IBD Informational Interview with an Analyst
Hey guys! Please I need your help once again. What to expect? Should I practice Finance hardcore. Same technical difficulty scale as superday?
Thanks in advance!
Hey guys! Please I need your help once again. What to expect? Should I practice Finance hardcore. Same technical difficulty scale as superday?
Thanks in advance!
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It's an informational interview.. you probably just ask him more questions than he asks you..
Its an informational interview to discuss my background though...
Just had two informational interviews. I did no questioning whatsoever. It was all about discussing my background. Just thought to put it out there for people who might be interested in the future
why didn't you ask questions
that's a must in interviewng
I'm starting to have a bunch of these as recruiting is heating up on campus. What other stuff should we be looking at? Can we ask for these information interviews or do they not like that?
In my experience, it depends on the person you meet. I did meet a couple of bankers who asked me what stocks I have looked into and what my opinion was about their performance. It was nothing too technical though. I am sure that putting in some time to look into a couple of stocks would pay high dividends. If anything, it will make you look knowledgeable imo. However, I do agree with other people who commented on this thread. You should be the one asking questions even if the interview is focused on your background. The entire purpose of the informational interview is to learn more about the industry and the experience of the banker you are meeting.
How to better end an informational interview (Originally Posted: 04/30/2012)
So I've had a couple of informational interviews over the phone and they've gone pretty well, 25-30 minutes talking about them, then I ask, "do you have any advice for someone in my position trying to get started with XXXX FIRM?" So far they've been pretty open in terms of offering a referral, the problem is since I ask them so many questions and then essentially ask for the referral, I don't have any more questions. So we spend about two minutes talking about the referral/application process and then I say "well that's about all the questions I had thank you for taking time out of your day etc etc" So I'm kind of worried that it makes it seem as if all I'm trying to get out of them is the referral because I end the conversation directly after because I've essentially run out of questions. I think it might be awkward if I bring up the referral in the middle of questions, so does anyone have a smoother way of ending these conversations?
What stage are you in? College? Working?
Graduated May 2011 from semi-target/target, doing a 1 year teaching fellowship abroad.
I know you're very busy so I'll let you get back, thank you very much for your time, have a good day and cheers for the interview you balla!!! i'm going to be awesome, probably your boss one day.
Here’s all you need to do: Make a great first impression in your first call or in-person meeting. Follow-up and ask for what you want. If you’re networking well in-advance of recruiting season, sure, follow-up every few months so they remember who you are… But if it’s close to recruiting season just follow-up and make your request: “Thanks for speaking with me last week. With recruiting season approaching, I just wanted to follow-up and ask how I could best position myself for an interview with your firm.”"
Hope this answers your question. Do PM me if you have specific questions.
informational interviews? (Originally Posted: 01/15/2015)
In an effort to network my way into I-Banking, I've reached out to people from different middle market firms for informational interviews. From what I've read on Wallstreetoasis and other forums, there are conflicting opinions over what the purpose of "networking" is. Some say that networking shouldn't be used to get your first job, while others say that during the interview, you should be explicit and ask about job vacancies and potential hires in the future within the departments of who you've reached out to. Is it appropriate to ask people, who you've reached out to for the very first time, about job openings?
Ask them what the hiring process looks like at their firm, and then reiterate your interest. Generally, they'll get the hint you're looking for a job.
Helpful advice! Thanks!
I would be cautious and approach the informational interview more as a way to gauge the program you're interested in. At the end, definitely make sure to ask what is the recruiting process for that particular program to show your interest.
informational interview how-to (Originally Posted: 06/25/2015)
I'm grabbing coffee with an alumnus from my school tomorrow who currently works at an EB.
It'll be my first informational interview, and I don't wanna fuck it up or come off as just needing him to pass my resume along. So do you have any tips on how I should go about it? Any specific questions I should ask?
Thanks!
?
You're not asking for a job, you're asking for advice on how to break in. Start by talking about his past experience and how he got in. Pick his brain a bit about his experiences. Then transition to your situation and talk about your past and where you'd like to go, and ask for his advice on what he thinks you should do. Then follow up with asking if he can recommend anyone else that you could talk to. Don't ask him for a job or bring up your resume at all unless you'd like to ask him to review it for you.
