Sigh -- Graduated without any IB internship, tough luck even getting interviews for IB, not getting pass the interviews I get, networking has brought me limited success. But I really want to do this...
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Hang in there man...
Yea man just hang in there. It's a brutal market right now but it looks like you are doing things the right way. Just keep at it. There are thousands of banks out there and It only takes one.
it happens, plenty of people are in your spot so keep on working it
what did u study in college ? how was ur gpa ? can you put together a model ?
Agreed man its a bitch
I had 10 interviews ranging from Goldman Sachs to Piper Jaffray. Only 2 superdays, I know how you feel...just study up and know your shiz and pray the guy at the other end of the table likes you.
I agree man, I just blew an interview yesterday...but that was only in the last 5 minutes so I hope the first 15 they liked me. But its freaking tough...Keep trying those botiques
How did you mess up? Tricky technical question or fit? What was the question? As we are all going through multiple interviews in the next few weeks, I think we should put together all of the toughest questions we have been asked together because like Patrick said there are only so many things to ask and so many ways to ask it.
op whats ur gpa and major?
You've been unemployed since May?
Thanks all for the encouragement! All the best for all those in the pursuit too!
Two degrees with a major in Finance, 3.7 out of 4.0, and I used to be able to put a model together but have gotten rusty with the lack of use (hence totally blasting the most recent interview. My bad.) Thanks for the reminder, it's probably something I need to work on. BIG TIME. NOW! :)
3.7 from where? Ken State?
Internships?
ECs?
yeah, I can tell you in 2002 it was no cake-walk either. I probably resume dropped for 35 places, was interviewed by 15, superdays at 3 and landed 1 (one of the LAST interviews I went on). What did I learn from that?
I should have been MUCH more prepared going into recruiting season. I really had NO CLUE about IBD, but they weren't grilling me on technicals because I was at Williams College (would have been pointless to grill me on technicals since I was an Econ major and had no Finance background). So it was basically, who could put together the best Behavioral responses together. I am a fairly confident guy so I felt like I could know my resume, go in there and do well. WRONG! I should have practiced a lot more.
Anyway, my point in that you don't realize how much you can improve your interview skills with practice. By the time I was interviewing with Rothschild, I had interviewed with ~14 other banks / consulting firms, had multiple rounds with several of them and probably had "told my story" OVER 100 times (I remember at a Goldman superday I had about 10 back-to-back interviews, most of which were 2 on 1s). The difference between my early interviews and my last ones was night and day. I was a complete machine by the end -- I knew what I was going to say before the interviewer had even finished each question. Why? because after a while, there are only so many ways someone can ask the same question. After going through the same story 30 times, you really are on auto pilot, and you can focus on other intangibles like eye contact, body language, etc. which can have a HUGE impact on your success.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE....I can't emphasize enough how much more important this is than studying and knowing every possible technical interview question. In order to "ace" an interview, the Fit questions also have to be polished and you have to be likable... people who tend to be friendly (SMILE), confident (eye contact, firm handshake) and comfortable do best in the likability category. This is NOT a multiple choice test, it is an interaction with another human being. We offer mock interview services through our Wall Street Mentors program now, but if you don't want to spend the $ on that, then MAKE SURE you find a good friend to practice with over and over again.
Good Luck! Patrick
delete
@Zona82
Love that fighting spirit!
I have applied to 62 firms (and counting) this season, firms that I believe I actually have a chance to get into, aka no GS, MS, etc. I will be graduating in May next year. I followed the M&I resume and cover letter format closely.
I have gotten 2 interviews, both came as a result of prior networking. I screwed up one interview b/c I misunderstood a technical question completely, the interview was over by the time I realized that. I haven't heard back from the other firm yet, but I don't have much hope.
62 Applied, 2 phone interviews.
I come from a non-target school, but I have pretty good work experiences in related industries; rare experiences for someone in my position. Yet, I have no idea why I can' t even get a phone screen.
That came out a lot more depressing than I expected
If you have applied directly online that is why you are not getting interviews. You need to find a way in and talk to someone on the phone and have them forward your resume.
I too go to a complete nontarget and have only applied / gotten my resume forwarded to 6 firms and have three interviews including one superday already. I have a subpar gpa for banking let alone a nontarget, but am lucky to have a few solid internships. One of the interviews I received was from emailing someone that went to a school down the street from me and asking to network. Another interview I received from emailing a 2nd connection on Linkedin who is an MD at a top MM. I never would have thought these non alumni would have gotten back to me, but I now have interviews after chatting with them on the phone for 15 minutes and sending a few emails back and forth. Instead of applying on a firms website, use your time and energy sending out networking emails to anyone you can possibly establish some sort of connection with and then just cold email and say you want to learn more about their firm. First exhaust your alumni network (mine is tiny) then find other people you can connect with. It is a numbers game when it comes to networking and all you need is one person to help you out.
