How does networking really work in Europe?
I am at a European Target outside the UK and am actively recruiting for a SA role in 2027. Have been reaching out to multiple people and getting positive responses (even a few "send me your CV" ones). Still the whole process feels a bit odd. I have not been able to form any meaningful connections I would say as Europeans are overall more reserved.
What are your experiences and is there anything important to look out for?
In Europe, it's nowhere near as emphasised as it is in the US with campus recruiting and basically a de facto 'must' that you likely would have to speak to at least a few people at the bank you're interviewing at. In Europe, the only comparable networking is through Business Schools, LBS, HEC, Bocconi, Frankfurt etc are the best ways of just informally reaching out to on LinkedIn. These business schools do a 1-2 week tour of London where they have intro sessions with the BBs / EBs etc, but I don't think these are that tangible beyond just getting some informal access to some half-asleep Analyst 2. All in all, it doesn't really matter. I've seen Dartmouth Partners host some networking events with CVP, RJ, Ares which is good as a penultimate year University student, but if anything, you see who you're interviewing against rather than getting quality time with a senior that everyone else in the room is gagging for. Evercore too have hosted a few and do market them, not sure how worthwhile they are beyond just mentioning it in your interview with HR.
At this time of the year half of the people are in south of France or Mykonos hence may not be interested to discuss about their most interesting deal.
But jokes aside, it depends. My previous bank had decided to put a much higher emphasis on referrals. They had a list of target schools and basically if you study at one of these and someone refers you, you were guaranteed to have an interview. The goal was to reduce the randomness of the recruiting process.
Interesting, perhaps it's very firm dependent but HR basically told you to piss off if you referred anyone (regardless of how strong the candidate was) and you were below an ASSOC. At the same time, I've been asked to see if i know anyone to put forward, and i thought that's literally the job of a recruiter that they hire for mandates
You are better off brushing up on your online assessment skills tbh.
If you want to work in the UK, then you just follow formal processes. The companies that can sponsor you, don't usually need networking. Just go to target school, grind tests and don't act like a douche in the assessment centres.
If you want to work in Paris they hire from a circle jerk called elite grande écoles (your x, mines, hec, escp, scpo... ) and networking is really important there.
Never worked in Italy but heard its the same there.
Dach is a bit better. No need to be MD's son, but it helps everywhere tbh
In DACH what matters is your experience. No one really cares about your education
Anyone here got insights on importance of networking in the nordics?
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