Good suggestions.But How to finally land to reference? Had almost 20 information session interviews.I am always embarrassed about asking reference? Since I am far away from the NY,even land a cup of coffee is very hard for me. All the information session interviews I did are phone call.any suggestions about how to get coffee time and finally lead to reference? Thanks
What do you mean by "lead to a reference"?
Help on informational interviews (Originally Posted: 02/09/2014)
Hey monkeys
I'm currently a first year at a Canadian target and I am currently trying to network my way into a finance job for the summer. I've been conducting informational interviews with people in boutique investment banks and PE firms. It's been going well so far, but I feel like I can still improve.
I usually start off the phone call by making some small talk (asking how the weather is, etc.). I feel this makes the phone call more conversational. After moving on from this stage, I then ask them about their background and how they broke into the industry. They usually talk about this for 7-10 minutes, and by that time, I usually have gotten enough information to ask follow-up questions tailored around their experiences. If I was really slow and couldn't think of anything, I have several general questions prepared such as:
"What advice can you give to someone looking to break into the industry?"
"What skills do you think is the most valuable to have in IB/PE/etc.?"
"Can you explain what the difference in culture is like between firms in the buy-side and the sell-side?"
Usually, everything goes swimmingly, but the close is the weakest part of my game. I'm unsure on how to ask for anything at the end, be it referrals or anything else. Also, how exactly does one turn information interviews into real interviews?
If anyone could offer some feedback on my methods and answer my questions, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks monkeys!
Yes, I got to one of the schools you listed. I guess the issue I have right now is that most people think I'm too young, and that I can't really add a lot of value to their business (which is true in a sense), other than being willing to learn and doing the grunt work. How can I overcome this obstacle?
Current Events to Know for Informal/Formal Interviews (Originally Posted: 08/05/2013)
Hi Monkeys,
As the summer starts to wind I am starting to brush up on finance related current events. Ideally I would use these as talking points during informal interviews and be able to talk intelligently about them in formal interview settings. My question is what major financial news I should have a firm grasp on within the last 3 or so years.
I'd personally flick through a copy of the economist and anything that grabs your eye read and then research about it online until you have a solid foundation of financial news. Obviously the economist has up to date news but I'm sure if you look into something it will be going back for a few years.
Your thoughts on Miami's uniforms, and the new Dallas defense. Your opinion on 'your' team's anticipated Week 1 performance.
If you have/can afford access to Bloomberg, you can pull a wealth of industry/prospective firm info on there, i.e. league table standings for that firm's IBD, relevant stock ratings by that firm's analysts, etc. I also like Institutional Investor, which can have some pretty good articles. Also, knowing ahead of time your interviewer's favorite NFL team & lick his ass on that subject.
How to prepare for a BB IBD SA informational interview (Originally Posted: 12/11/2007)
In my other topic, I asked what the Informational Interview really was...now that that has been answered (thanks to everyone who contributed), I need to know how to prepare for this.
I did a search and came up with only a few things that I should do:
1.) Know recent activity of the specific bank 2.) Know stupid little facts about the bank, such as, how many employees the firm has 3.) Have some questions ready (Any suggestions?)
What else?
Thanks in advance...your advice is much appreciated...
it's about fit. you'd probably be better off knowing who won the Pats - Steelers game than memorizing their website. you aren't going to be quizzed on it. it would be helpful if you could fit some of the company's themes into your story. tell your story well and you'll be good.
if you know who the interviewer is, learn something about his background. and then learn the background of the background.
I missed the first thread but you should obviously stay apprised of current events and know how they have affected and will continue to affect the industry moving forward (although many of these topics may be uncomfortable, i.e. write-downs, credit freeze, potential for recession). Informational sessions are generally much more about fit and personality than anything else. So as long as you go in and have some semblance of understanding regarding the current market conditions and dont act like a jack-ass you should have a pretty good shot. Good luck.
informational interview question (Originally Posted: 01/11/2012)
Tomorrow i'm meeting with a MSSB senior VP. I'm currently a freshman and anything that I can get my hands on with definitely be a plus for me.
my question now is, i have a notepad portfolio, and this is my first ever informational interview, is it appropriate to bring it to the interview to take notes and also having my resume in there just in case?
