I applied online and was contacted by a recruiter for a phone interview. In the beginning the recruiter was very friendly as he explained the details about the company and the job in particular. A few questions into it, he changed his pleasant tone when discussing my financial modeling experience - I have some experience and it is supplemented by business school coursework as well. I was honest and provided solid examples of the modeling projects I have worked on, but it was clear that he was looking for a particular set of examples and was turned off by this. The rest of the interview was just standard Q&A, no more friendly recruiter. I admit I was surprised when I received a rejection email a few days later. It was more surprising given IAS' self-promotion as a welcoming hub of innovation and learning. Clearly - there is a big disconnect between what is desirable versus what is required. A candidate that meets 95% of qualifications but has a strong work ethic is worth more than a unicorn.