My CV is cracked, yet I am getting no interviews for LDN 2025 SA

I honestly don’t even know what to do at this point. I’m a second-year Econ/Finance student at a non-target UK uni (not Oxbridge/LSE but still decent), and despite my insane efforts, I’m getting nowhere in IB. Like, how is it even possible for someone like me, with my CV, to keep getting rejected?

Let’s break this down: I didn’t even want to be in Finance at first—I was all set on Dentistry, but that didn’t work out (applied twice, got rejected twice). So I did the “smart” thing and switched to Finance. Since then, I’ve done everything right. Got Spring Weeks at legit firms (think UBS/Barclays/Big4, you know the type), and I even got a *return offer* for a 2025 Summer Internship from one of the Big 4 (you can guess which one). I’m also on the Healthcare team of my uni’s student investment fund and helped pitch a stock (Biogen, ever heard of it?), which got an 88.98% “BUY” vote. I mean, come on, how is that not impressive??

Not to mention, I flew to the US for a hedge fund competition and came 3rd place, with a $3,000 prize. So yeah, I’m out here doing the most, and yet… I still have ZERO IB offers from BBs (you know who—GS/MS/JPM). Just rejection after rejection. Like, are you serious? I’ve literally done everything right, networked, aced my Spring Weeks, pitched a stock (got a BUY VOTE, people!), but somehow, because I didn’t go to a target school, it’s like I don’t exist to these firms.

I’m genuinely losing it. How can people with half the experience I have be getting offers, and I’m just sitting here with nothing? It’s honestly ridiculous. I don’t deserve this. I’ve worked too hard for this outcome. What more do I have to do, hand-deliver my CV with fireworks?? Am I just doomed to never break into IB because of my uni? 

I don’t even know how to keep going at this point. How do you deal with the fact that you’ve done everything right, and still, it’s just not enough? If anyone has any advise on how to not lose my mind over this, I’d love to hear it, because right now, it feels like the universe is determined to make sure I never make it into IB.

8 Comments
 

You still have a lot of time. Just keep applying/networking.

"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
 

It’s a troll post bro

“I still have ZERO IB offers from BBs (you know who—RBC/MS/JPM

I really thought bro was forreal? KEKW

"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
 

Probably mainly to do with your uni, York is definitely a non-target. Well done with your springs, but bear in mind spring weeks are relatively non-merit based in the UK, i.e they don't weigh academic/extracurricular qualifications and work experience as much as they do with summers - so I wouldn't really be as annoyed with myself as you are if I was in your position, summer applications are a completely different league. Keep applying mate, its a numbers game, and if all goes to shit, you can still fall back on your Big4.

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

LMAO WTF:

I still have ZERO IB offers from BBs (you know who—GS/MS/JPM). 

buddy start with some Nomura/SocGen roles, and see form there how it goes, if ur getting traction, then apply to higher branded bands until you find your sweet spot where your profile is just right. where did u got this entitelement that "I deserve a BB spot" lol

and I don't understand why you're targeting IB roles when you're background seems ER healthcare

incentives trumph ethics
 

Surely the skills are translatable no? I can also niche down to Healthcare IB.

Also not having luck with those names either

 

Quam ipsa aut unde qui quam dolor. Ipsam hic provident odit explicabo ut cumque. Quaerat qui ratione tempora ipsum est nihil.

incentives trumph ethics

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