GUEST COMMENT: I'm sorry, but banks' graduate recruitment practices aren't fair
If you're reading this, I know you'll probably think I'm just another student who wanted to get into investment banking, but didn't make the grade. That may be the case, but as far as I'm concerned I'm more than good enough to get into banking - it's banks' recruitment practices that are the problem.
I'm an Ivy League student and have been applying for jobs at banks in London. At Citi, I made it through to the final round for a graduate position. On the day of the assessment centre I was the only one of five candidates who was asked to sit an additional test and go through an additional interview. In the end, I didn't get the job and I'm gutted.
I feel that I was unfairly treated. I also get the impression that I'm not the only one who feels this way.
For your information, I have very strong academics, both at university, and A-Level (A* and A only). At A level, for example, I achieved four As (Economics, Politics, Maths, Further Maths).
I have always been interested in Economics and Mathematics, and so a career in the Financial Services was the natural choice.
In addition, I have always thought 'out of the box', chosen the unknown path, because I wanted to prove myself.
When I was in Lower 6th, I decided I wanted to apply to an Ivy League school in the USA. For that, I had to work extremely hard and prepare for the British A-Level exams, while studying for the American SATs. Anyone will tell you that these two types of examinations are totally different in the way they assess and measure knowledge and intellectual ability. Furthermore, Economics and Politics are not on the SATs subject list, as they are considered 'regional', and therefore 'unmeasurable'. So, I had to up my Physics in order to take it at SAT level.
Despite this, my results were exceptional and I was offered a place to go to a US Ivy League University.
These were my SAT results out of 800:
SAT I - 1525 - Math: 760 / Verbal: 765
SAT II - Math IIC: 780, Physics: 740, Writing: 760
Nevertheless, I find myself rejected from the one bank which took me through to the final round - and with little indication of their reasoning. To my mind this is unfair. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone else who's bemused about banks' recruitment practices as I am.