Best of luck to everyone going through recruiting right now.
Does this apply to positions that are posted on a campus career website? If the companies do OCR and interview on campus do you still think that applying through the career center is not effective? I am interpreting what you are saying as "it is not effective to just apply online on the company's website". Is that what you meant?
Trust me fellas, if you knew how much banking actually sucks, you wouldn't feel so bad about not getting in.
^ Yeah, I know what you are saying, I applied through some form of a contact for ~10 of them. I guess I will have a better picture at the end of the year.
Good Luck to Everyone as well....
No, I am sure that's fine for OCR. I am talking about my situation and I believe the Op's as well coming from nontargets with no OCR.
Shortmycdo...I was being grilled on work expereince and I mean grilled. I got kinda flustered and I was asked about terminal value in the valuation models I did. I was asked for the definition of terminal value and said the value of a company at the end of all cashflows...Now I know to stay calmer, think clearly, and nail the next interview
Not to toot my own horn, but there are services out there designed to help individuals on the cusp finally break into the industry. I generally don't like to spam to this degree but some of you in this topic may find our services useful: www.wallstinsiders.com
Sometimes a little inside perspective can turn the "no" to "yes"
Best, Kevin
yeah, or you could use our service which has 40+ talented Wall Street executives with detailed bios right here... http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/wall-street-mentors-and-career-coaching
yeah, or you could use our service which has 40+ talented Wall Street executives with detailed bios right here... http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/wall-street-mentors-and-career-coaching[…]
Owned lol
Another week of interviews coming up for all, go get em this week monkeys!
thank you guys. what would i do without you, wso.
You'd watch more porn hoopa just like the rest of us (and the majority of the SEC)
I feel for you man. I'm getting increasingly concerned that all my efforts won't pay off. I have a total of 5 interviews (one BB, four solid MM's), already made it to the Superday at the BB and did round 1 for a MM but don't I haven't heard back from either yet (MM was last Wed and superday at BB was last Fri), though frankly at this point I don't feel like I'll be moving on for either. Also, A lot of the banks seem to have already made selections for interviews too so I don't know if I'll be able to land any more interviews so I'm getting scared I won't be able to land an offer, especially with only three shots left.
In terms of networking I sent out 1-2k emails and spoke to 100-200 people on the phone just to put myself in the position I am in for the interviews. Not to mention I've read all the guides tons of times and done probably over 40 mocks to prep. Just getting increasingly frustrated and worried.
GL to my fellow monkeys.
Fuck it, lets start our own investment bank,
Wall Street Oasis & Co we will make BB in no time
Man if I continue being jobless like this I'm gonna go nuts.
hoopa, listen to Anthony on this one, get what you can and leverage that into connections etc. Its always easier to get a job when you have a job my man
My suggestion is to quit whining like a little bitch. Bust ass until you make it. If you let it show that you can get so discouraged people are really to going to not enjoy working with you. We all get beat down, but you have to learn to man up, otherwise nobody will want to work with you.
Hey hoopa,
I feel ya. Coming from a non-target, I know how much more it takes to get the offer.
To sum up what ppl have said above:
And it really just takes one person to help you out.
Good luck.
if at first you don't succeed, try try again
hahahaa
You're right, guys.
Bust my ass, I shall.
You'll get in eventually unless you're a tool. If you find some guys that you really click with, they'll pick you up even if your school isn't "prestigious" and your GPA isn't perfect. Yes, even BBs if you network well and can get the interview. Sometimes the 4.0s from MIT are straight terrible and a firm will only take so many of them as they are doomed to execution for their whole career as a banker. Some groups/firms are looking for people that are normal and down to earth. Others thrive on smelling their own ass. There's a place for everyone.
Still nothing. Not even interviews. I guess I'm a tool afterall.
i think you should start your own bank and sell lemonade stands in the neighborhood
Yeah, it'd be a front for my drug peddling business.
Keep going man. I struck out again and again. I had like 4 interviews (only 2 finance ones even bothered to look at me), actually almost became an ad agency person but then got dinged in round 5/5. Somehow I landed a gig as an analyst at a HF due to the whimsy of our lawyer and a PM. Honestly, it's mostly luck getting past the screen. That said, there's always a better strategy, so try and network your way in!
EDIT: I wish my fund had the budget to hire the guys who have had less luck as interns :(. As someone who has felt the hopelessness, I really feel for you guys.
Thanks for the encouragement, FinancePun. Appreciate it. :)
see PM.
see pm
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