferent to the result, the interviewers will appreciate it. I would recommend to spend as little time as possible in your conversation on the topic of a return offer.
I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, because it is an upwards battle and yeah some people might press you than harder on others, but as long as you have a reference to go to bat for you for work product, professionalism, etc, you should be fine. Some people will be dicks to you, but just take it in stride - you probably wouldn’t have wanted to work with them anyways.
This year the market is definitely tougher so I definitely sympathize with you. I would advise you to look at all opportunities sell-side and buyside, almost anything can get your foot in the door. I took a job that most people view would superficially as a downgrade, but I’ve been loving my team and the work so far. And besides careers are long, not short. It’s where you finish, not where you start that matters. This isn’t the last the industry will see of us. Godspeed brotha.
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