How to avoid getting labeled Nepo
Context, joining a slightly smaller but very reputable investment bank this summer. Large class of interns coming in, but I clearly go to a nontarget school compared to the others on the class of interns. People in the office know that I got referred in from the group head/chairman (through some connections of people I met). Main question is, how do I handle the situation around how I got through the door? At past places, every intern has been straight up about family connections or parents at the firm (some employees even asked how you got in). I guess with the incoming class of interns, if they ask how I got in, do I say referred from chairman or just say I worked my butt off and got lucky (def did work but off but would be omitting the referral part)? Want my solid work product to speak for myself, not the entire office of interns and employees to assume I'm there because of a solid connection (don't want to start the internship with shit talking happening).
Is it even bad to be labeled nepo? I've seen it many times before - nobody fucks around with a kid who has friends in high places. If anything, people will spend a lot more time with you and will help you more.
Well that depends, how big is your cock?
Similar situation- got a referral from an MD at a LBB.
If you networked and got to know the Chairman yourself externally, it's way different than you knowing the Chairman from your personal life before the finance recruiting grind (e.g., you bypassed it and he just got you the interview).
so then am I open about the referral or just say I grinded and got lucky and omit it (chairman at an EB)?
If you networked and this guy was receptive to you purely due to your outreach you aren't nepo. If this is someone you knew outside of this process and he helped you break into it, then you are nepo, and own it - just work harder and don't give them an excuse to sh*t on you.
It’s more annoying to be weird about it.
Just own it, you don’t have to self deprecate yourself and say you *only* got the job because of a connection, but feel free to say you got your foot in the door because of a warm connection — no extra defense is needed.
Best way to avoid being “called a nepo” is to genuinely work hard and be objectively good at your job. Accept grunt work and don’t walk around entitled and you’ll be fine. Same advice goes to minorities who want to avoid the “DEI” label too. If someone wants to hate, they will regardless of what you do - so fuck em!
Aut aperiam minima non quidem. Asperiores tempore necessitatibus tenetur hic. Sit nihil rem debitis sint explicabo.
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