Week 38: February 8, 2025 | |
Regrouping after rejection | |
Andrea,
I still remember the first time I was turned down for a job at business school. Here I was, spending more money than I had ever earned, at Chicago Booth, having been told a multitude of times how eager employers were to hire me. The job market was strong, my friends and family thought I walked on water, yet BCG “dinged” me.
We get it. Whether it's a relationship, a leadership role, or a job - being told you're not what they want is hard.
This week, our goal is to lift you up, and remind you that MBA students find awesome opportunities all the time (if you are already on cloud nine, awesome!). We will also share examples that we hope will inspire you and help you to take actionable steps towards your long-term goals. For instance, if internships aren't working out the way you'd hoped, let’s work together to move forward. Some of the most successful MBA students we've ever seen have faced early challenges like coming through the main recruiting push without a single offer.
Also, please forward this to friends. You’ll be surprised how much some of your peers are struggling with something at the moment (hint: it is likely more than half of them)… it can sometimes help to simply know that you’re not alone.
We’re here to help and to cheer you on,
The 100 Week Sprint team
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Got 5 minutes? Identify one thing that went well in an interview, and one thing that you could work on.
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Got 30 minutes? Give yourself space - take time to do something relaxing, then prepare to press on in the recruiting process.
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Got an hour? Spend time creating a Plan B, C, etc. Use ProValues to explore other available opportunities.
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Five steps to regroup
Here are some tips to help you regroup and get back on track.
1. Relax & recharge
We know you’ve probably already done this, but if not, take the time you need to relax and recharge. Go on a run or to the gym; treat yourself to dinner at a restaurant you enjoy; spend a night in watching your favorite movie – whatever it may be, spend time doing something you enjoy! Distracting yourself for a couple of hours will leave you refreshed and prepared to aggressively tackle challenges.
2. Figure out why (to a point)
After taking some time and space to think, regroup and start investigating areas to improve. A few ways to begin:
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If struggling to get interviews, talk to career services or set up a call with us. There may be macroeconomic trends impacting the job market that MBA students generally experience first, or the need to better adapt your skills and story to the new industry you’re targeting.
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If struggling with interviews, take a quick look at our “what not to do” tips. Did you find yourself saying “umm…” more than usual? Were there some awkward moments where it wasn’t clear who should be speaking? Interrupt your interviewer at any point? Forget to smile? Keep practicing so that you are more comfortable in interviews. it will also help you avoid dwelling on the past.
- Are you sure that your research was up to snuff? When you were asked about industry trends, or company-specific information, were you confident that your answers were well thought out and informed? Alternatively, was your question overly-targeted or niche?
- If you went through case interviews, did you find yourself startled by a question?
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A special note re: following up with potential employers to get feedback: if you had a decent rapport with the people who did your interview, you may want to reach out to them directly and ask for feedback about what you could have done differently. That is completely appropriate and advised. However, many recruiters have mentioned that candidates do themselves a disservice if they follow-up repeatedly asking for more feedback. So, don’t pester anybody 😉
3. Maintain relationships you developed
Do you feel you made some meaningful connections during the interview process (i.e. did anyone from the firm suggest you reapply next year?) In addition to helping you identify why you may not have gotten this specific job, keeping up relationships with the folks you met during the process may help you to successfully land in that organization next year or even uncover other compelling opportunities. This equally includes partners and senior leaders, as well as employees who are only a year or two out from their own MBA.
Appropriate ways to reach out include:
- Dropping them an email to let them know where you’ll be during the summer once you secure your internship
- If you are in the same city (or traveling to their city) – emailing to see if they are available for coffee
- Inviting them to speak at an industry event or otherwise get involved at school.
- Make a note in your calendar to send them a very brief update every three or four months of how things are going, both in your internship and at school.
4. Be clear on Plan B
Many MBA students have ended up pursuing opportunities that were somewhat (or sometimes very) different than what they had planned on before they started school. One client had his heart set on trading, only to do equity research post-graduation and win several awards. Another bounced around some media startups before joining the C-suite of a tech unicorn. More broadly, a recent survey of second-year students showed 54% of them did not intern in their target industry or function. So, you’re not alone!
There are many paths that will lead to your longer-run success; don’t worry if your preferred plan doesn’t work out right away. Leverage our ProValues exercise to explore other options that might be right for you. Perhaps you’ll find that a different role is what you are really looking for!
5. Pitch your enthusiasm for Plan B
Once you identify Plan B, make sure that you can show recruiters that you are fully on board with it – we can help you with a pitch to show your enthusiasm. That means doing as much or more research than you did for Plan A. Plan B may have some exciting opportunities that you never would have considered before Plan A fell through!
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Want more support?
This is a big investment you’re making, and it’s going to pay off. To maximize that payoff, we offer several options that will help you stay on track with your goals, navigate the stresses of school, and help you land a role right for you:
If you or your classmates are interested in any of these programs, let us know.
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