Senior MD agrees to a phone interview, doesn't answer

Cold-emailed an MD on tuesday for a chat and he replied quickly and said I could call him on his direct thursday or Friday.

I replied back thanking him, and I suggested I would call 9:30 A.M. He didn't reply so I assumed he got the message and expected a 9:30 AM call.

Thursday: Called at 9:30- voicemail- left a message
Called at 9:45-voicemail again

I emailed him, saying I was unable to reach his direct and said I would try again Friday (he read this email at 10:25, have banantag)

Friday: Called at 9:30-- voicemail
Called at 10:30-- voicemail

Should I just move on? I have to mention that it is possible to meet up with him as his office is not that far (NYC), but 4 unanswered calls?

 

I would not lose hope and abandon the opportunity. Keep in mind this is a holiday weekend (Labor Day). No offense to you or your candidacy, but taking an intro call is probably very low on his priority list before heading out for the 3-day weekend (especially true at the MD level, but generally applies to everyone at a bank). My recommendation is to send him another message early next week asking if there is a good time you two can speak on the phone. You can gently remind him your tried his direct line multiple times the previous week.

On a side-note as some general recruiting advice: going forward you should not assume times you propose for phone calls will work with bankers' schedules because they don't respond. Silence does not mean "yes." I understand you probably have the best intentions in trying to actually get these people on the phone, but some may take it the wrong way if you continue attempting to call them after proposing times and not confirming those times actually work with their schedules.

 

Ah forgot about Labor Day. I know suggesting times and just straight up calling them is a bit rude, but got chewed out by a pwm MD before ,because I suggested a time and she didn't respond. i thought it was a rejection until i got an email that she was waiting for my call for 20 minutes. Will take note in the future, thank you RX

 
Best Response

That person is an anomaly. Any rational individual knows that without an explicit confirmation, no time for a meeting or call is considered on the books. That confirm could be as simple as "Yes" / "Y" / "Ok" / "Good" or any other incredibly simple affirmation, but it needs to exist.

Banish that data point from your mind. She's a nut. Unfortunately it led you to a faux pas here. No one's going to look favorably on the kid who called twice on two days (leaving four voicemails total) when they never even agreed to speak.

You may have sunk this one irrevocably. My read is that the guy is someone who respects hustle (quick initial reply), so while you've demonstrated Asperger's-level unawareness of social decorum, if you still felt compelled to proceed, you could do so by following up with an email on Wednesday (give him time to get back into the groove after the holiday) mentioning that you'd love to speak if he has any time free. Hopefully he replies. If not, try calling him again Thursday afternoon (without ever leaving a voicemail again).

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

Agree with APAE, that is an anomaly. If you do not get a response, I would email closer to the time to confirm that the time you mentioned suits. Word it nicely, something along the lines of you don't want to disturb them if they're busy. MDs always have something more important on their mind than a student who cold emailed them.

I would chill with the calling them at a time you offer. Let them reply and call them then. If they don't reply, follow up a few days later checking what time suits. Alternatively, check if you can schedule a time with their PA. This has worked for me in the past. It means the MD doesn't need to check what time suits them and if it falls through, you can reschedule with the PA which is a much easier process.

 

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