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Sandhurst:

It starts with the basic recognition that, whether or not "luck" actually exists, you cannot ever ascribe anything that happens to you, to luck. You need to take total responsibility for your successes and failures, as this accountability linkage is what will push you to take whatever steps are necessary going forward.

For example, if you have been told that your resume is "fine," or even "very good," but you aren't getting first rounds, then clearly it is not good enough. It's that simple. Do better.

This. OP looks like he as Taylor Swift Syndrome: blaming a consistently negative outcome on anyone and anything but himself. This isn't Good Will Hunting. Robin Williams isn't going to embrace you while saying "it's not your fault," because it's not true. It IS your fault.

I don't care about luck. I can't control luck. I CAN control myself, though. I can look at myself [mostly] objectively and understand what my flaws are. I can ask for candid feedback and show genuine appreciation for such instead of defending myself (which most people do). And then I can address those issues.

Sure, I've been lucky in my life to a certain extent, but all these posts about how recruiting is a crapshoot piss me off. It's a crapshoot if you're a marginal candidate. What baffles me is why people would be willing to put their early career on the line at the whim of a coinflip. You know what I did instead? I rigged the odds in my favor. I used a two-headed coin. I worked my ass off. I had a great GPA, extracurriculars, work experience, etc. I impressed people with my drive and my accomplishments. I've done that throughout my life and I will continue doing it. I hate losing. I hate 2nd place. I not only want to be the best, I need to be. I put in more time and effort into the things and people I care about than the vast majority of the population, and that's why I'm here today.

You can call it bad luck, but all I see is a bullshit excuse for why you're an underperformer. Sack up and work for what you want. I have no pity for those unwilling to put in the effort necessary to succeed.

Charles-perry:

I ask them how I can improve and they say idk you should be getting first rounds at least. I am doing everything this website suggests but something is going wrong and everyone is telling me its just bad luck. Don't know how to fix that.

Did you use WSO Resume Review and read the WSO Networking Guide?

Are you doing a lot of informational interviews with alums and professionals at banks? Why arent they vouching for you and making sure you get an interview?

Do you have a weird tick when you talk? How do you know for sure if you havent videotaped yourself?

It's a lot less luck than you think....See Black Jack's recent recruiting advice thread: //www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/black-jacks-recruiting-advice

There are a slew of "above-average" candidates that should be fine in theory, but many get lost and fall through the cracks...how are you standing out?

-Patrick

Charles-perry:

I ask them how I can improve and they say idk you should be getting first rounds at least. I am doing everything this website suggests but something is going wrong and everyone is telling me its just bad luck. Don't know how to fix that.

No particular formula of inputs exists which "should" result in a desired outcome. Drop the word "should" from your lexicon. There is no "if I do X, I should get Y." Because even if that outcome follows 90% of the time, you cannot afford to be the "unlucky" 10%.

Life lesson: the baseline is never enough. Scratch that. Nothing is ever "enough." You can always do more, if you truly want something.

SirTradesaLot:

If you want to be successful in the financial field, you need to be a lucky person. It seems most good things in life kind of just fall in my lap, which is why I thought this field would be a great fit for me. If I didn't have good luck, I would look in another field.

So that's the secret too success. Lol

Charles-perry:

I think I'm being misunderstood.

I'm not blaming anyone for a negative outcome. I am trying my best here. I have done everything I can think of to make this work. People keep telling me I'll be fine and I'm not. When I ask for advice - any advice on even the smallest thing I can improve on my application - they say I have a solid background/apply online etc. I want to improve - I just need advice on things I can do to be better/impress more.

I'm not saying I have never got a negative comment. I have - several infact. But once I get them I don't take offence. I look at them as feedback I can use to help improve myself. For example when I failed some technicals, and was dinged because of it, sure I felt bad but then I brought BIWS and the WSO guides and studied - hard! My point is now - I am sure I am still flawed - but I need someone to point out things I'm doing wrong/things I can improve on so I am more competitive. The only thing I have been told this year is 'you need a BB internship' - which is obviously what I'm trying to get. Other then that I get told my situation is just 'bad luck'. This is not helpful.

I am putting in the effort to succeed and am doing what I can. I need another pair of eyes on the situation which is why I posted this up. I don't think recruiting is a crapshoot - I'm just failing to see my errors. I want to mend things but I need some assistance on this one as everyone around me is giving really generic feedback even when asked for specifics.

Then you're either asking the wrong people or asking the wrong way.

Culcet:

You want good feedback? Here's some:

1) Start developing the skills that you would normally develop on the job anyways. That means being able to build models from scratch, fast, and without mistakes. Time yourself. Don't know the accounting? Teach yourself? Don't know how to use all of the Excel shortcuts? Teach yourself. Most things in life can be self-taught, trust me.

2) Start working for free for someone, today. Every from asset management to PE to boutique banks to certain hedge funds. Work remotely as a research assistant for some professor at a different side of the country studying theoretical finance if you have to. Apply what you used in #1.

3) If you really want to get a job in banking, figure out a way to make cash on the side. If you're trying to build your resume, you might have to serve as a free labor for the time being, so figure out a side hustle. SAT Tutoring, essay editing, babysitting, whatever. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

I'd think more about your skillset, network, and general reputation as a smart, hardworker, i.e "inputs", rather than the "output"- offers. As you mentioned, recruiting can be a complete crapshoot... I agree. But I think you need to have an honest conversation with yourself and figure whether you've really done everything you can to be the most appealing and attractive candidate... and that you've done everything within your power to let the most amount of people know this. Unless you have, no complaining. "Having a good story" and "knowing the guides inside out" sounds like a fuckload of what everyone else is doing.

Good luck young padawan

This.