If You Get a VC Interview, Do This

Getting the interview is only step one.

Most candidates stop once they're in process.

What I'm going to share today is a way to materially increase your odds once you're already in process.

It's this: get a good word in from someone the firm already trusts.

VC is a small, relationship-driven industry. A quiet internal "this person is solid" carries real weight.

Here's how to do it properly — and not awkwardly.

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Step 1: Map the Firm Before Your Interview

Go to LinkedIn. Look at mutual connections across the entire VC firm — not just the interviewer.

Partners. Principals. Associates. Platform. Everyone counts.

Then start reaching out to your mutual connections who are connected to them.

Your ask is simple:

"Hey — do you know [Name] at [Firm] well? I'm interviewing for their open VC position and I'm looking to find folks who know them. I see you're connected. Let me know, thank you!"

This will lead to either no response or one of these:

1. "I don't really know them — just connected." → Totally fine. Thank them. Keep it moving.
2. "I don't know them well, but I know someone who does." → Still a win — you can work with this.
3. "Yes, I know them well." → This is where you need to play your cards right.

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Step 2: Decide the Right Ask (Read the Room)

If you get responses #2 or #3, you generally have two options:

1. Ask them to share a favorable note about you
2. Ask if they're comfortable making an intro

Important rule: only ask for an intro if the relationship is genuinely close. If it's a looser connection, a quiet positive note is often better (and safer).

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Step 3: Make It Absurdly Easy for Them to Help You

This is where most candidates mess up.

If someone is going to vouch for you, do not make them write the message from scratch.

Instead, send a forwardable email — an email you send to your contact that they can forward as-is to the VC. No editing, no rewriting, no thinking.

Low friction = higher chance it actually gets sent.

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Example of a Strong Forwardable Email

Subject: Candidate for [Role] at [VC Firm]

Hi [Mutual Connection],

Thanks again for being open to passing along a note. I really appreciate it!

Sharing a short blurb below.

———

Hi [Name at VC Firm],

I'm [your name]. I'm interviewing for your current open VC position and I'm looking forward to getting connected with more folks at [VC Firm].

[Insert a short bio on yourself]

A few reasons I'd be a great fit for the role: — [1–2 sentence strengths tied to VC work] — [Brief credibility signal: prior role, investing experience, operator background]

Best, [Your Name]

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Why This Works

VC hiring is noisy. Everyone looks smart on paper.

A warm internal signal cuts through that.

A quiet internal "this person is solid" carries real weight.

Get as many warm referrals as you can to as many people at the firm as you can.

This isn't about being sneaky. It's about understanding how decisions actually get made.

If you're already interviewing and not doing this, you're leaving real leverage on the table.