Rejection after High level referral??
I got a referral from some one very high up (cant say their title since I dont want speculation if im posting about it online, I want to make this as un descriptive as possible) and got rejected before even completing an assessment I received from the bank.
Has this happened to anyone? I was above the GPA threshold and even had multiple calls with the MD about my on-campus experience, that he felt was good.
Is this normal? I have a call with his scheduled this week for Tuesday, should I call HR on monday morning to ask if this was a mistake? or should I wait until I talk to the referrer to ask them if there's anything I can do or if its a mistake?
I am from a Non-target applying to a BB
Perhaps it's a sign that IB isn't the career that's meant for you.... Accept and move on.
Look into ER or Big 4 Consulting
I applied for ER at the same bank, I got an email saying my resume would be reviewed by someone. Hopefully it goes well.
Is it possible to be "revived" after that rejection? Assuming it was a mistake?
I have had very high up referrals that didn’t pan out because of visa requirements. But never a rejection without any interview.
The only case I got ghosted was when the referrer was poached by a diff bank.
Never talk to HR, they don’t give a shit, wait until you have a call with him. Thank him first and then mention specifically that you were rejected without any chance to interview and it was quite surprising. And ask if there is any thing you can do on your part.
Usually the guy will nudge HR. And if HR asks how you know the guy, don’t say cold outreach even if that is the case. HR will develop attitude mid call and start making stories and excuses.
and how did the referral work? Did you apply still with his name or was it just resume pushing and you didn’t have to do anything?
Did you miss the deadline for the assessment? What country is it for? Cause in the US, usually referrals directly lead to first round at least.
I talked with him before having applied, he told me to say on the application that he was referring me and I put his email in the application.
In terms of the assessment, I did miss the first deadline due to a medical problem and I called HR and they sent me a new assessment which i completed on time. The HR lady said its fine and they sent me the assessment.
Sadly though the rejection email came around noon the day I planned to do it. I did the Assessment in the evening.
This is US
Yeah, so you gotta mention that on the post. That’s a fault on your part.
If HR said it was alright and sent a new link, the previous rejection link could be automated because you didn’t complete the assessment.
I’d ask HR again then if they were the ones who okay’ed it. And ask if the rejection is an automated response. And depending on their response would mention it on the call Tuesday.
Referrals ≠ offers
Can’t tell you how many times HR has made me talk to someone bc they had a good referral, and they ended up being a complete bonehead.
Referrals likely will get someone to talk to you (maybe), but it’s your job to earn it after that and from then on, the referral no longer is relevant.
exactly THIS.
Kids come on here and think just cause they got some referral that they're golden. Nah dawg, you still gotta put in the work...
Agreed! We get high level referrals often and I’ve hardly seen any offers handed out as a result. People think they can let off the gas and coast through a process because they have a strong referral but that’s definitely not the case
Think OP is more mad about not getting the assessment than an offer. Yeah if he was complaining about not getting an offer from just one high-level referral then we can trash OP but not in this case
OP here, thanks for your comment.
To give more detail, what happened was that I was resent the assessment because I called HR saying I missed the first one due to a medical issue (the truth) and I received the rejection email during the time period that I still had to complete the new assessment they sent me. I did complete it on time, but after the rejection email
Meaningful referral from the high-up is when he/she refers to you to the head of the hiring process (HR). Had the co-heads of North America Investment Banking of two different firms refer me to the heads of the hiring process and got the interviews.
Yes it has happened multiple times. MD/Partner level arent as helpful as Analyst/Associate level because they are so senior they are very far removed from any recruiting efforts. There are MDs that generally dont know who half of the analysts in their group. Unless the senior referred you to the junior that runs recruiting assume you are getting nothing. There are so many things going on he could have just forgotten.
At my BB I was once asked by recruiting to interview a candidate and gather reasons to reject him, because the interview was just a courtesy for someone important (client or MD, I don't know). It was an off-cycle lateral analyst interview. It was funny because he was actually strong and the recruiting girl got pissed at me when I didn't have weaknesses to report. But rest assured, he got his rejection.
Not saying that definitely happened in your case, but its more likely than a mistake. Rejections don't go out by mistake.
Go ahead and have your call with the MD and let him know, tell him you're just looking for advice on your search. See what he says.
That's fucked up. Another thing is the dude's relation with the higher up also gets ruined if it's non-nepo pure networking case.
Talk to him. Won't say which bank or at what level but I do know someone that got rejected for an app. Had a referral from an alum. Got on a call with the alum and within a couple of days, HR reached out to him for a first round interview and 'apologized' for the confusion. Bankers have more say than HR at most firms. Didn't get the offer but got an interview at least.
Thank you, the person who gave me a referral told me they will look into it, what happened was that I missed the assessment do to medical reasons and I contacted HR to let them know and they sent me a new assessment, the rejection came before I completed the new assessment but I completed the assessment in the timeline they gave me.
This is very reassuring, thank you
Do you mind me asking if they didnt get passed the interview because they were not good with technicals/behaviorals?
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