Realistically, can I namedrop in interviews without talking to them?
I've had good success in the past by namedropping a ton in interviews, however it was a ton of effort to speak to those people and I'm not sure if the effort would be better placed on other things. Probably not a good idea if it was during an AC with an MD, but by that point I would've done some informational networking anyway. However for the Hirevues and first rounds with HR, is HR really going to email a random analyst you name dropped to check if you actually spoke to them? Especially when they're sifting through hundreds of HVs?
This is UK btw where networking isn't required, it's only useful for things like this.
Smart idea, make sure to namedrop higher-ups for added effect (think CEO/CFO/COO)
We had someone name drop their dad several times in interviews to different people (he was a cfo at a large fortune 100) and it was universally viewed negatively. It pissed someone off enough they didn't get an offer
Yeah I'm not talking like that but other analysts etc that you usually would network with. Like in the why this firm answer I would say I spoke to X who said Y about culture etc. Just seems like something HR is never gonna check at the HV stage especially at large firms
Dude, why go to this effort to lie when you can just actually call these guys and get insights for the interview?
At my firm (London), HR do audit a sample for exactly this reason. It's also borderline if not outright unethical.
Reading posts like these, it's harder and harder to find the motivation to respond to networking requests...
Bro who cares if it's unethical banks will literally fire you tomorrow if they needed to.
I take the point, and you're right, but the ethics bit is not about what you're doing to a bank, but what you're doing to yourself
In general: don’t do it.
I’ve gotten away with it, but under specific circumstances. I.e. “Tell me about your experience at X”., “While I was at X I was on the Y team, who Z runs, you might know them”.
That only works though if the connection is obvious (these two went to a relatively small grad program at the same time).
Wouldn't it be worse if they potentially know eachother? I'm talking like a random analyst who I may know of from university but never actually properly spoken to about this specific firm, doubt HR would even know who they are
I’ve had people drop my name in cover letters, applications, and interviews. Every time HR has sent me a note asking if I know the person, and every time I’ve been honest about whatever connection the person is or isn’t.
I wouldn’t do it, it’s stupid.
Always view these situations through a risk vs reward. The reward is incredibly low to name drop a person (especially an analyst) and the risk it back fires is non zero. Then if you start name dropping senior people, the risk it is checked is much higher. All in all, a terrible risk vs reward profile.
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