What's up with intern candidates ghosting after accepting offers?

Have had multiple candidates accept offers over the past couple years just to either ghost or backout without reason weeks before. It seems to be the same profile every time. Great experience, 3.9-4.0, good school. Seems they are just accepting as a just in the case they don't lock in something better and not actually interested in the job.

Everyone says they want to put in the work but this is just sad. They're ruining it for other candidates that are serious about the posting. It leaves the company with a smaller SA class than they wanted and multiple candidates bummed they didn't get their #1 choice.

Anyone else having this issue?

23 Comments
 

This definitely happens. I’m a college kid going to a larger established REPE manager and have gotten maybe slightly better offers since. Kids are reneging a lot for some reason, I think part of it is going to firms that might sound better to normal finance people vs real estate people. I think your reputation and trust you build in the industry is probably lot more important than an extra 10-15$ an hour or slightly more AUM. Give a shot to a hardworking Sophomore if your firm already budgeted the SAs is my advice.

 
Most Helpful

Companies have been increasingly treating applicants and employees like shit for years. 

Seven rounds of interviews and take home tests because they can’t make up their mind after 1-2. Bullshit job postings when they know the role will go to an internal hire. Return to office mandates and “AI first initiatives” that are thinly-veiled attempts to reduce headcounts. Performance improvement plans and whole HR departments that exist not to improve your performance or improve how a workplace operates, but build a paper trail to justify termination. 24/7 monitored connectivity expectations. 


Companies reap what they sow. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I understand the lack of empathy from the candidate if the company acted like that but in this case it is just not true. 1 phone screen + 1 panel interview and then the decision is made. HR is there just to assist in the scheduling.

I've see the other side of the spectrum though. It is grueling and endless.

 

Analyst 1 in RE - Other

I understand the lack of empathy from the candidate if the company acted like that but in this case it is just not true. 1 phone screen + 1 panel interview and then the decision is made. HR is there just to assist in the scheduling.

I've see the other side of the spectrum though. It is grueling and endless.

It’s not about your company specifically though. It’s “companies in general.” Good companies suffer along with the bad. 

The kids know that firms ain’t loyal and they’re just treating them with the same callous disregard that they are treated with. 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

People are waking up to the realization of the fact companies do not care about them, and they, in turn, should not care equally back.  The second something better comes along - you think companies have loyalty and won't think to cut headcount in a minute if it were to their benefit?

What's the surprise when the employees come to the same exact realization?  That they should act in their best interests, at all times.  

 

Developer in RE - Comm

Rapid individualism were brought about by the powers that be. Welcome to the new normal. Now zero f$&ks are given all the way around. Social contract of work and worker is completely broken. 🤷🏾‍♂️

Yes, but it's corporate America that broke that contract, not labor.  This is simply a rational response to prevailing conditions

 

Plenty of companies revoke offers or ghost candidates.  Why should it be any different on the other side?  Once you've told someone they're valuable and have options, they're going to leverage that.  Over the last 40 years, corporate America has made it clear that they don't give a shit about their workers, that they're simply an input to be cut when times get tough - shareholders or investors are given preference over every other possible consideration, and potential hires know that'll be the case.  So of course they'll look out for their own interests as well.  This is called "reaping what you've sown"

 

Agreed. The only thing the sucks is the timing and ripple effect on other candidates that were serious about accepting if offered. In one case we had a candidate accept offer for SA 25' in March of 2024 just to back out three weeks before start date. I understand reneging and taking the better offer but cmon. Just don't accept something you're not willing to commit too.

 

Animi ut ab nesciunt quae libero. Recusandae nihil consectetur dignissimos error eligendi vero. Harum nisi et cumque voluptas numquam.

Quia quasi doloremque animi possimus dolorum facere. Consequatur quaerat quam non maiores tempore in quia. Accusantium harum assumenda ipsam quae. Eius nam quasi maxime laudantium quaerat quis.

Omnis facere debitis ut ratione. Rerum magnam nam voluptatem nesciunt dolor et unde. Non modi in commodi omnis.

Libero reprehenderit pariatur id quos. Minus qui debitis consequatur vero iure incidunt. Veniam quidem tenetur illum omnis dolore. Aut quo aut rerum libero ut. Enim dolor rerum temporibus exercitationem accusamus ipsam rerum distinctio. Cum voluptas vel dolores et omnis. Id commodi ullam quia corporis.

 

Odio quia tempora esse veniam dolorem accusamus. Totam vero consectetur illum ut non et aut. Ea vel in nemo enim dolor eius molestiae. Et inventore et repudiandae voluptas quo magnam.

Ea et est nobis est qui quis. Nemo modi qui commodi non et incidunt. Eos asperiores corporis blanditiis ut molestiae. Fugiat exercitationem sapiente asperiores ut est ipsam. Ea nihil molestiae maxime veniam. Autem ad tempore ut repellendus quia minima unde eligendi.

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 98.2%
  • 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 (72) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
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...”