Informational Interview through Recruiter/HR

Is it standard to ask for informational interviews with associates/VPs through recruiters? I have developed relationships with recruiters/HR by now and would like to know how I can leverage them into building a positive relationship with actual bankers.

Should I just email the recruiter saying, I would really appreciate it if you can refer me to a banker? Thanks!

 

I personally don't think this would be more workable than contacting bankers directly. Why don't you try to email bankers first?

"I already know I'm going to Hell. So, at this point it's go big or go home"
 
New Yorker:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in an information interview, YOU are the one doing the questioning.

It is closer to a casual conversation. You ask some questions, they answer, they ask some questions.....

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

Yeah, you should at least be prepared with enough intelligent questions to lead the conversation. The good informationals end up turning into a casual conversation and go really smoothly, but others can be awkward and you'll look bad if you don't have intelligent and relevant questions ready for whomever you're meeting with.

 
213830:

Talk to them about the SA program, mentoring programs, why their bank, their background. V. qualitative stuff.

Great, thanks for the advice. That's what I figured. Just curious though, what could I ask about the SA program besides the typical "how many get into the program, how many get return offers, do you get to choose your group, how do you get placed, etc. Are there other more 'unique' questions on that front that you could recommend. Not only to sound good to this person, but also questions that could have a potential value-adding answer that I didn't know before.

Also, what is a mentoring program? I have heard this before but I am unfamiliar with it. Thanks

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
 

Interview will be mainly fit related. Have good examples at hand - just make sure you are engaging. Oftentimes, the best approach for HR is to come off as passionate about the firm and the job you are interested in. If possible make it into a conversation by asking a few things here and there if the opportunity arises. Lastly, add a line or two about how youve talked to ppl at the firm and it seems like they are very talented and you can learn a lot from them (ie a little hat tip to HR for bringing in the right people). You should be fine.

Capitalist
 

Generally people high up don't ask that many technical questions (especially in informational interviews). I am guessing "Executive Director of IBD recruiting" is an HR person. If yes, then you need to have your story straight. You have to be able to articulate why you wanna switch from AM to IB.

Take a look at a basics of technicals (3 valuation techniques, how the 3 statements are related etc) but I wouldn't go overboard with that. Your story is the most important aspect here.

 

or how your apartment smells of mahogany

- Bulls make money. Bears make money. Pigs get slaughtered. - The harder you work, the luckier you become. - I believe in the "Golden Rule": the man with the gold rules.
 

Talk about what is really passionate to you -- and align it to whatever Morgan Stanley group it is. Minimize the eye-rolling from the HR side.

If you want to take a gamble and preempt, you can throw all the other kids under the bus and say, "I know everyone else does X and Y ..."

 

I'm Very Curious about this as well. I currently intern at a BB Bank in wealth management and have reached out to a few analysts in IBD. They tell me to reach out to the recruiters as well, but not sure how to have a successful convo with them. Thoughts would be great.

 

What i did for my hr informational interviews was ask them about them job, how they got there, what school they went to and so forth. Most of the interviews with HR actually turned to information about me so they know my background in time for recruiting season. Worked out well thus far.

 

Generally speaking, yes, it is not a great sign if an interview runs for much shorter than the allotted amount time. Was this interview with HR just an initial screening interview? It seems strange to do an interview with just HR and not the actual divisions that are hiring. Send a follow-up email after the new year regarding "next steps in the process," but I think it might be time to cut your losses and focus your efforts elsewhere. Good luck.

 

HR interviews are usually just screens to check you meet basic communication and grooming standards before passing you through to the business teams.

You didn't pick your nose, did you?

Those who can, do. Those who can't, post threads about how to do it on WSO.
 

Exactly. Don't overthink it (I've messed up screens in my college days). Maybe he/she was satisfied with your answers and decided to move you to real interviews and figured that it was not worth her time to ask more questions (time is precious). Maybe she decided to ding you. No one really knows.

Follow up in the New Year and feel free to bug them until you actually get a no. Until you get a no, the door is still open... My mentality is very simply this: you don't have a job. If you keep bugging them and end up with no job you'll be where you started. With no job. No big deal. However, with you bugging them you'll show persistence and they won't forget you. This should increase your chances of getting job/interview. That's good.

Of course this does not mean pester them day in day out, but you get the idea.

Good Luck

I used to do Asia-Pacific PE (kind of like FoF). Now I do something else but happy to try and answer questions on that stuff.
 

i can write more about this later, but i would say that you should relax, be yourself, and be prepared...even though it is only "informational," you definitely are being screened and they'll take notes on you regarding your potential candidacy, whether it's in the present or in the future. i know this because i give informational interviews to potential candidates and i'm definitely asked by the recruiting team to take a few mental notes on them

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting
 

In non sint qui aut laboriosam. Modi qui voluptas est dicta est adipisci laudantium laudantium. Fuga error alias quis et fugiat.

Aut repellat est sit cumque aut. Et ullam magni vero non at esse omnis. Quae eos quo cupiditate labore nam qui tenetur. Expedita odio qui occaecati sint necessitatibus.

 

Eos vero officia atque iusto harum. Autem dicta est explicabo inventore similique nemo. Maiores sunt sunt ullam ut officiis. Quaerat et voluptatum id. Dolorum possimus non est nostrum eveniet dolorem et. Atque corporis adipisci perferendis ad rerum exercitationem tempora voluptates.

Voluptas sunt earum voluptatem mollitia hic dignissimos. Minima ut quia voluptas reiciendis id saepe.

 

Magni minima non ut laborum error fugiat doloremque. Laudantium ut et eius nihil nostrum nostrum. Non exercitationem atque necessitatibus voluptates debitis qui quia iusto. Excepturi placeat placeat molestiae assumenda. Nihil aliquid voluptates excepturi fugit quia quisquam culpa. Dolorem corporis dolor voluptatem.

Debitis et eum laborum sint eos voluptatibus vel. Fuga et sed doloremque. Nam quae aut corporis atque sit fugiat. At qui id sit dolores veniam.

Blanditiis sit laboriosam minima pariatur. Illum quo ut soluta eligendi. Ducimus officia doloribus cupiditate dolorum. Assumenda recusandae exercitationem expedita.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
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...”