A question about networking - how to maintain connections

When I was looking for a job, I networked left and right with alumni connections and friends, friend of friends, etc. A good 80-90% of emails led to phone conversations... a few led to interviews. Regardless, I always followed up with a thank you letter.

6 months later - I managed to get a finance job. I have sent a few alumni 'update emails' to let them know where I am, and got a few responses. But I probably only sent it to 10% of the people I talked to. I'm not looking for a job, but maybe a year or two down the line... so I'd like to stay in touch with them. So if something comes up, they'll think of me.

I was wondering if I should reach out to the rest of my one or two-time phone conversations w/ alums? Tell them where I am, thank them again for their advice, wishing to stay in touch. Would it look really insincere since it's been so long (anywhere from 6 -12mos)? Or would they not care? Is there a way to rebuild these one-time connections into something more?

How have people maintained connections they've made? How often should you send update emails, and such?

Thanks

 

Thanks for responding Alpha.

Well I had at least one conversation with many of them (not including email exchange). I guess I'm just asking... it's 6mth to almost a year later. Does it look weird that I update them now? As opposed to right after I got my job?

 
swagon:
is it ok to call/email saying "I know its been a while, but I got a job/offer/interview that I wanted to run by you"?

IMO yes, because at least you have something to talk about. I've taken that exact route before.

 

^ i would say something like can we grab lunch/coffee together when you get a minute after the update. If you only give the update, the only thing that people can say is congrats. You need to give them a topic/chance to respond.

 
Best Response

You should definitely reach out to these contacts and touch base with them. While it's been several months, you've got some genuine news to share and should reach back out to extend your appreciation. Essentially I would craft the email to include: 1) a thank you again for all of their help and insight, 2) let them know of your news and that you got an analyst/associate position with bank X or boutique Y, 3) provide them with updated contact information and finally, 4) ask them a question about group culture or something relevant to your situation as a new analyst - maybe something on fitting in with the team or some such thing. Point 4 provides the channel for more than a simple "congratulations and good luck" email, while at the same time catching up with an alum/former contact and keeping the connection going.

Remember, this business is built on networking and maintaining contacts - just as you are an analyst now and in a few years you might want to call on them - they might be an analyst or associate now (for example), but in a few years they might be calling on their contacts for potential opportunities, one contact of which could be you. It's all a two-way street and just as you might want to leverage your network, so too might your contacts down the line. There is definitely incentive for them to send a quick email to you just as you did for them now that you've landed a comparable position - make the first move, send out the email, and keep it going.

From this point on, try not to let the connection completely fall apart and send occasional emails every few months just to touch base. Good luck.

 
BankonBanking:
You should definitely reach out to these contacts and touch base with them. While it's been several months, you've got some genuine news to share and should reach back out to extend your appreciation. Essentially I would craft the email to include: 1) a thank you again for all of their help and insight, 2) let them know of your news and that you got an analyst/associate position with bank X or boutique Y, 3) provide them with updated contact information and finally, 4) ask them a question about group culture or something relevant to your situation as a new analyst - maybe something on fitting in with the team or some such thing. Point 4 provides the channel for more than a simple "congratulations and good luck" email, while at the same time catching up with an alum/former contact and keeping the connection going.

Remember, this business is built on networking and maintaining contacts - just as you are an analyst now and in a few years you might want to call on them - they might be an analyst or associate now (for example), but in a few years they might be calling on their contacts for potential opportunities, one contact of which could be you. It's all a two-way street and just as you might want to leverage your network, so too might your contacts down the line. There is definitely incentive for them to send a quick email to you just as you did for them now that you've landed a comparable position - make the first move, send out the email, and keep it going.

From this point on, try not to let the connection completely fall apart and send occasional emails every few months just to touch base. Good luck.

But what happen if you get an offer from BB, and your contact is in a boutique. You run the risk of pissing him off by sending such 'show-off' email (at least he might think this way)...

 

I'm in a similar predicament, while interning as an FX Analyst for an Fortune 50 this summer, i got a chance to meet a lot of bankers while in meetings and got their business cards, but i don't know the rules of how to contact them. These are managing directors/ assistant directors- i'm pretty sure i can't send them a message going 'hey so.... remember me from that meeting? can i get an internship?' ... any ideas on an appropriate way to contact these guys without sounding like a pest?

 

Reply to the past email. It will a) show them that you have spoken before and b) give them a chance to read through what you talked about and catch back up since they probably won't remember what you have already discussed.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

No need. You're not going to be getting an interview if you've been as annoying as you have been in the politics thread. Your pretentious mannerisms are going to get you an auto-ding even if have an IQ of over 9000

 

Interesting topic but i don't think there is any answer to your question. relationships are about exchanging value. as a junior you don't have anything to offer except making them feel good about their careers for a few mins. an approach that has its limits. so besides finding some of these folks who voluntarily enlist to procure mentorship for students from their ex-uni creating sustainable relationships would be a very ambitious endeavor. fortunately i don't think that is required. (says the guy who's still looking for an internship :( )

 

There's no formula, dude. Try to make a friend (I'm not saying you have no friends, I'm saying trying try to make a friend out of the people you add to your network). Much easier to get along with and stay in touch with someone if you're friends - that way, you can talk about anything (maybe you're both sports fans?) and when recruiting comes around, the contact will want to throw their friend's name in the ring and will push for you, rather than just forwarding your resume and telling HR 'some guy I met.'

It works - as an example, I was an intern who received a return offer from my group last summer, and there were hiring externally - I happened to meet someone I got along with at an event and then randomly found out he was interviewing at my bank, and that weekend I went out to meet the guys I worked with for a few drinks and recommended this guy. There were 3-4 people in contention for the offer, but (at least partly based on my recommendation) they hired him, and I get to work with a friend next year.

