Here's my question- if you have a great resume, a solid GPA (3.7+), good past internships, good extracurriculars, and you're coming from a target school (or at least semi-target, where they conduct on campus interviews), is networking necessary? Is networking really just about getting your resume pulled for a first round interview or does it help in some way after that as well? If it does, in what way does it help? Is it significant?
Thanks!
I mean it doesn't hurt to do both. Doing both will definitely increase your chances better than just dropping your resume
In all seriousness, not really.
Im that situation you are basically golden. I mean someone could network like crazy get 1/4 of a firm to know/like them and still get no interviews because their targets are that much better.
Why do people keep asking this question. It will help you a lot to have a good GPA, good prior internship experience, and good ECs, but networking will always still be important.
Think about it, even if you come from a great school, you're still competing with a ton of other kids from your school to get interviews. If it's a top school, then a lot of them also probably have good past internships and ECs as well. And don't assume that a "solid" GPA will be enough - if you have a 3.7, for instance, don't underestimate how many kids at your school have 3.8s, 3.9s, etc. Even if you don't network, many of the kids from your school that you're competing with will.
Who do you think decides what resumes to select for 1st round interviews? Very often, analysts who graduated from the OCR school in question have a say, so networking with them (or already knowing them from ECs when they were previously a student) can be very useful.
Good post. Networking > Everything else.
Yes. Because there are always more than enough students with the same quality of resume, and the same or higher GPA to fill the 1st round interview spots. I've known plenty of friends at my target school with 3.8+ and Goldman internships who have been rejected for 1st rounds at MBB because they didn't reach out to the consultants. So yes, it absolutely matters.
Yes. There are plenty of people with strong GPAs and some sort of involvement from targets and semi targets that are rejected without a second thought. Also, the strength of your extracurriculars and past internships are somewhat less objective - it's good you have them, but what impresses me may not impress someone else.
If we're on campus, make an impression, and make it a positive one. I have told recruiting in no uncertain times that certain people I've met were absolute tools, and regardless of their resume, they didn't get any more of our time. On the flip side, there have been candidates who looked closer to average on paper that I've gotten interviews because I said they seemed like a good fit for the firm.
networking is a life thing. open as many doors as possible, you'll never know when/how one can come in handy one day.
Yes, think about it. What are the resumes like for the other students getting OCR interviews? Similar to yours? Yep. And what will determine who gets the second round and the offer? Somebody pulling for you is a big deal.
Hiring interns is not that big of a deal to bank. If you have made it to the second round, you know your technicals and have a decent personality. It is almost chance. If an analyst says "This guy really went out of his way to contact me. He's my top pick" the other guys will probably go along.
Great, thanks for all your comments. I've been networking as much as possible because I suspected that many of you would answer the way that you did: that networking is always important. Another question I have is whether you should focus more on networking in your college city's or if you should try to network with the location you're aiming at.
For example: say you go to Columbia and want to work for BCG. BCG has a regional staffing model, so the NY, Boston, and other offices work together in that way. Say you really want to work for BCG Boston, but BCG NY handles OCR for Columbia. Is it worth spending time trying to network with consultants in the Boston office, or is it important to focus your efforts more on the office that conducts OCR?
Thanks again for all your helpful insights!
If you are at a target, there are more people with your resume than there are MBB jobs. Plain and simple. Keep that in mind, and I think you can answer your own question, Mr. 3.7.
"It's not what you know, it's who you know"
"In life, it is not what you know or who you know that counts -- it is both!" -- Anthony J. D'Angelo
Take your pick. Either way, networking makes a difference. Knowing somebody's character, work ethic, and personality first hand speaks words your resume can't always say.
OP I mean no harm but please tell me I'm wrong... but after reading your post it screams pretentiousness and entitlement. You're not the only person with 3.7 from a target/semi. How do you think people move up the the ladder in consulting, IB, freaking life? If excellent networking helps people with sub 3.00 GPA's get into prestigious positions they otherwise wouldn't have gotten... then why in God's name would you need to ask if its necessary? Are you willing to roll the dice or do you want to take full control of your future? Come on mate, you're clearly an intelligent guy or girl. Big. Picture. Networking helps you not only in the immediate but can help you years down the line.
If you're from a target with a good GPA, you will get many many interviews. I was in this situation, did no networking at all, but did solid interview prep, and I am very satisfied with the results of my job search.
accidental double post
why take the chance your resume doesn't get pulled? just network
OP - Yes it matters. I have everything you mentioned above and landed 0 interviews when I didnt network.
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