Worst Networking mistakes
Hey guys,
I was wondering what are the worst networking mistakes you have experienced or heard of so far, especially for entry-level candidates?
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Personally, for the first bank that did OCR I sent out my follow-up emails on a Saturday. Unsurprisingly I only got 1 response back.
The big ones that I see during networking chats, recruiting events and even interviews:
Being too pushy with your own objectives and only talking about yourself. Any networking email/meeting/phone call you engage in, you should be saying the word "You" often and saying the word "I" very seldom. It's fine to mention that you're a student and want to learn more about an industry, but you gotta make the other person feel special. Give them their soap box, let them spout their wisdom, etc. No finance professional wants to hear a student pitch his shitty credentials. They want to talk about what they do and brag to someone whose easily impressed.
Being too casual with the employees. We're trying to make you feel comfortable, but that doesn't mean you should be cursing and calling the Analysts "dude" during pre-superday dinner after having two beers. It makes you look like you lack polish and can't be trusted around investors/clients. Always be two notches less bro than the people you're trying to impress.
No political conversation. Ever. Even if you someone else initiates.
Uh...hitting on the people you're networking with.
Don't dress weird. Gray or navy suit, blue or white shirt, regular tie that isn't super wide or super skinny. Shoes don't have to be nice at all but make them NORMAL, i.e. thin soles not those thick soles that look like a cross between a dress shoe an a hiking shoe. Can't believe someone tried to wear those.
Things I see too often: suits that don't fit (you don't need a great fit, just look normal . . anything off the rack with basic dept store alterations is more than good enough). Those big ass ugly shoes I mentioned above. Fat ties (always a trashy look). Those super skinny ties with the flat bottom. Shiny suits. Tan suits. Asshole collars. Collar bars.
I've never seen anyone dumb enough to wear a bowtie to networking, but I've seen a few people dumb enough to wear a bowtie to work. Don't do either.
It's actually pretty hard to mess up networking. Most mistakes are forgiven. If you're a little too pushy, people usually assume you're the nice awkward guy who will get the hang of it later. If you say something stupid, big deal we've all said something stupid. If you don't know a lot about markets/deals, just admit it and ask genuine questions and be a listener. Bankers appreciate that kids are taking time out of their youth, after a long day of classes, to stand around in a crowded room to get an edge in their career. They are on your side. But dressing like a clown is one of the few ways to screw the pooch.
Why can't you wear a collar bar?
I assume you're talking about in the US. Europe may be different.
I don't think you'd get dinged for it. But anything that looks like you're going out of your way for fashion feels a little odd, especially for a college kid.
Are black suits frowned upon? I'm still rocking the one I got senior year of high school and it fits me really well, but it is still black. Not sure I want to take the plunge to get a blue one if I'm only going to use it once a year.
Unfortunately black suits are a no-go. Good news is, nothing wrong with a cheap suit from men's wearhouse or whatever. Just needs to be a normal looking suit, i.e. no shine or other weird shit going on. And a reasonable fit.
Black suits are for funerals and formal events. Buying a navy blue suit is the best route.
I remember seeing on another thread that you shouldn't wear a suit when you're a student. Would an obcd with a nice sweater, khakis and loafers be good?
My advice was for business attire events, i.e. on-campus recruiting events (presentations, coffee chats etc). I mostly visit MBA programs where everyone wears a suit to these. I had assumed that undergrad events are also suits (I did a few at Wharton and McIntire, thought they had suits on . . maybe I'm remembering wrong).
In any event, anything I said about suits, ties etc only applies when that's the expected attire. If your school has something else going on like an informal coffee chat or whatever, then dress down as appropriate.
First Sentence - "Bro, I want to be like Wolf of Wall Street. Can you help?"
lol
Saw a kid walk up to the CEO of Tata, push his way through the crowd politely listening to the conversation, and loudly interrupt with a rushed line:
"Oh my god, I'm such a huge fan of your company [insert 2-3 random facts easily available off the website], you have to have a spot for someone like me in your company"
Response was actually quite polite, along the lines of: "At this stage, all I know about you is that you rudely interrupted my conversation, so no, I don't have to do anything"
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Linkedin Networking Requests (had this happen multiple times from college students)
Dear Mr. John Doe,
I am very impressed by your career path at Deloitte and would love to speak to you regarding my experience and why I think I would be a great fit. I've read great things about BCG and can really see myself working there. Would you have time for a coffee chat or perhaps a phone call?
Best,
Student
I understand if you're annoyed by this, especially if it happens often, but why is this a mistake? It seems a pretty polite request to me.
Lol don't think you read it correctly.
They are referencing too different companies because its a copy and paste job and they got sloppy.
Been there done. That. I got a reply email instructing me to take out his form, replace with the other firm and send to them. Lessons learned.
I sent a LinkedIn email to someone with the wrong recipient's name and I also put the wrong company's name.
This actually cancels out. He owes you a job now.
Saw someone at a bank presentation ask the presenting MD, in a fawning tone, "what is the secret behind your incredible success?"
Don't do that. But that wasn't the biggest mistake.
I was also a student in that audience, and I sort of rolled my eyes and snickered at the question a bit, thinking I wouldn't be the only one to find it ridiculous.
I'm sure I wasn't the only one to find it ridiculous, but I'm the only one who audibly laughed (and I was pretty quiet . . others just didn't say a peep). A couple people heard me and looked at me, including the recruiter who started right at me, angled her head a bit so she could get a better view of my nametag, and wrote my name down. I think I might've been the only person invited to that event who didn't end up making the closed list for interviews.
