Crazy Networking Stories

EtherBinge:

Clubbing with older high school alumni who work in IB/S&T.

Strip clubs sometimes, just for the fun of it.

It's crazy the people you meet at strip clubs (in and out of finance).

Sandhurst:

It was a nothing special locals bar in a ski town out west. I was there with my college roommate, knocking back a few smooth ones on the cheap before we hit the clubs. Somehow the conversation came to Mitt Romney's net worth. I said something about how, while he is undoubtedly quite rich at $200 million, the way he was getting beat up in the media you'd think he was Carl Ichan's richer, eviler twin.

A few of the regulars at the bar looked over. I remembered where I was, and closed my mouth.

A minute later, a well-dressed guy in his late 30s meanders over. He puts his hand on my shoulder. "You said it, kid," he said, and followed it with something about commies and the America he used to know.

Turns out he's a partner at a prettay legit hedge fund, he tells me. (If I, already a few beers deep, recognized the name then it probably doesn't suck.) We chat for a few minutes. As he leaves to rejoin his friends, he hands me a business card. Tells me to "reach out."

It was like a dream. But I had proof - the card. Emailed him a couple days later. Left a voice message a few days after that.

Never heard back.

Tragic

Edster:

There's a rumor among students at my school about a guy who was sleeping with an older woman - think early forties - and who found out after a couple of months that she was a (married) Group Head at BofA. Basically, she liked to have her young athletic guy to entertain her every now and then when she was around. She also wined and dined him like crazy. She pretended that he was her son when she took her to some of the best restaurants and places.

After a while he told her that he was looking for an associate position in IBD. That's where it just seems too good to be true; the rumor says that she made him the offer in bed right after sex. I can't really vouch for this, but even the OCR guy mentioned it when we talked.

Edster:

There's a rumor among students at my school about a guy who was sleeping with an older woman - think early forties - and who found out after a couple of months that she was a (married) Group Head at BofA. Basically, she liked to have her young athletic guy to entertain her every now and then when she was around. She also wined and dined him like crazy. She pretended that he was her son when she took her to some of the best restaurants and places.

After a while he told her that he was looking for an associate position in IBD. That's where it just seems too good to be true; the rumor says that she made him the offer in bed right after sex. I can't really vouch for this, but even the OCR guy mentioned it when we talked.

Its all about 'bringing something to the table' at the end of the day. haha

A man can dream can't he drooling.....

DBCooper:

I dated a girl in college who went on to HR at a megafund that most people on this board would get wet for. It ended really badly unfortunately.

That would be pretty sweet. I gotta find myself something (someone ?) like that.

When you're at the bar - guard your drink like Tomlinson guards the football- DO NOT let it spill!!!!

Don't send an email to a guy from firm X asking to discuss firm Y - Not that I've done this.

"Banking - It is what it is"

Worst networking blunder that lots of kids make - trying to sound "overly smart". This is the guy that peppers the senior bankers with questions like "What do you see in the markets in times like these?" and "What are some of the hardest deal issues you've encountered?". DO NOT BE THAT KID.

If you're in an informal setting, such as drinks after work, lunch, etc the LAST thing we want to talk about is work. Just be a normal person, talk about sports, common interests, anything but banking. Geeks don't get the job - smart, sharp, socially adjusted people do.

• Capt K

1. Don't act cocky or exaggerate your knowledge/experience. At best you come off like a tool, at worst a liar. Be appreciative of the person's time. Essentially, give off the vibe that you know a little bit about the industry, but not everything, and that you are eager to learn more.

2. However, to piggyback on that last point, some guys will test you a bit and you should be prepared for it. Do not tell me how desperate you are to be a banker, how you read the WSJ and watch CNBC everyday, and then go blank when I bring up a relevant news story or popular deal. If you're gonna talk the talk, then you better be able to walk the walk.

I did this. I addressed a letter to a guy at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Spelled the company name: Booze

The alum called me and told me how hysterical it was. I told him Word auto-converted it. We actually spoke and "networked" and it wasn't a bad rapport builder either. But needless to say...I am not working for Booze Allen Hamilton.

