Headhunter etiquette in commodities

Currently am a junior at a mid sized ags shop, few YOE. Recently, I’ve been messaged/emailed by headhunters offering to chat regarding “their client” who is a hedge fund looking for new hires and looking to chat about the opportunity.

I’m very comfortable where I’m at - team is cool, pay is nice, still learning a lot, and wouldn’t enjoy working at a place with little to no cash presence/asset footprint, even if I can supposedly retire by 35 if I don’t explode.

Crawling WSO and most of the HH talk I see is with regards to PE guys going after 1st year IBD analysts who are interested in making the switch, but from my end, what’s the usual reply for someone not interested? Do I just say no, or explain why, or just not answer?

5 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I usually tell them I’m willing to chat but tell them ahead of time that I think the likelihood of me being seriously interested is slim to none. But I find it good to have an intro call now, that way if they’re looking 2 years from now and it’s a shop I might be more interested in they might be more apt to suggest it to me. Honesty both ways and I’ve gotten some decent advice from HHs. Would love feedback if someone thinks I’m going about this wrong

 

This is absolutely the correct response. You never know what is going to happen to you, your shop, the people you work with, etc so taking introductiory calls and having contacts is something everyone should do. 

You will have recruiters that are respectful and understand, stay in contact with them. They are generally the ones that stick around and have good contacts to help you later when/if you need it. You will have recruiters that are pushy and don't listen, tell them to fuck off.

 

Ipsum sit adipisci iste. Aut qui nihil voluptatem.

Autem doloremque est harum deserunt voluptate quibusdam. Dolores eum perferendis natus totam. Iure saepe quo aut hic facilis beatae. Qui delectus ex et. Quia sed autem rerum pariatur.

Nihil voluptatum quidem perspiciatis velit et. Delectus accusamus aperiam distinctio enim minima. Sit aut laboriosam deleniti dignissimos omnis.

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

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...”