HELP! informational interview

I have contacted some alums and they said they are willing to have a cup of coffee with me this Friday.
My gpa is 3.6 (rising senior). My concentration is econ and CS. I have done a lot of school work like TAs, graders, and working with professors but I am totally lack of internships.
Until recent, I had thought of going to grad school so I missed the SA recruiting season, and decided not to go to grad school...

How am I supposed to appeal myself?
Any advice for doing informational interview or getting a job?

I will really appreciate on your advice!

 

agree, info interviews should be non-structured. ask about their business, how they got in, and keep asking questions unless they change the flow. I've had info interviews when I was in UG where the guy talked my ear off about his life story, which is fine, but you never leave it open ended. say something like "thanks for sharing all of that with me. it sounds like you really worked hard and it paid off. what advice would you give to someone in my position?" I think this is better than telling him/her your elevator speech because it lets them either say "I can't help you, but X can," "we've got an opening, are you free next week," or probe further (what are your goals/interests/etc).

as far as your appeal, be genuinely curious and interested in your interviewer, everybody has a story to tell and wisdom to share, make sure you're listening. people are naturally attracted to someone who listens to them.

 

it's very tough to get an II because the ibankers are so god damn busy. after working 100 hour weeks i don't think they would have the energy to see you, but in the off chance that they do, make good use of it and maybe it'll lead somewhere else. good luck.

 

not sure about the ad hoc interview, but from b-school there's usually a set procedure. more times than not, you have to go through the recruiter, who will then arrange an interview for you with someone. otherwise, your best bet is via a referral or other connection, or at the least try to pull the alumni card.

 

No, don't bring your resume and your Binder. This is coffee. This is a regular conversation. You sit there and ask them about the superbowl/snowstorm whatever and then edge into their background. This is just so they can see you're not (hopefully) a dork and are easy to get along with. Don't mention anything regarding a job or internship. They know why you're there. If they like you they'll ask you to email your resume in PDF. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the advice guys, I totally see where you're coming from, BUT in my case I straight up asked them at the start if they had any advice on getting jobs either in this country (foreign country that is kind of hard for Americans to work in) or with their firm in this country. They suggested grabbing coffee instead of writing out an email. One guy already asked me to send him my resume. Should I at least bring my resume and Binder for that coffee?

 

If you know IB modelling, in my experience, you can handle the modelling questions (if any) being thrown at you. As side from that sorta technical knowledge, its a good idea to develop a pitch on a stock you like. This is relatively easy if you just seek out stuff from the media and other research reports. Try and find out what your interviewer covers- you're up the creek if you pitch something he/she covers.

 

Ask him about his coverage universe, things he likes and doesn't like. If he is at a big firm, ask how things are different from there and a small firm. Ask him if there are any metrics that are exclusive to his space Ask what he looks for in associates he hires Ask what he thinks would be the most valuable use of your time while you are looking for a job Ask him what he thinks the single most important attribute is of those successful in ER

 

gray suit , white shirt, simple blue tie

he knows what the meeting is about. %90 of the time, if he likes you, he'll ask to see your resume to forward.

If not, say something like, I'm really interested in the SA program, is there any way you can pit me in touch with the individual that would be running it etc.

 

Please take advantage of the WSO search function, I am 99.9% positive that this topic has been discussed before.

Heres my advice:

Prepare for them as if it were a real interview - because it may quickly turn into one if they take control, which is actually a positive, since you're now being considered a candidate. So have your "story" down pact.

Furthermore, you want to use this opportunity to build a relationship so keep it casual. People love to talk about themselves - questions about their career path and background would be appropriate.

Stay away from the technical questions, this is dry and boring - if you can't avoid it, stick to high-level industry questions (direction and recent trends in the business).

Good luck.

 

Be prepared to drive it. I've info interviews where we just shot the bull for an hour, some that turned semi-interview (but not technical), and some that would have been over in 5 minutes had I not been able to come up with 10 questions to keep them going.

I would be surprised if you got a technical and if you did it would probably be really basic.

 

i think this topic has been covered on here pretty thoroughly in the past. do a good search.

quick tips: smile... relax... be yourself. they are more concerned with your personality and displayed confidence than anything (not cockiness).

Ask questions about them that will show your interest and show that you've done your homework. Ask them about how they got to where they are, how they ended up in the group they are in and things of that nature. That will get the discussion going towards how to get a job which is where you want to conversation to ultimately go.

Read up on the bank in dealbook or look up deals on bloomberg if you have access that the bank may have done or announced lately.

 

Research transactions the VP was likely involved in as these will be great topics of conversation. Make sure you have a good sense for what's currently going on in the economy. The chances he/she will ask you any technical (finance) questions are low so don't allocate much of your prep time to technical topics. Be sure you understand what investment bankers actually do and the role we play in the greater transaction process.

Be yourself, ask intelligent questions, and you'll be fine. Be sure to follow up with a thank you note.

 
  1. It's not wasting their time. Don't conduct the meeting like a real interview by reading them a list of questions - that's not a casual conversation. That's how I did my first ever informational interview and it went awful until I turned off the questions and just started talking to him. Ask him about his experiences, what advice he might have for you. I dunno, if you can hold a conversation with a girl at a party you should be able to conduct an informational interview with a banker.

  2. I've only had a couple coffee/lunch chats, and each time we paid for our own stuff. T

  3. Same as #1. Ask them about their career, their lives, etc. How often do you think an HR person gets to talk about themselves to someone else? They'll definitely appreciate it. You can shift the conversation into about interviews by asking "what can I do to best position myself to interview for X role".

 

I keep the emails pretty informal. Just that I'm interested in IB/finance and would like to talk to them about their firm/position. For the most part, alumni are pretty receptive to helping out (at least the ones I've contacted). I think the most important thing is to let them know how you really want to get into their industry and they'll be more likely to help you out (just don't come across as desperate).

