London SA 2024 Process help

Hello everyone,

It feels like we're deep into the London SA 2024 process, and I've faced challenges. Last year, I applied to many places, received rejections, but managed to get a middle office position at a BB after interviews.

This year has been odd. Despite applying to numerous places, around 90% haven't responded at all. Last year, I'd at least get rejections or interview invites, but now it seems like I'm just being ghosted. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm seeking advice on exploring opportunities at boutique or smaller firms or even trying a wealth management job for this summer. How does recruitment for these firms typically work? Is there a specific timeline, seems like some are opening a bit later? Any suggestions on how to proceed would be appreciated. Thanks!

3 Comments
 

For what it's worth I've had a similar experience too for sa recruitment this year, much more ghosting than during the past year. Thought they might have been taking longer to process applications but from what I hear seems like they are progressing normally. Maybe they're just not sending out rejections for whatever reason

 

Hey there,

I feel your pain, the recruiting process can be a rollercoaster ride. But don't worry, you're not alone in this. It's not uncommon for firms to not respond, especially if they're swamped with applications.

If you're considering boutiques or smaller firms, the process can be a bit different. From the most helpful WSO content, it seems that regional boutiques and well-regarded boutiques have their own unique processes. Regional boutiques tend to have pretty standardized technicals, but they can have headcount or internal issues. The well-regarded boutique, on the other hand, places a lot of emphasis on technicals, industry trends, deals, etc. Their process can be fairly fast but unstructured.

As for wealth management, it's not explicitly mentioned in the WSO dataset, but based on general industry knowledge, these firms also have their own timelines and processes. They might not have as structured a process as larger firms, but they often value fit with the team and industry knowledge.

Remember, networking can be a powerful tool in this process. It might not be the magic key to every door, but it can definitely help to some extent.

Keep your chin up and keep pushing forward. You've got this!

Sources: Guide for Investment Banking Full-Time Recruiting, Economic Consulting Q&A - Past experience at major firms, 2021 Recruiting.... Chances, tips, timeline?, Does anyone have insight into what it is like to recruit from a newer boutique (Liontree, Dyal, M Klein, etc.)?

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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