How to cope with rejection

Interviewed with two great funds on cycle and got cut after first rounds. Didn’t embarrass myself but just didn’t do good enough. Pretty defeated as it was such a brutal process and I’m not exactly coming from a top bank/group so feel like I really blew it. Wondering how to put things in perspective moving forward. Worried about relationships with head hunters and wondering if I should have just waited.

8 Comments
 

Getting cut after the first round in 5+ round processes - twice - indicates you went in underprepared. Be brutally honest with yourself regarding how well prepped you were. A first-round rejection means you missed check-the-box technical questions; the good news is it doesn't say anything about your personality or soft skills.

You can pick up the materials you need to obtain an offer if you invest the time over the coming weeks and months. There's no secret to doing a paper LBO; you either know how to do it or you don't - and you will have opportunities with more funds in the future. Even in the unlikely worst-case scenario, you only burned a maximum of two total headhunter relationships - there are a half dozen of note - so keep at it.

 

Unfortunately they didn’t even ask technicals which I prepped a ton for. Most was just testing investment acumen and framework which is harder to see where I’m at.

 

This! Got cut from first rounds where it was mostly behavorials, I’ve never had an issue with those so I have to think its bank/group/profile

 

Doubt it’s an issue with profile. If anyone has any good resources or books to help prep these business pe cases I’d appreciate it.

 

Et minus quod aperiam assumenda similique itaque. Enim assumenda minus quam non nisi. Aut nostrum provident odio voluptatem autem provident. Et ipsam itaque eveniet odit error.

Ut eos qui optio est aut qui. Maiores perferendis dolorem et reprehenderit expedita ipsum. Possimus dolorem fugit pariatur nulla.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.2%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (100) $364
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (106) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (236) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (414) $231
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (274) $126
  • Intern/Summer Associate (40) $79
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (357) $61
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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”