Cover Letter Question - Including someone you know

I just had a question that I was unable to find and thought I would ask for someones help.

In ones cover letter to a firm, how would they go about including someone they knew (grew up with) that works at the firm. We are not the greatest friends anymore but have a small conversation when we see eachother. "Hey hows it going blah blah.." Should I say that I know this person or just leave it out? I am thinking this would give me somewhat of an advantage over other applicants... but since I didnt ask him about the job/slowly losing contact with him, I dont know if I should include him.

And if I should include this person, how would I put it in and where?

Help me out hopefully sooner than later, as I need to get my resume/cover letter sent to the firm.

 

I wouldn't add it. If you guys aren't really friends you run the risk of him not stepping up to bat for you if they ask him.

Plus it could come across like you're just trying to name-drop in order to get into the door. If he told you about the position you could have casually mentioned "So and so told me about this job and I thought it would cater well to my strengths, etc", but considering you've never spoken about it, I would just leave it off completely.

 

I agree with CJayB, but going off of what he said you could contact that person you know and ask him about any positions he may know of (and hope he brings it up), or mention the position and ask if he knows anything about it. That way you have discussed it, reestablished contact, and he can possibly vouch for you later in the process.

 

Write your contact in the firm, it'd be stupid to name-drop him without letting him know.

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 

I hope this helps...

I was recently introduced to your firm via [Friend / Contact at Firm / Presentation] and was impressed with what I learned of [Your Culture / Working Environment / Bank-Specific Info.]. I am interested in pursuing an [Investment Banking Analyst / Associate] position at your firm, and have enclosed my resume and background information below.

 
Connor:
I hope this helps...

I was recently introduced to your firm via [Friend / Contact at Firm / Presentation] and was impressed with what I learned of [Your Culture / Working Environment / Bank-Specific Info.]. I am interested in pursuing an [Investment Banking Analyst / Associate] position at your firm, and have enclosed my resume and background information below.

^THIS

Make sure you contact your "friend" and let him know that you are applying. Chances are he'll say "feel free to use me a reference" or something of that nature.

 
Best Response
gordo:
Connor:
I hope this helps...

I was recently introduced to your firm via [Friend / Contact at Firm / Presentation] and was impressed with what I learned of [Your Culture / Working Environment / Bank-Specific Info.]. I am interested in pursuing an [Investment Banking Analyst / Associate] position at your firm, and have enclosed my resume and background information below.

^THIS

Make sure you contact your "friend" and let him know that you are applying. Chances are he'll say "feel free to use me a reference" or something of that nature.

Yes, this is the approach that people who referred me told me to use. Name dropping is crass and implies too many bad things: a direct reference is worth its weight in gold.
Get busy living
 

Molestiae ex consequatur in minima. Et ducimus voluptas occaecati inventore sunt. Cumque commodi ut laboriosam ipsam nihil. Explicabo enim officia vel numquam accusamus quo. Aut ut sed molestiae expedita.

Eos commodi exercitationem facere id sed quisquam quasi. Doloremque omnis possimus dignissimos dicta quidem. Architecto sit libero voluptates molestiae dignissimos incidunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

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

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 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

April 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

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
10
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
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...”