Hi all, I got recommended for a PPO after an my internship with T1 firm earlier this year. I recieved great overall feedback from the team including the partner during my time there. Had my PPO interview with a seperate partner some time back and got to know through someone who spoke to that partner that they recommended me for hiring. I was in contact with my mentor and associates I worked with throughout this time and they always gave a positive response whenever I followed up, even assuring the team is trying to get it converted.

Despite all this, I recently was recently informed by a senior in the team that after speaking to the partner, they can't extend an offer as the team isn't hiring (I was told otherwise explicitly) and the HR is also being difficult about it at this stage.

This came as quite the shocker and I'm left hopeless as I don't have any other options. I know the reason they gave might not be exactly that but is this a common thing? Any tips on what to do ahead? I've been cold mailing partners and firms ever since then but have had no responses. Any advice is appreciated as I'm losing my mind with every passing day. Thanks all

Many times people are well intentioned and make all the right noises, but things don't go as they'd originally thought or said because not everything is in their control. I empathize with you. There's no point losing your mind. Just do everything you can to get something else. Best of luck.

To be blunt, don't dwell on it too much but they just decided to go another way. Whether it's hiring someone else they thought was a better fit (or in many cases, from a better contact), or maybe they genuinely decided to not hire. This is very common especially in the more toxic teams, I've seen it happen numerous times and the reason you're hearing this excuse shows you how spineless the team would've been.

Keep your head high and keep grinding. There'll be tons of vacancies across T1s in the coming few months, you'll land a better opportunity for sure. Best of luck!