I'm a bit hesitant about showing up empty handed.
Thanks
definitely a good idea to bring a notepad portfolio, just be sure not to be concerned with writing everything down so as to not make eye contact. best thing you can do is ask good questions and seem personable -- im sure you can remember answers to most of the questions without having to write it all down. good luck!
I'm sure I won't have any problems with remembering answers to most of his questions, but the reasons was just to bring it, just in case he refers me to another firm, individual, etc... who can help me out.
PM me if you need help with questions / anything else for informational interviews in the future -- i have done plenty of them, in person and on the phone
I have a quick question
I'm planning on sending a thank you note later today. The meeting went very well to say the least, in conclusion he's willing to help me find a PWM summer position with one of his financial advisors.
my question now is, during the thank you email, how can I mention that I'm also interested and wouldn't mind working in IBD, S&T, M&A, or ER. And not to just limit the possible summer internship to just PWM without giving off a bad vibe?
Thank you.
Too fast IMO. Just say thank-you and that you look forward to staying in touch. 1-2 sentences and done.
informational interview with female banker (Originally Posted: 10/31/2012)
Casual/BC/BF?
wear a suit.
birthday suit, that is.
I've done two in person Interviews. I've always went in a suit with open collar (no tie). Also stay humble.
informational interview Help - Purely informational (Originally Posted: 09/15/2012)
So I had about 10 informational interviews with alums in s&t. The problem is all of them were almost purely "informational". Without a genuine connection with them, it will probably be hard to ask them to forward resume or for help comes recruiting time. My question is are there any pointers on how to build genuine connections so that these informational interviews are more than just q&a sessions?
To not treat it like a Q&A session. Have a normal conversation with the person instead of hammering him with interview type questions and maybe you'll develop a connection.
How to make the most out of upcoming informational interview? (Originally Posted: 03/25/2013)
Meeting with a mid-market alumni (assoc.) this week. It will probably play out like your average meeting but it's getting pretty late so I was wondering if there is any good way to impress upon him that i'm looking for an internship quickly?
thanks
At this stage in the game you should just add a line like this into your cold emails if you're still contacting people:
"I understand that you're a busy man, but I was hoping I could have 15 minutes of your time over the phone sometime next week to speak with you about your experiences in the investment industry, as well as any internship positions your firm may offer."
I haven't gotten any negative responses from that, and it clearly states your intentions.
If you're meeting in person, and you feel the vibe between the two of you is good after chatting for a little bit then just straight up and ask if there's anything available with their firm for over the summer.
First Informal Interview (Originally Posted: 09/13/2011)
So I reached out to a few alumni yesterday and low and behold I have someone that's interested in meeting. I initially asked for a phone conversation and he asked for my resume and now wants to actually meet in person (I figure this is a good thing -- although he did make it known that this is not an interview).
My questions for you guys are: should I be prepared to answer questions just like a typical interview (ie. technical questions, etc), or should I be expecting this to be a laid-back session where I ask him open-ended questions and hopefully develop some good rapport with him?
This is the first time I'm doing this so I have no idea what I'm getting myself into, I'm nervous and excited and hopefully ready to make some moves.
Depends on the place, but in exactly the same scenario I landed an internship at a boutique last Winter. In my case all the questions were fit questions and "walk me through your resume" kind of stuff, I did not get any technical questions at all.
Networking Advice - Had an informational interview with a partner (Originally Posted: 03/09/2012)
Hi
I had an informational interview with a Partner at a firm a few weeks ago. Would it be fine for me to contact him again and ask him about a job opening/internship at his firm or is that too early and direct?
Thanks
too early
The best way to approach this is to build a relationship slowly from the ground up--just straight up asking for a job comes off that you're just using that person. A good way is to email and call with "follow-up" questions or chatting about the market trends. Show that you're excited about the field and pick his brain. At some point when you have a good relationship going, you can offer to assist him with some work for free, or ask if he knows anyone who's looking for some assistance. Emphasize how much you want to learn the business.
