How to get hired when no one responds

I had a 65% GPA, no connections in finance, and parents who ran a restaurant. Here's the exact process I used to land roles at a Big Four firm, a top-rated sell-side team, and eventually the buy side, including the actual LinkedIn message that opened doors.

My dream was always to work in finance, but that path wasn't obvious growing up in a small city where finance barely existed.

I grew up with incredible parents who worked tirelessly. But as immigrants without university degrees, they didn't have insight into the corporate world, and I had no network to lean on. I'm not particularly gifted academically. I attended a fairly average high school and started university with no background in commerce, finance, or business. I originally wanted to study law, but didn't get the grades. So I chose commerce instead, a decision I eventually came to love.

Still, my GPA hovered around 65%. Most major accounting firms wouldn't typically consider that for graduate roles.

The rejection phase

Despite my low grades, and the fact that I didn't fully understand debits and credits, I applied to every graduate program I could find. Rejection after rejection followed. I rarely made it past the initial screening, let alone to an interview.

But I kept trying different things, learning what methods worked better. Eventually, I realised something critical: most people were pouring all their time and energy into maximising their grades. I couldn't compete on that front. Even if I aced every subject from that point on, my GPA would only be respectable, not outstanding.

I needed a different edge.

Finding the edge

I researched relentlessly, spoke to as many people as I could, and scoured every piece of advice I could find. Over time, a path began to emerge.

I connected with people who had successfully secured internships and graduate roles. Many were generous enough to share contact details for HR and recruiters. I began reaching out, explaining my background, my interest in their firm, and why I wanted to be part of their team.

One recruiter suggested I apply for an internship instead of a graduate role. Despite being in my final year, I followed the advice. Perhaps because HR recognised my name, or because internships had more flexible academic requirements, I started making it through to interviews and assessment centres.

Then I made one of the smartest decisions of my career: I added extra subjects to my course load to delay graduation by a year, making me eligible for another round of internships rather than competing for graduate roles.

That internship eventually led to a full-time offer.

By doing things like this, you create opportunities that would not otherwise exist. When you get them, you need to be bold and take them. I could have easily thought, "Why delay graduation? Let's just finish and look for a job." If I had done that, I would not be where I am today.

I got the role not because of my grades, but because I made the effort to stand out. By reaching out directly and having genuine conversations, I left an impression. They thought, "This person seems motivated, intelligent, and personable, let's give him a shot."

The 9-step playbook

This method worked for my first role, and I've used it for every role since, including getting interviews at Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Macquarie, Citi, and Deutsche Bank.

Credentials and experience are essential, but they're table stakes. Everyone has a polished CV. What cuts through the noise is a personal referral from someone inside the organisation.

Here's the process:

1. Identify target companies. Make a list of firms you're genuinely interested in.

2. Research thoroughly. Study everything about these companies — their values, their teams, their goals.

3. Build connections on LinkedIn. Add people who work in the roles or teams you're aiming for. Junior team members are usually more receptive, but try both.

4. Reach out thoughtfully. Send a personalised message. Here's the exact one I used seven years ago that opened doors:

Hi X, Thanks for accepting my request. I noticed you have recently started a role at Goldman Sachs in the equity research team and was hoping you could provide me with some assistance. I am a Senior Analyst in the Assurance & Advisory division at X, with experience in Transactions through a number of secondments to the Corporate Finance Team. I have always been interested in equity research as I have a passion for understanding how businesses work and how current and future events could affect the value of a company. I am hoping that you could take the time from your busy schedule to give me some advice in regards to seeking a role within equity research with my current background. More specifically, any skills I should look to develop, the types of roles I should seek in my current position as well as any general advice on the application process. I would also love the opportunity to catch up for coffee if you were keen. Thanks in advance.

I sent many of these. About 10-20% replied. Meeting those who responded taught me a great deal and built genuine connections that lasted years.

5.Follow up, but don't be annoying. After one coffee meeting, leave a polite thank-you note. Ask them to keep you in mind if any roles open up. Don't overdo it. Sometimes nothing immediate comes of it, but sometimes the person refers you to an open role — or facilitates an interview directly.

6. Use this during hiring season. When firms start recruiting, reach out to the recruiter: "Hi, I recently met with [Contact's Name] from your team, who mentioned you might be recruiting soon. I wanted to follow up on my application." Complete the online application and select "Yes" when asked if you know someone at the company.

7. Stand out. HR will notice you're connected to someone on the team. They'll reach out to that contact. If you made a good impression, your contact says, "Yes, I met with them, great attitude, motivated and capable." That endorsement is invaluable.

8. It's all you from here. A referral gets you the interview. What you do with it is on you. But you'll be better prepared than anyone else because you've already spent months learning about the role from people who do it.

9. Prepare relentlessly and don’t be dejected if the first few fail. After meeting enough people in the field, you'll have a strong sense of the role, the culture, and how to present yourself. If you land the first role - incredible, but most likely it will take a few tries before you iron out the kinks.

A note on genuineness

I know this might sound like "networking", reaching out to get something in return. I don't see it that way.

Yes, I hoped to land a role through this process. But I was equally committed to offering help to these people, whether immediately, in the future, or by supporting others trying to break into the field. This approach has helped me form lasting relationships with friends, clients, and colleagues, many of whom I still keep in touch with today.

The key ingredient is being genuine. As much as it may sound, or even feel like it, you're not using people. You're hoping someone can give you a hand, and you will do everything you can to repay them later. And you'll find that if you're genuine, many people are just happy to help.

This process takes time. When I consider changing jobs, it typically takes six months to a year to navigate the steps effectively. But it works. Consistently.

The key is thinking critically about what others are doing and then taking a different, more strategic approach. Everyone is applying online. Almost nobody is building relationships first. That's your edge,