Is it true that networking doesn't matter in the UK?

I had a conversation with a guy from the UK and the told me that:

HR here is very meritocratic, especially in large firms. "Referrals" and stuff that you hear from US recruiting just doesn't happen generally.

Over here, you send an application, you wait for your response and no amount of coffee chats with VPs is gonna help.

The only place where it helps is writing cover letters imo. You can talk to someone at a bank then talk about your conversation when answering "why this firm" or "why this division".

Is it true? Is there anyone from the UK who had a different experience?

5 Comments
 

hmm... so I had several jobs in the UK without any network, referrals or any other meetings beforehand. I also didn't write any cover letters because I applied online and just did the bare minimum. I was also an expat from the US, so not network to rely on.

But that doesn't mean these things don't exist. I met countless people with internal referrals, where the entire family has been working in banking since the 70s, and with family members in the same company they work at. I also met candidates, colleagues and generally people who do write cover letters.

 

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