Not getting IB interviews
Sophomore at a target with 2 IB and 1 PE internship under the belt but not getting any BB/EB interviews so far. What's wrong?
Trending Content - Job Search Advice Forum
| +22 | Layoff Stigma | 12 | 2d |
| +20 | Down bad for career advice | 3 | 3d |
| +18 | Feeling behind | 2 | 1d |
| +18 | Don’t underestimate how risky joining a startup is | 3 | 3d |
| +18 | Advice for incoming freshman @ target | 5 | 2d |
| +14 | Delete | 3 | 4d |
| +13 | Feeling pigeonholed due to past internships | 3 | 4d |
| +10 | Low Tiew Consulting vs Middle Office at an mid-size Investment Firm | 2 | 5d |
| +9 | Need advice - reentering industry | 1 | 6d |
| +9 | 2027 FT IB Recruiting from Private Credit | 4 | 1d |
Career Resources
more information is needed
more information is needed
What do you need mate
More info needed but my guess is: lack of networking
That could be the reason. I did go to all the info sessions and had some casual conversations with alumni but not at a very deep level. I just thought my resume was good enough to get those first rounds.
I would argue that is probably the reason. In order to gain interviews, you need to build a relationship and get your resume pushed by bankers. Ofc brush up your resume a bit, clear any typos you might have, and start networking hard. Networking is crucially important for landing interviews, more so at EBs than BBs nowadays but important nonetheless.
I agree with this networking is crucial.
Nice name dude
Your GPA or your networking efforts. Or you were an asshole to the wrong person and word got around. That's the least likely scenario but one that never gets talked about on WSO -- what your peers and upperclassmen think of you matter when the first year analyst texts their senior buddy about the sophomore they're thinking about giving an interview to, or if you've really rubbed someone the wrong way, the opposite will happen and the senior will text their first year analyst buddy and tell them not to interview you. Have totally seen this happen at multiple schools.
Thanks for the comment. My GPA is definitely high enough. As for the networking efforts part, I even had an analyst say that I could put down his name as a referral, but I didn't get a first round from that bank which seems odd to me.
Important to point out that there's a big difference between the analyst saying its ok for you to put his name down as a reference in the application and him internally referring you / pushing your resume. One will get you an interview, and one won't really do anything for you. That said I agree with the other commenters that something else is kinda off. Being a target school for a bank usually means they have an OCR teams for the university; this means that every resume from that school's application portal is actually looked at by alumni in comparison to the other resumes from your school. Even if you do literally no networking, you should still be making the bar for first rounds with a decent gpa and a relevant internship. Having a really high GPA and 3 internships is icing on the cake. I remember when I recruited, most of the kids with good stats/internships wouldn't network anywhere that did OCR because they knew they would get an interview on strength of their resume compared to the pool, knowing that there were a certain number of interview seats reserved for kids from their school.
There's almost certainly something wrong with your resume. Formatting, job descriptions, or GPA are probably getting you dinged. A target school student with those internship experiences should be getting first rounds at most places they cold-apply to.
I'm happy to take a look for you and offer comments.
I second this. A target student with 3 relevant internships and solid GPA should be getting first rounds despite not networking.
delete
Why all the MS lmao
Hey, I'm in a similar position but I go to a non-target for international IBD positions with a 3.7+ GPA, 1 IB internship, 1 PE internship and other work experiences. Would you be able to take a few minutes to take a quick look at my resume? I'd be really grateful if you can since I am lacking the resources here.
Could you pm me? Thanks.
These people are offering to review your resume -- you're not getting interviews, not sure why you wouldn't change some of the names on your resume and take them up on it.
100% bro there is something wrong. and you have to get to the bottom of it. it’s not a networking thing - if your resume is this solid coming from a target there is a big red flag somewhere else that we don’t know about. I’ve been on the other side reviewing intern resumes for GS and lack of networking was not a consideration when looking at stellar resumes. what was a consideration was if someone rubbed me the wrong way during the info sessions enough so that I remembered their name.
if you did zero networking then you couldn’t have had bad impressions. you’re a sophomore so this is for a sophomore year internship or for your junior year (the important one) internship? if it’s the latter then you need to rectify this ASAP. despite all the hordes of prospects and high schoolers crowing WSO - there are really legit people on here who can help with your resume. I’m 27 and have been on the sell/buyside for 6 years and have been an interviewer at the pre and post-MBA level. these people can really help you. I suggest you give up your anonymity - the risk/reward is so so clearly in your favor. no one gives a shit who you actually are I promise.
Yea op, give away your anonymity
Let me guess, you're a white/asian male?
correct
At this point it's really irrelevant what race you are. No one is denying you interviews on the basis of race with that resume. You blow 95% of other white/asian males out of the water with that resume. I'm a white/asian male that had zero finance experience period (albeit coming a target) and got like 5 first round interviews.
Exactly
Agree with the other comments on here, something is wrong — either low GPA or something else in your resume, or you made a negative impression on someone (though unlikely you wouldn’t be aware of it if it was so bad as to spread across other banks), so most likely on the resume.
Networking is important, but a strong resume can more than make up for average networking. This is particularly the case if you’re at a target school. There are always a few kids who have networked the hell out of things and the school teams know them, but for first rounds it’s usually a pretty simple look at GPA / if you have relevant experience. It sounds like your past experience is great.
I ran intern recruiting for my school at a strong BB and would also be happy to review your resume if you want another pair of eyes, but at least have someone check through it and give you objective and honest feedback.
Just pmed you
Quam quia adipisci asperiores autem sed. Suscipit illo distinctio esse sed.
Accusantium id sint asperiores occaecati molestiae. Dolores sed tempore voluptates sequi et. Ullam autem maxime adipisci corporis corporis cum. Sed molestiae est sed labore qui sed. Quibusdam hic ducimus commodi omnis est illum. Aut recusandae ut hic omnis rerum earum tenetur.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Rerum tempora qui nulla doloribus reprehenderit. In dolorum voluptas corporis non a. Et rerum perspiciatis consequuntur doloremque aut cum enim. Sunt temporibus repudiandae consequatur quidem et nobis suscipit. Consequatur blanditiis dicta error voluptatem vero. A eius harum et voluptate sint corporis eveniet. Sed dolorem error accusantium omnis recusandae porro molestias saepe.
Reprehenderit enim quia itaque et. Enim sunt assumenda sed explicabo rerum. Hic quam doloremque quibusdam deserunt aliquid quia adipisci doloribus. Recusandae placeat quia voluptas rerum et nobis porro.
Molestiae sed aliquid sint repellat. Necessitatibus aliquam aut odit omnis totam est ea. Maiores quia beatae praesentium. Maxime aperiam assumenda magni architecto.