How to get the MD to push your resume
Mod Note (Andy): You can read his ongoing Q&A here: "BB Operations MD Q&A"
We all know that the best person to push your resume for a internship at a BB is the MD. We have a high amount of authority and really can get someone in who might have less than stellar experience or some mediocre state school and/or poor grades.
How you want to convince the MD starts with the introduction of yourself. Make sure your linkedin and resume are solid (ie wear a suit in your profile picture) and check for any discrepancies between what you put on your resume and linkedin profile. Create a template cold-email and send it off to a couple analysts first to test the waters. I highly recommend you befriend someone who is a English major to help with any issues you didn't catch when you made the template. Try to send emails to the MD who has a common interest or affiliation.
Once you have set up a time and day to talk or meet you can start practicing what you would like to ask. Don't ask obscure questions or irrelevant questions that don't relate to their job or interests. You can have a cheat sheet if you are on the phone so you won't go off topic. You can also add simple reminders for any technicals you know that may surprise the MD who may not think you know as much yet.
When the call is over you should email them periodically (ie not every 2 days) to keep them updated and/or interested with how things are going. I don't want someone to network with me and then email/call me 6 or more months later asking for a job.
Read about how to be persuasive and friendly to people of authority and don't act in awe of the MD. We're just like everyone else you will ever meet. Unless the MD is a complete tool I don't think feeding his ego will work. NEVER lie to a MD. Doing this is probably the easiest way for me never to speak to you again. It's one thing to stretch your experience but if you put investment experience on your resume but can't explain p/e ratios you will be finished by the MD.
When recruiting season comes up and you just applied for the BB internship online, try to play dumb and ask the MD if he knows anyone who can push your resume for the spot. If you've already known him for a while it will make things much easier. He will probably push your resume for you if there's a solid connection.
(PS: Cold-calling for local firms will work better. They're more likely to be excited that you're interested in them.)
+1 silver banana for helpful post
+1 monkey poo for mentioning "MD" 10 times in one post
MD MD MD MD MD MD MD MD MD MD
What would one say in the periodic emails after a call/meeting? I always struggle with this part as I feel like I don't have much of a reason to follow up. What would count as something worth updating them about, or what are other ways that could make an email worthwhile?
A new role or award you earned that is relatable or relevant to the job. Perhaps you guys both played football, you could mention being named an academic All-American.
Thanks for your reply. I can't see this as something that will happen frequently enough though? For example, for me the only relevant new role I have taken on this year is joining an investment club on campus. However this is something I've already brought up during networking calls. Even with your example, that is only a once-a-year affair. Can someone really keep getting new roles or awards at intervals of 6 months or less?
I Believe conversations should be about giving and receiving value, in any kind of form. i usually get along with middle aged men (less with young analysts for some reason) but still don't see how i could bring them value beyond 10 min of having them feel good about their career. I remember trying this with one from an elite boutique, ended up mentioning his divorce... that was awkward. So you'd need to have some really decent ties with the man to pull this off. Race/Religion/Home town/sports/strong cultural interest..
yeah there has to be something in common.
much needed & great post, thanks!
Thanks for the post. I have found this to be helpful.
Thanks for posting, this is great! You mentioned creating a cold email template and testing it out with analysts first. Should the email you to more senior people be the same one you send to junior people? or should it be more/less detailed?
MD pass resume (Originally Posted: 10/26/2009)
Hey if you are talking to alumni and mention something like "Im interested in applying but your firm doesnt recruit at our school, should I apply online" and he tells you to send him a resume and pass it on, is that generally a good chance of first round interview?
By the same token, I sent a email requesting a first informational interview to another alumnus MD and he didnt mention the interview and just asked for a resume that he forwarded to HR. Is that a good sign or does that just mean my resume is added to the stack? Thanks!
bump - anyone?
MD requests resume, forwards with HR CC'd…now what? (Originally Posted: 06/25/2015)
CLIFFS: Set up phone call through email with harsh alumni MD at H.L. Had short phone chat on Monday am, and said to send my resume to him and he'd send to HR.
I sent it with the thank you, and surprisingly he forwarded it a few hours later with a response "Thanks, passed it to X in HR who can help you" with X CC'd. X responded "Thanks MD, happy to help" with 2 other HR girls CCd.
Radio silence. What do? Wait until Recruitment season or reach out to HR as a contact to "learn about the firm" etc.?
Yes, they were girls. Thanks, monkeys.
Seems like he hooked you up, somewhat (giving himself as a reference - assuming he doesn't just do that for anyone, and HR sees it as nothing special). It also depends on how the phone call went. Did it end with him genuinely liking/being interested in you, or was it more of a 'yea yea let me send your stuff to someone else who has time for this' kind of ending? I'd give it a little longer than 3 days, especially considering things generally get slower and take longer to get done in the summer. And assuming they're not in immediate/desperate need for a hire, I doubt it's high on the priority list. I'd say definitely not a bad thing though.
Yes, reach out to the HR team. Use them as a way to get connected with other bankers.
