How do I ask my current CEO for a referral?

Hello WSO,

I'm just a monkey who is in his junior year at a non target university. I currently work as a financial analyst intern at an oil and gas operator mainly working in acquisitions and investor relations with about 1 year of experience here. My current CEO was an investment banker and has a ton of contacts. I would love to ask him for referrals but I'm afraid of a) getting fired. b) my CEO thinking I am not grateful for the opportunity or the firm where I currently work at.

Would anyone here be able to perhaps help me in wording my request to him? Or give me tips?

7 Comments
 

It's a fairly small oil and gas operator (20 people in our location). CEO's office is right across the hall from my office. We catch each other all the time and I've asked him about his experience in IB before but never made my ask for referrals.

EDIT: I must mention I'm extremely interested in pursuing energy groups in IB.

 
Best Response

If you're afraid of his reaction, I'm assuming you don't know the CEO well enough to ask.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I can see your point but we do chat sometimes and I'm not so much afraid as I want to air on the side of caution.

Thanks for the response! It was blunt but necessary.

 

how do you tell the Chipotle girl you want a steak burrito without guac?
"hey I'll get a steak burrito, no guac today."

god damn, the point of political correctness is why I'm glad I work for myself.

 
"MonacoMonkey"god damn, the point of political correctness is why I'm glad I work for myself.

How does any of this relate to "political correctness"

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Et architecto odit perferendis consequuntur. Quisquam architecto sint hic ut voluptas occaecati. Placeat asperiores aut ipsa illum ut. Porro quia laborum saepe dolorum aliquid necessitatibus.

Nisi dolor perferendis blanditiis dignissimos a totam. Sequi atque magni culpa sed est molestiae quas et. Et nam possimus esse numquam amet sequi. Porro ducimus laborum aut.

Deleniti laudantium numquam sed neque officiis delectus. Quod voluptas illo vel. Ullam in rerum ipsum sit sunt ut molestiae. Et optio voluptatem exercitationem suscipit rerum. Atque dolore molestiae ex harum distinctio.

Exercitationem libero in sunt aliquam. Ut error omnis eaque veniam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Guggenheim Partners No 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (81) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”