Q actually has the worst HR
This is for all of the future prospects out there. WSO has a rep of jerking off Q for being a god tier boutique: a lean team working on big deals. On paper, they’re crazy… a deal volume of a billion+ for ~60 heads is impressive don’t get me wrong.
However, I’ve had such an awful experience recruiting for them. And all of the analysts I’ve met from networking and even during the interviews are complete bots. No sense of humor and completely lack the aptitude to hold a conversation. One dude responded that a hobby of his includes reading through earning transcripts on his free time. Sure these guys are all phi beta kappa geniuses from UChicago, probably the only school they’re recruiting from this year too it seems like from the people I’ve met, but dear god how would anyone with a sane mind or any charisma fit in here?
Anyways whatever, my opinions on the analysts there subjective but Qatalyst’s HR department is objectively terrible. Idk if it’s with the volume of emails they’re getting but I was completely ghosted from my second technical earlier last month. Was told I was going to have a third a couple weeks ago and I have yet to hear back. Emailed recruiting, no response. Emailed the individual people who scheduled my interviews. No response. Emailed the MD who actually got me in touch with the executive person… no response. My emails are still sending though (they still haven’t blocked me like how other kids I know got dinged). That in itself is pretty ruthless and I’ve even heard stories from kids at other schools that all of the analysts and associates completely ignore their emails to begin with. No one from my school, an semi target, goes to Q, so the only idea of the culture I got from the firm was from the interviews/ a couple lucky connections.
If I’m dinged or not, this is beyond unprofessional.
Damn. Well I didn’t even hear back for first rounds 🤡
I don’t get analysts ignoring networking emails, especially if they’re alumni. Like I bet all of those kids networked their asses off too when they were recruiting — its in the name of the game
What’s funny is that bankers are happy to ignore student networking emails/ghosting people but an MD would become infuriated if a potential client treated them the same way.
I always take calls from kids from my alma mater. But just as an FYI, I've worked til 2am for the last week straight - and I've received 30+ networking emails in that timespan. I'd love to take every call, but when it comes down to taking a call with a kid I don't know from a different school sending template networking emails vs. me getting 6 hours of sleep instead of 5 I think the tradeoff becomes hard to justify. I want to help people but not at the expense of my health/well-being
I used to think the same as well and tried to help a lot of people - but the thing is you slowly get swamped by work so much that you dont have energy to network or talk to people, and therefore ghosting. I think anecdotally this is true because AN1 are most responsive compared to ASO1 (A2As). Just my 2 cents.
Q, along with FT Partners and Moelis, is known to be a sweatshop. They don’t need kids who can talk and hold conversations. They need kids who can handle the work and do it relatively accurately
Lol clearly, half the analyst class are phi beta kappas from UChicago
Keep your head up man, recruiting is a numbers game
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I do not work there
The University of Chicago is known as "The place where fun goes to die". What do you expect a firm with a pipeline to the school's culture is going to be like?
Since it’s such a small firm (only ~15 analysts), each employee is probably getting flooded with networking emails non-stop. I wouldn’t take it personally.
delete
Lol dude give it a rest. You don’t see the irony in calling the people at Qatalyst “bots” and then copy and pasting this cringey question?
That's weird, I've had the opposite experience. All the analysts I've talked to have been really cool and HR has been very responsive. I think they're just prioritizing the top performers in interviews but they understand not everyone will accept the offer so they're holding on to everyone else until they see what their offer yield is like. Hope is not lost, but don't hold your breath
Dude sometimes you just have to move on. Clearly they passed on you if they are not responding to your emails. Just admit that you didn’t do as well in your interviews as you thought and they moved on to the next guy. These spots are hard to get so I don’t know why you are taking this so personally. If you were a good candidate, there would be a lot more attention put on you. Such is life
I mean, in context, even getting a call from Q is impressive in my view.
I get that totally, but regardless. Blowing me off is unprofessional — if your Q or some no name boutique bank. These internships are high stakes that many have worked their entire lives for.
Let me know or at least keep me in the loop. Really don’t think an email will be that much of a bother to their lives… especially if its from HR who are literally tasked to keep up with emails
This. This is the nicest way to say it.
TLDR: She's not going to fuck you bro.
People have gotten a response from Qatalyst at all? Teach me your ways
Would agree on the not so great HR. Back in my undergrad days, they tried to schedule interviews for me when the interviewers were on vacation. Had to reschedule several times until they got the dates that interviewers would be back correct.
HR was quick about getting back to me for scheduling. Also disagree about the analysts. Had a first round last Friday and it flowed more like a conversation and I could tell the guy was a very chill down-to-earth person. Same as the other analyst I networked with. Super intelligent but humble. Have yet to hear back but I still have lots of respect for Qatalyst.
Working really long & stressful hours can change how you interview people and come off. When I was pulling crazy hours, the only thing I wanted to ask analyst candidates was how many folders they had in their outlook and what was on their Excel / PowerPoint quick access toolbar and why.
Disagree on the analysts
Analysts I talked to seemed fine, but I agree that HR could open up applications to more universities or set up coffee chats like several firms have been doing this year to both make the process more streamlined for the prospects and analysts, as well as to give more people access to the same opportunities, especially if they have a solid resume. In this case it seems like the HR doesn't want to do the work or stay on top of the game.
If they’re getting quality candidates they have little incentive to open up to other colleges. That’s why you should always network.
Q has the most secretive process on the street. Had a very similar experience this year... interviews were insanely technical, their comp is what it is for a reason.
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