Hi,
I often read about networking and coffee chats being essential for investment banking recruiting. Is this equally important for London, Frankfurt and other European offices? Can networking realistically improve your chances of getting an interview or is it mainly useful for learning more about the firm?
Thanks in advance!
Absolutely, yes. Most candidates underinvest in this area. It helps you to:
i) "smoothing" the process, increasing your chances to get the invitation (even if no one will ever post that somewhere officially) as well as on the. If done right, you will have people forwarding your application to the respective BUM (Business Unit Manager), Staffer, MD or Group head. You will ideally get to talk to or at least hear first-hand intel about the people that are going to interview you...
ii) content front - i.e. you get to ask them all the Qs you will be asked later in the process, esp. behaviorals/important ones that you can use to develop your own answers (why banking, why not PE, why boutique vs. bulge, why XYZ industry group, coverage vs. M&A, etc.). Also on the deal front, what is the respective group busy with, who are the rainmakers, what kind of deals are they seeing, etc.
