i just dont get it

Keep interviewing.

Just show the passion and excitement for the job. smile the whole time and let them know how bad you want it. if you're qualified (which you seem like you are) you're going to have to bring the intangibles and persistency to the table. don't let them tell you no.

interviews were very conversational and i built good relationship with my interviewers the whole time. yet they just tell me that i didnt stand out as much as some of the other candidates. so i am just not sure what else i can do. has anyone been in this situation? its not like im socially awkward or anything.

yeah. i thought i was going to get an offer for sure since i had so many interviews lined up. but im just not sure what to do now knowing i got my face slammed so many times in so many places.

and it sucks. a bunch of that is based on sheer luck, and the interviewers you get. I'm sure you're not doing anything wrong, you may just not click well (enough) with some of your interviewers. In the end, it's usually like 30 people fighting for 5 to 10 spots.

It happened a few times to me as well when I went through FT recruiting, and in the end it all worked out alright.

how are boutique firms viewed by other investment banking firms and how is your experience at a smaller shop valued at relative to bankers that worked at bigger names?

the sheer fact that you're getting final round interviews means they like you and think that you're qualified. The job market is awful, and most banks that recruit from targets are only taking the number of analysts they absolutely must to maitain their relationship with the school. Keep plugging away and you'll find something.

i'm at a BB. I was talking about BB interviews, didn't interview with any boutiques.

Keep in mind interviews are relative, too. You are being compared to other candidates, and if they stand out more than you, unfortunately they're going to get the offer. There probably isn't anything wrong with your interviews, it's just that there are other people who are simply better.

Also, a lot of banks probably overhired for their summer classes (back when the market still looked good) and a lot of summers probably jumped on their offers in anticipation of slower full-time recruiting, so generally there are just fewer spots available.

Its like many things in life:

If you are the type that allows others to define you based upon your car, clothes, firm or other aesthetics, than you will probably want some BB bling on your CV. If you have the charisma to carry your own amongst the most elite in any field, you can walk into a room wit a B.A. from Idaho State and an analyst gig with Indersky & Friends, LLC and still command attention.

Be a f-ing individual -and naturally, charm their pants off...

some of the kids from my alma mater who interned at my bank this summer are complete idiots. but they are the most charming, charismatic ppl you will ever meet, and in the end got offers b/c ppl liked them a lot.

I think that chalking it up to charm is being a little unfair.

From interviewing at several schools recently, here is how I would put it. You interview a room, of say 10-12 people. Of these, probably about 4-6 do well enough technically and appear to be sane and personable enough to do at least fine in the job.

Then other factors come in that are really much more abstract to decide between the remaining candidates. If the candidate gets an offer will they accept? Do they fit into the culture? One that gets a lot of people is showing that you are relatively well rounded. Hint: When asked what you do in your spare time, saying you research companies or read the wall street journal is not a good answer.

A good example maybe asking questions about pop culture. Although its not really important to the job, analysts at my bank gossip about pop culture. Someone that does not pay attention to it would surely be just as good (if not better) at the job, but they would not fit in with the other analysts and would be much more likely to leave early. Is it fair? No. But when you have 4-6 people that all deserve to move on, it’s inherently unfair anyway.

u need to be strategically inflated

Maybe by standout, you should stand up when speaking. It brings out the voice.

Maybe when you try to make a joke, you should make it funny. It makes people laugh.

Markets are pretty tough

The "smartest" guys I know sound like stuttering Tom with there esoterik gibberish. There's IQ and then theres EQ; the goal is as someone noted earlier to be genuinely well rounded and articulate that.

Here's some advice, read both the WSJ and SI, watch CNBC and ESPN -it's playoff season.

College sports. Very big deal.