Passed AC but not offered place because of "gender balance"

So I did an AC in NY for a bank for an S&T summer internship which I thought went very well, nailed all the interviews. Received a bizarre phone call saying that I had passed the AC with very good feedback but that they were not sure if they could offer me a place due to gender balance. By this stage, I was so shocked/ pissed off after previously being rejected from 3 ACs this year that I did not think of anything to say. Unbelievably pissed and don't know what to do...

29 Comments
 

sue them. sue them then cry into your dick because that is the source of your failure.

in seriousness, that sucks. happened to a few friends recently. fucken politics, man.

Thank you for your interest in the 2020 Investment Banking Full-time Analyst Programme (London) at JPMorgan Chase. After a thorough review of your application, we regret to inform you that we are unable to move forward with your candidacy at this time.
 

I'm assuming you're male? This is what happens when there are arbitrary quotas set by HR. If you're female atleast you can likely sue them.

 

Yep I'm a white male obviously. In terms of the legality of this, surely it is positve discrimination (illegal) instead of positive action (legal)

 

(you're not posting anonymously)

Thank you for your interest in the 2020 Investment Banking Full-time Analyst Programme (London) at JPMorgan Chase. After a thorough review of your application, we regret to inform you that we are unable to move forward with your candidacy at this time.
 

Yeah it sucks banks can get away with this shit pretty easily. You really don't have any recourse except to continue recruiting.

Or you could identify as a female?

 

I'm sure the person who called thought that they were softening the blow rather than making things worse.

Let yourself feel angry and/or sorry for yourself for the rest of the day, and then just move on. There are no good outcomes for you that come from even trying to fight this.

 
Most Helpful

of course the quota is not a good thing but you learning the real reason why is a good thing. oftentimes when you get rejected i be people won't tell you why because they are scared about what you will do if they tell you the real reason - dealing withbitching, getting sued, etc. but then you have no idea how you can improve. now you know that you did well, so you also know that you will be able to crush it next time you interview with a company that isn't so focused on this BS.

 

For anyone wondering about the legality, it’s 100% illegal plain and simple. No difference between “positive” or “negative” discrimination or any other weird legal theory. You can proactively recruit women/minorities and (without saying so) favor them in hiring, but you’re breaking the law if you tell someone “we’d hire you but gender goals may prevent that.” Open and shut case.

Now what can you realistically do about it, jack shit unfortunately.

 

Pariatur omnis qui voluptas sit modi autem. Doloribus ab eaque qui ab omnis. Autem odit delectus voluptate quod quis natus. Autem doloremque libero enim temporibus officia et earum. Vel molestiae architecto ratione perspiciatis eligendi non ut. Non natus voluptatem distinctio eius maxime nesciunt dolorum illum. Ipsam sint possimus eaque occaecati.

Ut molestiae et fugit beatae nobis aspernatur. Est magnam molestiae tempore reprehenderit facere adipisci. Temporibus ab sit consectetur tempore voluptatum quos ea. Consequuntur qui consequuntur facere totam consequatur maiores. Et enim eum culpa ut dolorem consequatur voluptates. Quis ab dolore vero accusantium reprehenderit necessitatibus. Non impedit autem quasi expedita nihil.

Totam autem odio quos. Libero quasi optio sit tempore iusto sit. Sunt doloremque et quam reprehenderit praesentium molestiae blanditiis. In ut velit corrupti qui minima. Aut odio non alias optio et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (45) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”