TL;DR - become friends with them and make them want to work with you. Say/do whatever you think is effective as a way to make friends.

 
swagon:
How often do you lose them? Just be careful when you put them in your eyes, and cover your sink drain with a paper towel to make sure they don't fall into the drain. And eventually I'd look into lasik surgery but that's just me.

that's funny because

First we sky dive out of Airforce one because president ford told us to "get off his plane". Then we land nicely on my speed boat driven by Charlies Angels and gulp down some mimosas real fast so there's time to put on our leather jackets and jump the shark. The crowd goes wild(I'm kind of a big deal). Magnanimous man that i am, i wave my muscled arm and smile my chiseled jaw. Laughing my hearty laugh, i tell you to wait as i fetch my Lamborghini. You wait with baited breath as i zoom towards you. Just as you start to fear obliteration, I turn the wheel sharply and do a barrel roll right above you. Only this isn't just any barrel roll. I hand you a rose as our paths cross and eyes meet. The car slides to a graceful stop and i gesture for you to get in. We drive of to the island's summit where my helicopter to Jurassic Park awaits. We've spared no expenses

 

sign up for a free CRM (google it)

Disclaimer for the Kids: Any forward-looking statements are solely for informational purposes and cannot be taken as investment advice. Consult your moms before deciding where to invest.
 

Saying something from your conversation will come across weird since it's been a few months, unless of course you can relate it to the present like something you saw in the news or their business, etc... Be like how have things been going. I read an article about the bank or I saw some news on the sector....

This gives the conversation something to go off of. Unless you have a solid relationship, I wouldn't ask for a sit down immediately because the guy will know exactly what you're looking for. Have some back and forth banter going before you ask for the sit down. The natural progression will be totally less awkward than a cold sit down request.

 

Don't over think it. Just try and put yourself in that persons' shoes and say what you think would be the least awkward thing to hear .The other thing is that everyone has to go through this sort of thing when they're starting out or networking so people tend to be pretty gracious about the whole thing.

 

Don't just say, "Hey, I saw an opening for your group on your firms website. Here's my resume. Can I have the position?"

Start off with a conversational piece. Start off with how you talked about his group previously and now you are just following up and seeing how it is doing now. If he replies back then I would ask him if he knows anything about that position.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

how should I phrase the email exactly? He gave a presentation about his group at the open house but I never talked about it with him so I'm not sure what to say. I just want to give it a shot even though it probably won't make a difference.

 

Like Skinnayyy said, build the relationship with this guy more; that way he will get to know you better and be willing to help you. Of course it seems time is a factor, so you may have to move quickly with this suggestion.

Prospective Banker. Gentleman. Bodybuilder.
 

I sent him an email but I didn't ask questions about this group. I was going to but I noticed that the job ad disappeared already. Since he is part of that group, I asked him if he knew about the current status of that position. Was this a poor move? Best case scenario would be that the position is still open that he may ask for my resume. Worst case scenario is that I get ignored.

 

I sent that email on friday morning and still have not gotten a response. I am so sick of cold emailing thinking it will help but rarely any do. I am just gonna forget about this position

 

If he is an old boss (meaning a past boss from past employment as I understand it), how would he staff you on a project?

If, on the other hand, you have moved around over the course of your internship, and he is part of your firm, just in a different group, then you could theoretically be staffed on one of his/her projects, but I would tread softly there. Considering you are now in another group, he probably has other interns to staff on projects, and I'm assuming your group might be annoyed (if you are indeed as good as you claim) or even angered by the idea that you are getting staffed on other projects for an old boss, and that you asked for it almost implying that you don't find their work interesting or worthwhile.

Can it be done, I suppose so, but it is definitely risky, especially as an intern without a FT offer yet (I'm assuming), just to get access to a project you heard about. Touching base with your old boss to keep the connection alive for FT recruiting, or to be placed in his/her group FT is one thing, but dropping your team to pick up another group's project is definitely not the same thing. Then again, I may just be missing something here.

IBanker www.BankonBanking.com [email protected] Articles, News, Advice and More Break Into Investment Banking

 

Unde iste adipisci optio nihil. Voluptas et quas fuga sint cum. Est et odit magnam et ad. Sunt eligendi voluptas non quo illum inventore voluptate. Tempora velit saepe et natus ipsum id cum.

Sunt est ipsam ratione sit nemo omnis necessitatibus. Tempora optio qui officia perspiciatis. Soluta dolorem debitis assumenda et itaque. Sit deleniti fuga dolorum optio aliquam natus. Consectetur sit exercitationem fugit similique quia natus autem.

 

Facilis aut sit voluptatem voluptas. Illo quia ea soluta sunt. Illo aperiam doloribus laudantium.

Delectus dolor eaque neque a atque. Ea sequi est id velit. Nihil aut rerum qui totam dolor consequatur amet. Voluptatem doloremque dolor eum laudantium quia amet. Laudantium reprehenderit amet eaque voluptas sit ut. Voluptas explicabo quas vitae. Voluptatem aut enim ex qui.

 

Molestiae ut natus ea aut voluptas. Est ad sint atque. Eaque consequatur nisi nihil ullam reiciendis. Officiis sed est aut et repellat et tempora. Magnam odio quas ratione ut laboriosam provident. Voluptas delectus adipisci quia et aut veritatis aut.

Distinctio quia alias dolorem error quaerat. Deleniti occaecati in et voluptate.

Officia ut autem totam quam consectetur quod. Quo dignissimos qui consectetur et. Similique earum expedita non a culpa eos est. Quidem magni fugit harum quos et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”