Confused and tired: a junior applying for SA position

I am a junior at a semi-target school, with a 3.8 GPA, many extracurricular activities (president/exec board member of several organizations) and several financial internships (but no ibd internship). I have attended several diversity recruitment events early this year and started networking in summer. Recently, I luckily got invited to first-round interviews of some BB and boutiques. However, what depresses me is that I was rejected in all first-round interviews I have done. I prepared very hard before every interview, but my preparation obviously wasn't effective. As I receive more rejections, I become more and more confused and worried. I don't want to let opportunities running away, but I really don't know what I can do to improve.

What did I do wrong? Any advices?

 
Best Response

You will never know why an interviewer dings you. It could be they hated your face or found you annoying. Unless you gave a wrong answer, which seems highly likely. For my ibd interviews, I had everything prepared, I had a former BB banker grill me as if he were interviewing me, and I was dinged after most first rounds. I was confused, so I went to another friend in IB, and he said my technicals were good. He then asked the 'why IBD' question, to which I answered 'I want to break into PE.' That was all they needed to hear to ding me. Point is: practice interviewing with multiple past bankers. They'll be able to tell what's up.

 

I know this seems like a huge deal, but you are only a junior. Just keep looking and preparing the same way you are. Just be yourself in interviews and stop trying to be who you think they want you to be. I was the same as you last year when I was preparing for my interviews. I knew all the questions and studied extremely hard for all, but once I started being myself, I started getting second round interviews and eventually offers. Don't be disgruntled. You can do this.

CBV
 

I know this seems like a huge deal, but you are only a junior. Just keep looking and preparing the same way you are. Just be yourself in interviews and stop trying to be who you think they want you to be. I was the same as you last year when I was preparing for my interviews. I knew all the questions and studied extremely hard for all, but once I started being myself, I started getting second round interviews and eventually offers. Don't be disgruntled. You can do this.

 

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