BlackRock Referral Tips: How International Students Can Boost Their Job Search

For international students trying to get into BlackRock, an internal referral really helps. The company gets tons of applications, and if you just submit your resume online, it’s easy for it to get lost. But if someone inside the company refers you, your resume usually gets seen by the recruiters, which means a much better shot at an interview.

So, how do you get a referral? The easiest way is to reach out to alumni or friends. If your school has people working at BlackRock, find them on LinkedIn, introduce yourself briefly, and see if you can chat. When messaging, be specific—say what role you’re interested in and what skills you possess. Avoid generic requests like “Can you refer me?” Being polite and natural usually works better. Besides alumni, you can also attend tech talks or career events to meet employees and build connections.

Even with a referral, your resume needs to be solid. BlackRock’s tech roles aren’t easy, so don’t just list projects without details. It helps to explain exactly what you did, the tools or languages you used, and any results you got. If you have GitHub projects or LeetCode practice, add those too. For interviews, get ready for coding challenges, system design, and behavioral questions about teamwork or conflict. Practice explaining your answers clearly and naturally.

If you get an interview, how you perform matters a lot. Don’t worry if you can’t answer everything perfectly. It’s better to explain your thinking clearly and keep communicating than to freeze. For behavioral questions, talk about real experiences instead of memorized answers—that feels more genuine. After the interview, sending a quick thank-you note to your interviewer or referrer is polite and helps leave a good impression.

All in all, BlackRock is competitive, but not impossible. A referral just opens the door; your skills and preparation decide how far you go. For international students looking for internships or jobs, there are plenty of chances if you work smart and stay persistent. Meeting people and building up your projects helps not just now but for your whole career.