Emailing Head of IB

Just wanted to get some thoughts on this. I was perusing my school's alumni database today and ran across a guy that's Head of IB at a well-known MM bank that I am very interested in working at. I have already had a good conversation with a junior banker at the firm who supposedly is pushing my resume along to the right people, so I'm decently confident I will be able to interview here, but of course you never know what will happen.

So, should I reach out to the Head of IB at this bank to attempt to do an informational interview? The potential upside is that I could impress this guy enough with my drive and ability to get in a good position for an offer. The potential downside is that I annoy this guy and/or sound like a doofus when I talk to him, and kill my chances.

I'm not even sure if I should ask to speak to him - maybe I should just express interest in working at the firm, and see if he can recommend someone else I can speak with. On the other hand, if he didn't want to be bothered, why does he have his info listed. Thoughts?

5 Comments
 

If you think you're in a position to land an interview without his help, I'd say hold off on emailing him. My rationale being - senior guys usually will only care enough to make one request on your behalf.

So he can either plug you now and get you an interview, or plug you post-interview and get you the job.

I'd save your silver bullet if you don't need it to get the interview.

  • Capt K
- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 
captkIf you think you're in a position to land an interview without his help, I'd say hold off on emailing him. My rationale being - senior guys usually will only care enough to make one request on your behalf.

So he can either plug you now and get you an interview, or plug you post-interview and get you the job.

I'd save your silver bullet if you don't need it to get the interview.

  • Capt K
I agree, if nothing materializes with the junior banker move on to the senior guy.
 
captkIf you think you're in a position to land an interview without his help, I'd say hold off on emailing him. My rationale being - senior guys usually will only care enough to make one request on your behalf.

So he can either plug you now and get you an interview, or plug you post-interview and get you the job.

I'd save your silver bullet if you don't need it to get the interview.

  • Capt K

Thanks for the response.

So assuming I do get an interview, you would recommend that I email him afterwards to tell him how much I admire the firm, would love to work there FT, etc? Or would I reach out for an informational and then drop the news that I've already interviewed?

I'm curious to see how this strategy would work out, since I've heard that bankers make decisions on interviewees quickly after the interview, and I'm not sure what this guy could do for me after I've already interviewed. My thought was that maybe this guy could forward my info to the right people, and then the interviewers would view me in a more positive light because they associate me with the head guy.

 
Best Response
SBEThanks for the response.

So assuming I do get an interview, you would recommend that I email him afterwards to tell him how much I admire the firm, would love to work there FT, etc? Or would I reach out for an informational and then drop the news that I've already interviewed?

I'm curious to see how this strategy would work out, since I've heard that bankers make decisions on interviewees quickly after the interview, and I'm not sure what this guy could do for me after I've already interviewed. My thought was that maybe this guy could forward my info to the right people, and then the interviewers would view me in a more positive light because they associate me with the head guy.

Definitely don't wait until after you've interviewed. Decisions get made too quickly.

Land the interview through your junior contact. Then email the MD 3-5 days before the final round and mention that you're coming in, are very excited, and hope to see him at final rounds. Then all you have to do is not screw up. Make a point to poke your head into said MDs office either right before or right after final rounds once to remind him of your face and that you came.

  • Capt K
- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

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