Networking with MD, rejected before an interview. What do I do?

So I was in touch with an MD and he asked me to forward him my resume as well as to put it through normal channels (OCR), and just yesterday (weird on a saturday), a day after submitting it online I got a rejection email.

I'm wondering how to even approach this. He told me he'd get me an interview and I got a rejection email literally hours after putting it through online. Do I email him back? Email the HR lady that sent the email? It's weird because the application deadline isn't even till January and for some reason I'm already rejected. My GPA is below the cutoff stated online, but I told the MD my GPA and all my experience before hand, but this is the only reason I can think of.

I'm a sophomore so it's not a big deal if I don't land anything. But at the same time I don't know if the MD just thinks I'm a clown and don't know whether I should reach out to him again in the future. It's just embarrassing talking to him again after having gotten rejected even without an interview.

What do you guys think?

24 Comments
 
leveredarb
W.BeachEmail him back. He's not going to kill your firstborn over an email.
yeah he is gonna kill your 1st 2nd and 4th born instead!
4 kids? Are you catholic?
 

I don't mean to sound like an idiot, but I ran into him by pure luck and the reason I'm hesitant to email him back because an HR lady called me literally 10 minutes after I emailed him my resume and asked me to resubmit my application online with my grades and reminded me they have a 3.5GPA cut off and it's an incredibly competitive applicant pool...

Can an MD have any input on this? I don't want to sound annoying and turn him off when I really need the position next summer. If he sees me as a dumb, annoying sophomore I'm worried it'll screw me over for next summer.

what is your gpa?

"Look, you're my best friend, so don't take this the wrong way. In twenty years, if you're still livin' here, comin' over to my house to watch the Patriots games, still workin' construction, I'll fuckin' kill you. That's not a threat, that's a fact.
 

I'd imagine that the system auto-processed your resume and gave you the rejection because of your GPA. If you sent your resume to the MD directly, he should be able to "override" the system. Continue to work through him.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

You weren't rejected. That was just a stupid system email. Resubmit online and stay in touch with the HR person and that is all you have to do--trust me you are guaranteed a first round interview.

I once got a rejection email from DB while I was on the phone with HR setting up travel arrangements for the same exact position.

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

Thanks guys! The HR lady even told me I have till Monday to reapply with my GPA in tact. My GPA is a 3.1 which is far below banking cutoffs but I've had experience at a boutique, in PWM and a ton of ECs. But I guess that's why I was worried.

I'll call the HR lady tomorrow and keep you guys posted on how things go.

 
SemitargetThanks guys! The HR lady even told me I have till Monday to reapply with my GPA in tact. My GPA is a 3.1 which is far below banking cutoffs but I've had experience at a boutique, in PWM and a ton of ECs. But I guess that's why I was worried.

I'll call the HR lady tomorrow and keep you guys posted on how things go.

I don't know if I would call the HR lady w/o letting the MD know that you were auto-dinged. If he knew your GPA was below the cut-off he must have known you would be auto-dinged, though I am sure it slipped his mind. I would get in contact with him - a short, to the point e-mail or phone call w/o sounding desperate / whinny - and remind him that your GPA is below the cut-off and that you had been auto-dinged.

 

I had an internship with a company and had somebody high up (think VP) recommend me for their full-time program, but was rejected during the on-campus interview. I talked to the HR lady and told her so-and-so is recommending me internally, and she was super apologetic and embarassed. I got a call later that day scheduling my interview. Don't bother the MD - go to HR.

 

Going straight to the HR lady & dropping the MD's name makes you look like a spoiled kid who isn't willing to work hard (GPA). Have the MD take care of this so he can say something like "this kid is real bright, I know he has a bad GPA, but I think he has what it takes and will pull that GPA up" ...... rather than you as the applicant, unknown to the HR lady saying whatever and it coming off to her as ...." I'm a rich kid who knows an MD in this firm and I am getting special treatment w/o having to work hard as a result".

Two very different impressions you will start off with at the firm, at least in the eyes of HR and anyone else who deals with getting you passed the auto-ding.

 

I wouldn't want to draw the negative attention to myself though. I don't think you would necessarily sound like a spoiled kid to HR if you told her the situation of what is going on if it is done in the correct way. It all depends on tone. The MD is a super busy individual and you want to make sure the only thought in his brain is that you are the best, most qualified candidate, despite flaws in your resume. I would not keep bringing your flaws into light. Yes, it is important to keep a good relationship with HR, but your relationship with the MD is more important.

 

Should I wait a couple of days first because I sent in the application on Friday, so it's possible the MD hasn't even been able to 'pass it' along to HR, while they may have solely seen my online application and dinged me based on that.

 
Best Response

If the MD said he would get you an interview and you get automatically dinged and wind up on the phone with HR, you need to get back in contact with that MD immediately. You can't wait a couple of days and then casually drop a note, you should have been very surprised when you got auto-dinged and should have taken that surprise to the MD immediately!

I mean come on!! That is not just for interviews that is for everything in life. If you bought a brand new car and the dealership said the wheels won't fall off for at least 3 weeks and then the wheels fall off after one day, you freakin call the dealership and let them know immediately! You don't casually piddle around for a couple of days and then take your surprise to them.

If you want it go get it. If he told you X and Y happened you have to let him know! Otherwise you are going to look like you don't care all that much.

 

This happened to me applying for a SA position in IBD last year, had a guaranteed interview through networking with head of global investment banking but my gpa was too low, got dinged by HR, sent him an email saying I appreciate your assistance and information etc but didn't get an interview, thank you anyway for your help etc.

He emailed me back saying that there must have been a mix up, HR called me the next day and arranged an interview. Maybe being more direct would be better but this is an option if you don't want to ask again

 

So, the MD just replied back saying "Thanks for the resume, best of luck with the job search."

What is he trying to say? Best of luck with the job search elsewhere? Or wait a few days and I'll have you an interview?

 

Mind me bumping in, but I have the same credentials as you pretty much although I am a sophomore now (IB last summer and want to do PWM this summer--already have one lined up) Would you do the PWM? Or would you do something else. I am considering it for a career option, but I don't want to screw myself

I banana back
 

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