How usual is it to have a first round with one of your contacts?

Sounds like you have a superday

Having a pre-existing relationship plays in your favor granted you got a first round (so I'm assuming he/she didn't shit on you or actually supported your candidacy).

So you don't have to blow it out of the water and try to form rapport out of thin air, but you still have to approach it like you do any other interview - know your resume, technicals, be informed, etc. It doesn't make the interview more difficult, unless he/she thought you were some potential superstar based on your initial conversations and you were a huge disappointment.

I would guess this person does a lot of the first rounds anyway and I think this is a good sign. Don't be too casual even though you know the guy.

Ps this is not a superday

Good luck!

If you got to a target and have networked with alumni, the chance of knowing your first-round interviewer(s) is very high since most banks send alumni to each school. This give you a huge advantage over other interviewees (assuming they like you and you did not make an ass out of yourself while networking).

I've had this. He drilled me. Basically he was covering himself to make sure I wasn't a dud before putting me infront of people.

In my case total random networking, not an alumnus, no previous connection.

Is it Frank Quattrone?