Networking per firm

Hi there,

I would not optimise for a specific number of people per firm. The right amount of networking is however much it takes for you to feel that you genuinely understand the firm from the inside.

I would use networking for a few different purposes:

• Decide whether you actually want to work there. Understand the people, culture, type of work and day to day reality, not just what is written on the website.

• Understand how the firm works internally. Staffing, teams, development, office dynamics, sectors or practices that are particularly relevant to you.

• Understand the recruiting process. What interviews are really like, what tends to differentiate strong candidates and what you should pay particular attention to when preparing.

• Build at least one relationship you genuinely trust. Ideally, you eventually have someone whose judgement you value and who knows you well enough to give you reliable advice when you enter the process.

I also like having different perspectives across seniority levels. A junior consultant may give you the clearest view of the day to day experience and recent recruiting process, while more senior people can give you a different perspective on development, expectations and the direction of the firm.

But I would not put an artificial ceiling on networking either. If conversations continue to be useful, there is little downside to meeting more people. You may learn something completely unrelated to the immediate application, build relationships that become useful later, or simply discover a different perspective on the firm.

On how long to network with each person, I would not overthink that either. Some conversations will naturally become stronger relationships than others. If you connect well with someone, keep that relationship alive. If the conversation is useful but there is no particular connection, that is perfectly fine too.

So the principle I would use is quality over quantity, but without turning networking into a quota. Stop worrying about whether you have contacted enough people and ask instead: Do I understand this firm well enough, and do I have people inside whose perspective I genuinely trust?

Best,
Carlos