I have recently applied to, and accepted an offer from many MC grad schemes. I really learnt alot about the whole HR recruitment process. Recently, I thought that I did fairly well in a couple of interviews, although received a couple of rejections. Fair enough.Now compared to the interviews in which I bombed, the HR feedback was much more positive on these, and they stressed that I would be encouraged to apply to the firm in a year or so.Is this just politeness, or is this something that they genuinally mean? Should I take this at face value?

It means "go away kid, we've given you your answer so don't even think about bothering us on the phone"Apply again in a year? a) they won't remember you so have no real way of excluding you at this stage anyway, b) they know you'll be doing something else by then, c) if you are all that bothered, then you must really really want to work there.It's the HR equivalent of "let's just be friends".