How do referrals work at GS or Barclays for SA26 in London

Like does your referrer needs to submit before or after you apply. Which would would the most optimal? assuming im targeting IBD

21 Comments
 

In London, no referrals count towards summer internship applications. 

This isn't the USA where you network and get a 1R. You just apply with your application and hope for the best. 

 

more meritocratic since nepo and connections don't play a role here and people with experiences and come from top schools are more prioritised (I'm talking specifically about non-DEI)

 

I can personally say referrals do exist in London. The ppl who say they don’t are capping. For example, at GS you can get your application flagged with HR so you can get the HV quicker/easier, but doesn’t guarantee you the AC. MS, has a referral system. JPM in fact doesn’t. Citi does. BAML, can’t remember ngl. EBs, yes except Laz and PWP. Best of luck.

 

They do have referral systems but whether they take it seriously or not is a problem. I had friends try getting referrals from some of these banks you mentioned but they ended up not getting anything out of those. HR still plays a powerful role in deciding who to give out interview, not like in the US where people network to get first round, and get superday for GS

 

It practically makes no difference, trust me. 

I've been to all the networking events of the firms you mentioned, chatted a lot with HR, met with AS1 to Directors who recommended me but it does not matter. 

HR runs the show in London all throughout. 

 

Citi referrals 100% don’t make a difference, bofa does have referral system which helps slightly, for other banks like hsbc ubs it is stated that it doesn’t make a difference, gs I’ve been told it doesn’t make a difference but it what you said is true I might pursue a referral

 

Also I would like to highlight something clear, I didn’t say referrals guarantee anything nor do they help materially to get an interview/offer. I just wanted to say that they exist and there is a system out there lol.  

 

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