- Connected with a person in senior management - She helped me to go through internally to directly meet the hiring manager and the head of department without any application or HR - HOD is a math geek and tested me on a lot of complex financial products; we both took out our pen and paper & solved problems like geeks and had a good time. - After HOD the hiring manager came and asked questions based on my prior market risk experience from my resume; what the dept does; what will be my day to day; how can i fit in? what do i need to prepare myself for? - Both meetings went well but the senior management decided to give the position to internal candidates.