A case study: I failed to keep up with the most powerful alumni from my (very small) school - a VC guy, knew loads of bankers really well. He was very eager to help me, and gave me a few projects just to test my interest (like coming up with a few companies and contacts on my own). I had such a busy semester that I went too long without following up with him, and eventually too much time passed for me to call him back. Though this relationship was unique (for the sake of brevity just know that the relationship sort of "expired") but the lesson is the same -keep up with your contacts, don't let any slip away.

• Don't drink too much, or at all

• Watch your mouth, i.e. do not say something that could be interpreted as pejorative, even remotely

When you're emailing Alums, don't ask for a job outright or help landing an interview with the firm he/she works for. Always position it as a request for advice.

I went to Wharton, and in my experience with networking, people usually prefer you're right to the point - ie, if you're trying to land an interview, ask for help getting an interview. Networking is about doing favors for one another, and most often you pay it forward. Tons of my classmates and recent alum have been laid off and are calling for help much earlier than they thought they would - being honest and upfront is valuable and time-saving.

If I were trying to land an interview, I'd say something like:

"Considering you work for Co XYZ, I was hoping you could offer advice on entering this sector, and possibly getting an interview with your company."

I also heartily recommend Keith Ferrazi's book 'Never Eat Alone'

-People do not owe you anything -Be direct and honest when the moment is right (trust is built). Yes its about scratching backs, if it weren't it wouldn't be competitive. -Be socially and academically/financially saavy. Caliborate it. They don't want to just hear about your football and drunk past, but also how financially sharp/ambitious (all of your difference faces) you are -Be honest (noone knows something more than an expert) and don't be stupid

Asked 4 closed-ended questions and repeatedly got the same answer. Lasted less than a minute.

For your first question, it depends on how many times you have called him and when this happened. If it is pretty recent, and you've only reached out once or twice via email, then I would probably wait until next week and give him a phone call, as an email to apologize for forgetting about someone is almost as dismissive as forgetting about said person in the first place - especially someone you are hoping to get some help from. If, however, you've pestered this person trying to apologize, etc, with several emails, I think it's time to let that one simmer for a while and come back in a month or so to see if "his schedule has opened up a bit."

To your second question, if someone asks you for your resume and what offices you are interested in from a top firm, you better not tell him "no, I just want some info." It's not one or the other here, it's both, and you need to jump on that - if I said to someone send me your resume and they said no, I just want to ask you a question, I would assume that you are either not ready to work where I work, aren't smart enough to capitalize on every opportunity, or just don't need anything from me and just want to ask a random alum a question. It's fine to preface with "I'm finishing up an internship and should have it updates in a month or so," or something like that, which he'll understand, but absolutely send it over. Simply put, do your research, make sure your resume is very well polished, and send it over. Once he sees it, he'll probably decide if you are worth spending a bunch of time with, or not really - if he talks to over the phone answers a bunch of questions for you, you should be in pretty good shape from his perspective. Keep your wits about you, get your materials cleaned up, and make the most out of it.

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

Not quite sure what the best course of action would be for the first question - maybe someone else can answer that for you, but I agree with bankonbanking on number 2. Absolutely do not do what you have planned. It'll blow up in your face badly. I think you probably should have been prepared anyway (when you're networking, did you expect people to NOT ask for your rez?), but at the very least, tweak it as much as possible and send it to him. If it's in bad shape, remind him that you're still working on it and ask for advice, but don't tell him no!

I'd just assume that you're fucked in the first case. Bummer.

For the second, send him your best draft of your resume (note that it is a draft, and that any comments would be appreciated), and say that offices/industries is actually one of the topics you were intending to ask him about b/c you're still exploring the various options and differences between them.

Yea man, you're a student, there is very little to gain on their end and they are more than likely approached many times by people attempting to 'network' just gotta take the good with the bad

Yeah, a bunch of times. I can be rather direct or abrasive sometimes (all the time). I will never work at a couple firms because I have pissed MD's off.

As long as you are polite you will be fine, just roll with it. These people tend to be blunt and very busy. Just move on to someone more helpful.

No I don't mean blunt during a conversation, blunt as in getting an email asking to speak and just being dismissive in the email response back and you never talk face to face

It happens a lot. I have been helped so much by non alumni and have been blown off or not helped at all by very close alumni. Nature of the beast. I just take note and will never help them when the shoe is on the other foot.

How did you piss MDs off? Just by emailing them too much or by saying something in conversation?

It was nothing really, just asked the wrong question during an info session and then decided to get into an argument.