4 Comments
 

My firms have all checked references for pre-MBA associate positions. They were more a formality though as the decision is typically made by that point. Obviously if the references prove terrible that's another story.

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Best Response

Similar experience to CompBanker.

Although I will say that while by the time they are checking recommendations it is a formality, it is still very important. I've seen numerous candidates get the recommendation stage and they somehow get a derogatory comment during references and they are automatically dinged.

It doesn't have to be completely throwing the person under the bus either. So pick your recommends wisely. An idiot reference who thinks he's being intellectually honest by telling the PE guy that you sometimes had work ethic issues, or have had attention to detail issues but have improved etc could really fuck you. References are not the time or place for honest feedback, they're the time for your bosses (for whom you've slaved away) to butter up their clients before you slam it home. So its important to pick reviewers who understand that. While most do... some are just stupid or even worse secretly want to fuck you over even though they pretend to have you under their wing (I've seen it happen).

 

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