PSA - Referral and HR

Cold emailed a CEO/Chairman level executive at a highly sought-after bank (top BB/EB). Got a response, offer for a call. Took ~3 months just to schedule the call and was very lucky to secure a referral.

After another 3-4 months, convo with HR was going very nice (first time in my life HR was this nice), learnt all the IB groups they were currently running processes for and I told them my interests. And then came the moment:

HR: "So how do you know -referrer-?"

Me: *basically said cold emailed him* (facepalm)

HR: *pretend niceties but more awkward*

Then ghosted. They had told me prior that they would follow up with something next week. Now no one responds to my emails. Been a month or two.

Can't even bother such senior exec after already getting a referral. Don't want to be a nuisance.

So my PSA to you is don't be naive enough to tell HR the 100% truth if the person knows you from cold outreach. Obviously don't lie but be diplomatic and mysterious or just ask them "oh did they not tell you?" or whatever the heck. I don't know. Just don't admit to cold outreach.

6 Comments
 
Funniest

Sorry that happened.

Also curious, do you guys write Robert Frost poem-type emails or what?

Recently saw on two other threads of people getting referrals from EB execs through cold emails.

Not even VPs respond to mine. 

 

lol hey man pretty sure we have spoken but had the same thing happen to me, in my case it was the head of HR and the man had no clue I was a rising senior he just straight up scheduled it after I got referred and the same thing happened and now when I emailed a few weeks ago when her was a opening he just ghosted me. No clue what to do and don’t want to piss off the head of HR

But persistence, opportunity and casting a wide net are the answers. And as much as I hate to admit it luck matters and nepotism is real

 

I haven't shared this with anyone. First time mentioning it so must be someone else.

And yeah. It sucks. Sorry to hear your story as well. I am also in a bind, can neither get a reply nor antagonize the head of HR.

Indeed, there is always luck involved despite your preparation and persistence. 

Hopefully something lands. Keep at it, brother.

 

Corporis ipsum ullam laudantium. Sint tempore ea in dolorem deleniti et placeat quibusdam. Eveniet aut praesentium consequatur laborum. Quo quis aut possimus facere. Iure cupiditate ut et in. Impedit modi pariatur expedita consequatur aut quasi.

Et amet eos debitis nam laborum ut. Quia assumenda provident adipisci sapiente et. Est natus blanditiis ad doloribus quo.

Temporibus dolor natus corporis distinctio eos. Explicabo ipsa eveniet sed aut autem quisquam provident. Corporis temporibus quis quo enim dolorem in necessitatibus. Odio eos rem unde illo deleniti non amet.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (45) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”