The Partner isn't stupid; he knows this is what people have to do to get into the field. When positions open up, they'll keep you in mind if you make a great impression.
Go in guns blazing, tell him you want a 50% equity stake or he'll think you have no balls.
How Long For An informational interview? (Originally Posted: 01/21/2016)
I know 15-30 minutes is a good rule of thumb and most guys tell you they have to leave or start looking at their watch when they want to go. But what if the conversation is going smoothly and the guy is showing no signs of trying to run away? Should I just keep the conversation going or kill it at the half hr mark?
This depends on a few things. The day of the week, the time of the day and your personal relationship with the person you are having an informational interview with. If it is 1230 pm on a Tuesday it would be good to try and aim for the prearranged window. If it is 8 on a Friday evening the prearranged time window is generally less important. It is never rude to ask if running over the X time window is going to be a problem for the other person. However with that said, don't just interrupt at exactly minute 30 or what ever to announce it. Wait for the current topic of discussion to change.
Follow the guy with the job's lead. He may actually have that call or meeting he's telling you about at 30 mins and needs to leave but if he's willing to stay longer and isn't ending it, don't suddenly say that you have to go.
Don't kill it if you don't have to and if he doesn't seem to want to. Of course, sometimes you do have things to do (classes, other obligations, etc.), and it's not inappropriate to tell them that, thank them, and say goodbye.
informational interview help - Any tips and advice? (Originally Posted: 03/11/2010)
So i'm going to see an alumni tomorrow. Would it be proper to bring my resume along with my folder with me or should I just go without anything. Thanks for any tips and advice.
I always bring my resume just in case he does not have one. A lot of informational interviews don't use the resume, but you don't want do say "I didn't bring it" if he asks for one. It maybe more informal but it is still an "interview". Life comes down to a few moments; this is one of them. Don't forget the Cubans, kid.--------------couldn't help myself.
Yes, bring a resume
I have often sent it the day before or the morning of, so they can browse it before I arrive (if they feel like it). Depends on how I feel about the relationship, usually. I always take one as well. Take one of those nice leather folders with the pad inside and the school seal on the front, and take some notes-- I always have the best response when I'm taking notes-- I think it makes me look more studious!
Definitely bring the resume folder along with a few copies. I was on a networking trip the other day and despite the fact that I had emailed my resume to the alumni a week before he still asked if I had one when we sat down to talk.
Agree with above. They may ask for it even if you emailed it so why not come prepared? I'm not sure about emailing it the day of, though...that sounds like an odd move to me.
bring the resume
informational interviews (Originally Posted: 10/24/2006)
Can someone please explain to me what an informational interview is? I managed to land one at a bulge bracket firm, and would like to know what one is and what to expect.
I have also searched the forum, but have not seen what i am looking for. If I am in error, sorry.
I have been reading the valut finance/ibanking books in preparation but would like more info.
Thank you in advance.
i think its an interview where its mostly for you to ask questions about the company....I'm not sure tho
yep - you meet/call someone from the firm and just ask them questions about the job/company/city, etc. if they really like you (polite, respectful, sense of humour, good communicator) they may put in a good word come selection time. it's quite informal, but suit is recommended.
the importance of informational interviews. It's an awesome opportunity to make an impact on someone at the firm you will be (hopefully) interviewing with later. Do your homework and make a point of coming off as motivated (obviously) and well-informed. If appropriate send a thank you note afterwards to thank your interviewer for his time and consideration.
Good Luck.
informational interview Help - MD of a boutique (Originally Posted: 04/12/2012)
Hey WSO,
I recently just got an informational interview with an MD of a boutique investment banking firm in Silicon Valley. They provide financial advisory services, including m&a, private placement and specialized financial studies, to emerging and middle-market technology companies.
I have a general idea of how I want to the interview to go.
Ask him about his story, how he got to where he is, the firm he's at, what he thinks of the current m&a market, then what kind of advice he has for someone like me who's aspiring to hopefully be in a similar position as him in the future. Finish off with thanking him, seeing if we can keep in touch and when I return back from school if I could meet him in person for coffee or something.
Do you guys have any other advice or suggestions for me? I'd be really appreciative of any feedback.
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