Do Referrals from outside the team count?

• Are referrals from outside of the team equal to those from within the team?
  • No. There is some nuance here. If you're being ref'd by a partner outside of the team, this carries more weight than an associate within the team---assuming that proximity is fairly close i.e. not mid/back office.
• Do Analyst/Associate referrals count?
  • Yes, but not as much as you'd think. A D/MD ref is likely to guarantee your application gets looked at, and depending on how positive your interaction is, could guarantee a first round interview. Having said that, this is becoming less likely and you need to have a genuinely strong application regardless. Analyst and associate referrals don't have the same weight, but the hiring team will add a point to your application. It's a positive hygiene factor.

The holy grail is, of course, a partner/D/MD referral from within the team. I have networking tips and tricks, insider knowledge and some guidance on how to ask for a referral from well-tenured bankers. Happy to take mentoring sessions to cover all of this, which can be booked here.