28 Comments
 

Usually, before you apply you ask them. They can connect you with a hiring manager and you interview. Later you fill out the paperwork.

If you apply formally before and get rejected, there is not much they can do.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

You can play it by ear depending on the kind of relationship you have with your contact at the firm(s). Generally it's not an issue at all and puts your name on the lookout. For the 1st round at the firm I interned, I reached out to the MD when I had applied and she got me the 1st round interview.

It's a very random process overall so you should never feel discouraged if you didn't get an interview, but your approach is good practice :)

There's a closer meaning to my user name. Try reading it quickly. Perhaps you will then understand ;P
 

just say something along the lines of "Hi --, I hope you are doing well. I wanted to follow up and let you that I've formally submitted an application for ---. Hope all is well." I normally don't attach a resume unless explicitly asked by the other party.

 

Like the others said, kept it brief, thanked them and told them I'll let them know if I move forward. Also update them on how I've been doing if it's been more than 1-2 months since I talked with them.

I usually don't receive any responses to these. Few times had responses wishing me luck and once someone asking for my resume. Usually the ones I had good convos with too so I don't think it's out of politeness. Of course if you don't receive a reply it doesn't mean that you had a bad convo, they could just be busy.

 

i think you just let em know , reiterate the good chat you had with him and howd ud love to perhaps join the team

 
Best Response

Assuming you've soft kept in touch with him (occasional emails, etc) just reach out again.

"John,

How are things going since we last ____(spoke, had coffee, committed acts of Biblical Sin, etc)? I recently submitted my resume for the sa position via ____ (their website, campus recruiting, whatever) and wanted to ask your opinion on how best to get mine seen.

If you have some free time it would be great to catch up (call, coffee, whatever is practical) and get your advice.

Thanks again for all of your help.

Regards,

You"

I fall on the side of don't blow smoke up my ass so just ask. We all know what you want and it's fine so make the ask. Maybe other senior people want something different but I'm pretty sure when a bunch of college kids cold reach out to me for coffee, advice, opinions regarding the market or whatever else they're not doing so because they think I'm cute, at least I hope not.

 

Autem ad voluptatem rerum ab labore dolorem. Eum odit temporibus nihil aut rerum amet occaecati. At consequatur praesentium ipsum aperiam. Quia sed et autem quaerat laborum et aut.

Eos quia non cupiditate voluptatem hic mollitia sit. Magnam est et et qui et explicabo inventore. Sequi cupiditate quasi minima consequatur eaque dolores dolores tempora. Repellat voluptatem a provident expedita nesciunt.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Sunt molestias repudiandae est ut. Ratione ut qui explicabo est labore rerum voluptas quo. Velit ratione rerum tempora earum beatae nobis. Corporis nostrum labore consequuntur ipsam adipisci. Ut omnis asperiores veniam expedita veniam corporis.

Aut et ut in incidunt aut. Dolorem sapiente atque id minima exercitationem. Blanditiis suscipit reprehenderit iste et est qui sunt. Omnis tempore nesciunt ut qui. Qui error culpa aut officia.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”