Never underestimate the potential of other people to be humorless stiffs. Including your own classmates.
Classic acting like a douche then insisting all your peers are just humorless when it gets you in trouble. +1SB. Timeless maneuver.
People at my business school had told me to never message people from companies on LinkedIn.
I know one girl who was talking to some recruiters and was taking up way too much time and was interrupting other people when they started to try to talk to the recruiter.
I swear she actually said stuff like “My mother really wants me to get a job at your firm”
You know, even if you do some stupid things, the more networking you do, the better. Worst case scenario you get some humorous anecdotes for WSO (and hopefully learn something). Best case scenario you score a job and a rabbi to school you. Next thing you know you're on your way to a great career. I've heard many stories of incredibly successful executives who "lacked polish" or whatever at first, but through luck and pluck (ala Horatio Alger) fell into a golden opportunity. If you don't play, you can't lose... but you can't win either.
not following up with people - i receive tons of in-bounds, often only respond after the second message (ideal timing would be a week later). helps to knock out the people who just blast spam to everyone on wall street. if they really want to talk, they should follow up.
I see your point, but as a student how do you make sure you don't go from pushy (in a good way) to annoying?
wait a week or two and hit them with a two sentence email confirming your interest in speaking with them and asking if there's a good time. Be brief and make it clear you're deferring to their availability.
Had a call one time, accidentally called the recruiter a dirty little yield slut. Got the offer anyway but it was a close call
What?? Lol
up
Once had a girl start asking me if my BB would ever consider investing in technology to genetically modify people so that we could have more PWM clients.
Networking screw up? (Originally Posted: 07/09/2018)
Hi although my main aim isn’t to do IB next summer, after getting a hirevue from MS I decided I should maybe do a bit of networking so I would have a stronger chance. I emailed a md at the nyc office who also is the head of a division asking for an informational. Instead he just replied “thanks ffffml. Looks good. Have forwarded your resume to your schools recruiting team. Good luck”
Did I screw up? I’m thinking he just said this so I wouldnt waste his time. I go to a target and not sure what to do
Nah you didnt. that's what basically all MDs do
so should I try to find out which analysts are on the nyu recruiting team and try to get an informational with them? Or am I fine?
Most MDs would never take the time to talk to a college kid unless there's some sort of personal connection involved (i.e. relative, family friend etc.), and to be brutally honest he probably replied just to be polite and forgot about you the moment he hit "send." If he did indeed forward your resume, that gives you a huge leg up, but if you're serious about getting the position, assume he didn't moving forward.
That being said, I personally found networking with junior bankers to be extremely effective and since there are tons and tons of NYU alumni in IB, it'd probably be way more worth your time to get in touch with them as opposed to emailing random MDs.
If you're intent on pursuing this particular MD's help, you could definitely reply thanking him and asking if he can put you in touch with any junior bankers he works with for you to learn more about the firm/position
Thanks will try to email analysts from nyu
Messed Up Networking Emails - Advice Needed (Originally Posted: 09/07/2016)
So I've been sending out a bunch of networking emails to try and get in touch with alumni. I emailed about 5 people at the same bank on the same day with the same email template (swapping out the names of course). I later receive a reply from an analyst saying that he knows I copy-pasted emails - I've done this for a couple other banks as well. How do I salvage this situation?
Uh, ya, you can't. Hope other banks don't notice it. it's really stupid though, once they notice, better focus on other options ...
Spread out when you send your emails. Don't blast everyone on the same day. Most people don't care about this in my experience though.
Yeah, that's a bummer. Remember to always try to be personable and genuine when writing this kind of emails, it really does help someone who's swamped with work at least remember you
Honestly the analyst sounds like a dick. If someone blasted me and my colleagues unless it was a ridiculous email or you blasted the entire group, no one would care. Just move on.
While its true he sounds like a dick, OP is taking the wrong approach to networking. You don't want to act like a machine or someone who doesn't care about who they're talking to. You want to individualize and form real connections, as much as possible. So it's definitely a lessons learned type of situation.
Were you able to salvage the situation and if so how?
networking on the fly, would this be bold or just stupid (Originally Posted: 01/10/2013)
There is a hotel next to my office where I get my morning coffee. I saw that there is some kind of PwC confrence going on. Would it be appropriate to maybe go there for lunch or another coffee later, and see if I can find someone to ask what's going on>say oh awesome, etc>express interest if the person works in the area I want to work in>maybe hint towards an informational interview... Or is that completely ridiculous? Idk, this idea came to me when I left the hotel Starbucks.
Any input? I'm quickly typing this from my phone, apologize for shitty grammar/spelling
downside from doing so = a dude thinks you're weird upside = >0
Go for it. Just don't come across creepy
def go for it, just make it seems natural and that you didn't plan it. Tons of connections are made naturally on the fly
do it. the best connections are those on the fly
Absolutely....being an opportunist gets people ahead in life.
I would not miss that opportunity at all if I were you
Feel free to share the results if you did jump in...
Question about potential networking mistake and how I can spin this? (Originally Posted: 07/14/2016)
Looking to recruit for a SA role next summer and have recently been introduced to a few bankers in the industry. Problem is, I've also been in touch with some guys in ER and S&T and although I don't like their business as much, it definitely was a good chat I had with them to learn more about what the investment bank does.
Problem is- how do I even think about mentioning the people I've met from different parts of the bank if I am recruiting for IBD? I want to ultimately show recruiters I actually looked into all the parts of the investment bank and found IBD to be of most interest to me. Just confused on how I should structure this.
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