NO Superdays 27' recruiting yet 3.95 at HYPSM??

I go to a HYPSM and am recruiting for REPE / CRE 2027 roles. I applied to basically every REPE firm as well as REI teams at banks like GS and JPM. I got a 1R at every firm I applied to and made it to the 2R for all of them. GS only had HireVue which I also got but no superday. But after the second round I get ghosted or rejected every time. I have not made it past the 2nd round once.

What I am trying to figure out is what exactly the issue could be, because I am not getting technicals wrong and I am not messing up behaviorals either. Maybe I get one or two small things wrong here and there but nothing major. Most of my interviews go well and I usually make good connections with the people interviewing me. On paper my profile should be competitive. I have a 3.95 GPA, I am DEI (not that I wish to use it as a means of getting a job but it further proves the point of the dilemma I am in), I had a MM PE internship spring freshman year, MM M&A freshman summer and fall, and since sophomore year I have been in CRE focused programs and clubs. I also recruited heavily and got at least 1–2 referrals at every firm I applied to.

After talking to a few friends already in the industry, some of them suggested that the issue might be that I put President of the TPUSA chapter at my school on my resume. When I first included it on my resume I did not think it would be much of an issue, especially after CK died, because I figured that would soften the reaction most people would have to that kind of thing. But despite what I thought, I am starting to consider that this might actually be affecting decisions later in the process.

The pattern is what makes me think that. I get past the 1R at almost every firm, I answer behaviorals and technicals without much trouble, and then once it gets to second rounds I am out. So it feels less like I am failing interviews and more like once the pool gets smaller and people are choosing between similar candidates, something about my profile makes me easier to pass on. And for those who will say, "If it was a resume problem you never would've made it to the 2R", I don't think that this is a "resume problem" rather than a fit/cultural problem, despite me making personable connections with the majority of my interviewers. 

At this point I am trying to figure out what to do. What would you do in my situation? Is my hypothesis correct or am I coping? If my hypothesis is correct, where do I go from here? 

10 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Just keep recruiting. A lot of these interviews are luck based. You never know who else they are interviewing and might just be getting unlucky (not getting interviewers who you really connect well with). 

If I was in ur shoes I would try to figure out which firms are going to have later recruiting processes so you can refocus and keep applying (I’m not in RE but heard for example Related Companies does SA recruiting fall of junior yr so u still have time for that). Related is incredible and I’m sure if they recruit then, there are probably other comparable buyside firms with later recruiting schedules.


Lastly, it’s sad but I agree with your friends. Lots of people are incredibly biased against republicans and it could totally be tanking your chances to be part of TP USA. I would remove it from your resume if you have other experiences u can replace it with. It’s unfair and unfortunate how divided the country is but lots of people are incapable of tolerating differing opinions (including in high finance circles). Best of luck man

 

Thanks man I appreciate that. Yeah there are a lot of firms who recruit for RE later in the year those are generally pure-play RE. I guess it just kind of stinks because I had this vision of finishing my recruiting this winter/spring and getting to work on other cool projects but it is what it is. It's in God's hands now. I appreciate your reply and for assuring me its not just cope lol 

 

Yeah I was in same spot. It definitely sucks to have to keep recruiting but like you said, it’s in god’s hands. Just keep working and focusing on it. There’s always a chance something pulls through before summer.

 

Based on ur profile, I wouldn’t be worried tho. I’m sure you will land something incredible. Just keep grinding and working hard. My recruiting process ended up lasting until fall of my junior year which felt terrible and scary at the time but looking back, was a tremendous learning opportunity. You learn valuable lessons from each rejection that will help you in the future. 

 

Lol remove TPUSA, the industry rewards moderates at least at the junior level
Use the DEI to your advantage why would you not? Unless your convictions which led you to TPUSA president would stop you from doing so 🤣

Also you are getting 1R and 2R so clearly not a HYPSA problem or resume problem and more of a how do you speak in a hirevue problem

 

Don't really understand how one "uses" DEI. You put the race you are on the application and that's it. 

I agree it's not a HYPSM problem and I gave my reasoning as to why it's not a resume problem. TPUSA has nothing to do with the resume itself and more with culture/fit. They assume because my values align with TPUSA that I won't be a cultural fit when my interviews beg to differ

 

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