Why am I not getting second rounds!!?!?!

I got several first round interviews, but I have yet to get any second rounds out of ANY of them. I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong. Granted, I'm a sophomore (target), but shouldn't the fact that I GOT the first rounds in the first place be a GOOD sign (i.e. I fit the qualifications)??? I just don't get it. Could you experienced interviewers/ees help me out??? What should I be asking myself at this point before I go to my next interview? And please don't tell me that everybody has their own taste in people or that it's not me, it's them, etc. etc. I don't need consolation, I need a change. Thanks.

10 Comments
 

the soph thing may be a factor. do you find yourself nervous in an interview? or very casual. if it was a date instead of an interview would you have told your buddies it went well?

 
sherminatorThe sophomore thing is not that big of an issue. If they were against hiring sophomores, they wouldn't have invited him to a first round. To the OP, do you have your responses memorized? To answer questions like, tell me about yourself, why ibanking, why us... you shouldn't have to be stumbling or searching for words.

The sophomore thing actually can be a big issue. BBs don't like to take sophomores because they like to hire out of the intern class for FT. They have special rotational programs for sophomores. That being said, it's not entirely impossible. Out of my SA class of about 90, there were maybe 2-3 sophomores.

 

yea sherm is right. there's about 10 questions that will ALWAYS come up. just memorize those, practice some guesstimates, know your technicals, and you're set. I've gotten to second round interviews fairly easily, but then again, I don't write that I am a sophomore on my resume.

 

Are interviews supposed to be casual? I admit that I went into them feeling a little nervous because I wanted to act professional and/or impress my interviewers.

aachimp - You aren't a sophomore? Or you just don't write that you're a sophomore? Can I even do the latter?

 

free advice:

call them back. when i was a sophomore, and in a similiar situation, they said they liked me but didnt have room for sophomores. then, a few of them said they may have an opportunity for me, after i asked them if there was anything. it worked out well, but not without a lot of humbling effort.

 

Ipsum facilis facilis libero quod ut reiciendis. Et quia odit porro. Qui laborum dolorum eum molestiae. Voluptatem fugiat aliquam corporis voluptatem autem quo distinctio. Et iste harum commodi ducimus est reiciendis magnam.

Totam voluptas reprehenderit sed corporis vel voluptatum non. Qui sed ea pariatur corrupti.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (78) $151
  • 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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
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...”