Contact the interviewer before the interview?
Hi everyone,
I received an interview from a global asset management firm and was told the name of the interviewer.
Do you guys have any comments on contacting this person beforehand? If it's good to do so, what kind of things should I say?
The Right Way to Network Before an Interview
Congrats! You have landed the interview. Now, what do you do to prepare? Read on for advice from the WSO community:
- DO NOT contact the interviewer ahead of time
- Do try to network with other people at the firm who might be able to put a good word in for you.
- Do reach out through LinkedIn, alumni contacts or cold calling to learn as much as you can about the firm, culture, etc.
- Do review WSO’s asset management forum and search for interview tips
Good luck!
Recommended Reading
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- Life at a Top Asset Manager
- Asset Management vs Investment Banking 101
- Asset Management Most Common Interview Questions
- Pre-Interview Dinner: 3 Tips What to Expect
Preparing for interviews?
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I wouldn't do it. If anything try and contact other people in the firm, make a solid impression and hopefully they will relay the message. Going directly to the interviewer could piss them off. They are trying to remain impartial and being hounded by the people they will soon pass judgment on probably isn't the best first impression.
Agreed with the above poster.
Don't contact the interviewer but contact others you know in the firm, and ask if they would be willing to put in a good word with your interviewer. I had success with that. I asked two good contacts I had within the firm, and the first thing that was said to me when I got into the interview room was "so you have some pretty good references that give you pretty high praise" and it was smooth sailing. Having another person vouch for you means more than you can imagine, especially if they know you relatively well.
How would you go about doing this exactly? Do you just call up your contacts and say "hey, I'll be interviewing with so and so, would you be willing to put in a good word for me?" etc?
LinkedIn, alumni contacts, cold calling. I am assuming you networked to get the interview. I would just start reaching out saying that you will be interviewing and you want to learn more about the company. Usually if you show honest interest they will take notice.
Do not call the interviewer to chat him up. Umm, that's what the interview is for. I agree with some of the above that said to call others but I wouldn't ask them to "put in a good word" explicitly. Tell them you have an interview with such and such a person shortly and say you wanted to talk to them about the firm, the culture, etc. so that you're more prepared for it. I'm sure that if those calls go well and they like you and feel you're both smart and interested then word will get around.
Absolute bad idea
I have a question regarding a similar situation but mine is a little different...
An recent alumnus (07) posted an internship listing for his AM firm on our school's CS website. Do you think it would be a good idea to reach out in this circumstance, or does this fall in line with the ^^^^ situation?
I don't know if he is the interviewer, although there is a good chance since he is young, and its a relatively small AM firm.
I was in contact with a younger alum that was in my fraternity and, by extension, shared a lot of mutual friends for a couple months before recruiting formally started. However, once recruiting officially kicked off for his firm and I found out that he was going to be one of my interviewers, he refused to speak with me beyond answering very basic questions about the firm, and advised me that even that was borderline inappropriate.
That said, speaking to other contacts at the firm before or after is perfectly fine. Just mention that you're going to/or about to interview with the firm and a lot of times they'll ask you who you're interviewing with. If they like you, they'll probably end up talking to your interviewer on your behalf.
So, long story short 4frnt, I think it's fine to talk to that alum, but once you get that interview, I would make sure he isn't interviewing you before you proceed to ask him for any help.
Contacting interviewer before interview with just sending an updated resume? (Originally Posted: 11/05/2015)
I am scheduled to have a phone interview with one of the associates and I have his email. However I applied for the position quite a while ago and my resume has changed significantly. Should I email him an update copy of my resume BEFORE the interview?
Will it be seen as a bad approach or should i just mail the resume saying "I wanted to send you my updated resume so to have a current understanding of my skills:
Please help asap.
If there is a lot of new, relevant info then just send saying "please find attached the most recent copy of my resume". No need to explain further.
Thanks it wont be seen as stalking the interviewer correct? i was not given her email. only the name but everyone know the convention most companies follow.
I was going to say just bring the new copies with you before I read that is was a phone interview....in your case I would say you definitely should send them a note with it attached. To reduce the stalker appearance I would imply that you were given their information somehow. But you could just as easily just say what @jss09" said.
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