When recruitment season comes around ping every single person again, as in the MD, HR, and anyone else they connect you with in the meantime.
Don't understand the last sentence. Why would anyone be surprised people in HR were women? HR is generally a female dominated industry...
MD willing to forward resume but not in contact with other groups (Originally Posted: 09/11/2013)
Spoke to an MD today and had an informational interview. He offered to forward my resume, and when I sent him my resume he said I'd need to tell him which specific group I am in contact with....none...he is my first contact at his respective firm.
In an eloquent email I pretty much told him Im open to whatever( but very interested in LevFin) and that if he knows any groups that are seeking a new analyst that I'd be willing to explore.
Is there a question, or we supposed to care about insignificant instances of internet people's lives?
The latter.
Don't know how to best position myself.
By the sounds of it you already positioned yourself and you're having second thoughts. Don't look backward, you aren't going that way.
I think this is a tricky request on the side of the receiver. Network better. First you need to identify exactly what you want. Next you identify who you should approach. Research that person.
For example, if you have to speak with the head of real estate at Target because you are a real estate IB, you have to think constructively how you achieve that. Sometimes, you can just call the switchboard and they transfer you right away. Sometimes, your bank's brand name is strong so that they will just pick up your call. But, most of the time, you have to think a bit about how you can put your foot in the door.
This skill will be useful once you pass the associate stage or go into sales in IBD.
When an MD forwards your resume to HR... (Originally Posted: 12/14/2010)
Asked this question in a different thread but didn't get a response - wondering if anyone can shed some light on this for curiosity's sake.
When MDs pass on your resume to HR, how exactly does the process work?
For example, I spoke with an MD who said he'd pass my resume (and the cover letter he asked me to write) to HR. He did this, and I got an email from their HR person with some basic info, and she directed me to the firm's career page, and told me to apply there by the deadline.
Does this mean that when they decide who to invite to first rounds, it's done simply through the online process? Or do I have some sort of advantage because my app was originally passed to HR by an MD? Sort of curious about how that works, if anyone's got an idea.
In other words, is the MD's name somehow associated with my application, even though the application was done online?
It is protocol for many companies to make everyone apply through the website so they have everyone's information in the system.
They will often not look at many of the online resumes however, just through OCR and from employee referrals
and Yes, you have a large advantage and you will probably get a first round interview
...it means you will probably get an interview.
Yeah, Illini is right... they send you an email making sure you've applied on the website etc... it typically means that you'll get an interview... It isn't a guarantee but it's usually the way things go. They typically say something like "We will be in touch with next steps..." I've only had this email come through once without it being followed up with an interview scheduling, and this was after I had already received and accepted an offer elsewhere, so I hadn't really followed up with HR and most likely slipped through the cracks...
Best of luck and hopefully the interview comes through and you kill it!
.
It is generally company policy that all applications be handled through HR. Probably has to do with making sure everybody gets a 'fair' chance at applying vs the old days, when you can just hand someone a resume, and get a call directly
Regarding the MD
Either two things:
Yes, as soon as your name comes up through their database, HR will contact you. THAT is if the MD really mentioned your name, and told HR (or hiring manager) to put your name in the pool of 'Oks' for the first round.
The MD might have just been trying to be nice to you, and in a tactful way, directed to you what the official application process was without actually telling HR that you are to be on the 'list'. Which in that case, you are competing with everyone else.
Hopefully its the former, but latter is also very possible. Keep us posted on how it goes.
MD asked for updated resume (Originally Posted: 07/10/2013)
I'm a SA at a MM bank in the Midwest. Today, my MD, who is also the group head, asked for my updated resume. What do you guys think this means?
I always thought the MDs already have access to everyone's resume, so is this "asking for resume" thing common?
Who knows?
Just give him your updated resume with things you've done in your internship so far.
Good luck.
Where you at? Im at a MM in the Midwest too
Another group might be looking for a full time analyst and he is passing your resume along.
Or he could be recommending you to BS M&A or GS TMT - never know !
Probably passing your resume around. Get a public review before sending him the resume.
Even better idea.
OP, if you're alright with it, let us help you get that resume into tip-top shape.
If he asks for more it means he is interested.
It can only mean good things for you, unless something on your CV doesn't check out. But since we're all upstanding individuals here on WSO, I'd echo the previous comments and get it shined up and sent to him ASAP.
Thanks for the responses guys! My MD says it's not a rush and he's out until next week. This gives me some time to polish it up over the weekend. I'll definitely pass it around first. (@FailedPrayer, thanks for the offer, but I'm not sure about uploading my resume yet...)
Regarding the things on my resume at my current internship, should I tone it down, add more details, or leave out certain parts... anything on that front?
You can upload it on razume and block out the private/personal information (bank names, contact info, etc.).
Definitely highlight the more important things, such as extracurriculars where you made an impact or internships where you did deal work, etc.
i had met an MD from BlackRock while working, he seemed to like me but fucked up as sophomore mentioning not knowing what BlackRock is. needless to say i havent heard back.
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