 

I don't think it would hurt but I wouldn't think an alumni is going to ignore your email just because he hasn't seen your resume. After the initial conversation, I usually ask if the contact can take a look at my resume and offer his opinion on it. This way, they have your resume in their hands (and can usually give you a really good critique) and it gives you an excuse to get in touch with them later on in the future.

 

A) Please look at archives, this topic has been gone over 100 too many times.

B) NO, in an introductory e-mail, DO NOT attach resume. You simply e-mail them introducing yourself, saying how you came upon them, and that you are interested in their field and would like the opportunity to ask them some questions via a follow-up e-mail or phone call.

C) If they want to help, THEY will ask for your resume. They all know why you are really e-mailing them.

D) Meet in person? Definitely not something you request unless you have been corresponding for a while, and if any one, they will be the one requesting to meet in person.

..search archives for rest.

 

Seems like he was just busy and could tell that you were prepared. 'hope you sent your resume with a thank you note. If you do get called for an interview and/or happen to have a great conversation with others he mentions, e-mail him and let him know. A few days before the interview, I would ask for a quick (20 mins or so) mock interview on the phone and feedback/tips, etc. If this guy is pushing for you, he would want you to succeed. That way his street cred in the bank also goes up because he brought in a good candidate. Good luck!

 

Thanks a lot for the reply. I did send a thank you note along with my resume and a few lines about which groups I'm most interested in (he asked for that). It's been about 10 days now and I haven't heard since, though. The first time around he also took around a week just to set up the call but I'm still getting a little worried about my email getting lost in the piles. What would be a good time to follow up?

 

Not to be rude or anything, but definitely use the search function... there are lots of good threads dealing with this subject (its how I got an idea of what to do in info interviews). You can also try out the WSO networking guide, but honestly, it didn't really help me out too much. But really, its not too complicated... Ask about his job/career, how he broke into the industry, what advice he would give, just general, open-ended questions and then shut up and listen/learn. Definitely don't try to "show off" or impress the guy though. Your major goal here is to make this guy like you and possibly help you out in the future, so don't do something to turn him off (like asking some really obscure, specific technical question that no one will know the answer to).

And yeah, I wouldn't outright ask for an internship or any help at this point (unless you're really desperate for something this upcoming summer). Just start building the relationship now and then work on developing it over the next few months/years until you actually are ready to apply for SA or jobs or whatever.

 

the secret to informational interviewing is making a connection between you and the other person. yea, ask him about what he does, but hes going to forget you unless he can attach something to your name. What works is if he went to the same school, know the same person, like the same stuff, etc. Connect with this person and you win.

 

Always follow up with the person with a specific goal in mind. I suggest you send a short thank you email for the meeting and ask that if you have further questions if you can shoot them a quick email or meet up again over coffee. It's like dating a girl, don't be overzealous just slowly build it up. The best way to maintain contact with people is to remember things that interest them in the informational interview and send them short articles or videos every few months about those interests.

Don't be too eager, just be confident and be yourself.

 

pants, button down, blazer - no tie.

unless the informal interview is in the office - then wear a suit and tie.

When I was in college my dad set up a meeting for me with the CEO of very large scale private equity firm. He asked me to meet him downstairs at the Four Seasons hotel in NY at 8am and we'd eat breakfast together. This guy being a big shot - and the Four Seasons being decidedly not casual (at least from my experience), I decided to show up in a suit and tie.... he was in jeans and a polo! - I felt a little bit awkward.

Then another time I had an informal meeting at the bar in this hotel in Vail over the holidays w/ another family friend who was an MD at Lehman (when it still existed) and I showed up in jeans and a polo (standard vail attire). I don't even know why he brought one and I was completely shocked to see the first person in vail history wearing one, but he was wearing a SUIT with a tie and a fucking silver clip and all right in the middle of the damn hotel on the base of the mountain! Everyone else was in ski stuff sipping on micro-brews and this guy was decked out in valentino blackberrying insanely and drinking gin and tonic! Awkward again!

So that's why I say blazer and pants... because you just don't know what to wear and what they will wear - so you go neutral so you don't stand out either way.

 

He must have been working on a targeted search for Snowmass - looking for some horizontal action.

And to further threadjack (sorry), am I the only one Jonesing to get a piece of the Whistler/Blackcomb IPO?

For the sake of staying on topic, I don't think you can go wrong with slacks and a dress shirt (aka suit minus tie and jacket), assuming you're not actually meeting at the person's office.

 

Don't ask technicals - most of these guys have forgotten them. Just get their life story, make sure they do most of the talking (but get your story in and what you hope to do). Also, make sure you ask outright if they have any openings as of right now. If they don't, ask for referrals.

At the end of the day, it's a numbers game.

Calm down.
 

^gotcha,

With regards to asking about openings, I'm looking to position myself for a summer intership next summer, as I'm leaving to school in the uk from sept-dec

I was planning on asking when a good time would be to contact them about summer positions/when their firm recruits for summer. thoughts?

 
CasperTS:

So, you are in UK? If so, how did you find networking in the UK different from US so far.

I'm in Toronto now (live here), but go to school in UK. I'll be networking in UK this fall, PM me and we can have a convo about the differences. So far people in Canada have been very friendly and informative, not too any people take me serious as a rising sophmore tho, most tell me to chill out and get good grades instead of stressing about next summer's job, thoughts?

 

Hmmm... that is a very good question. What I would do, and have done in previous interviews, have left that for the inevitable "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" You can also say that you want the job, but ask if it is possible to move laterally in the organization after you have more experience. I would also do everything you can to get the job and sound as appreciative as possible - you can always turn down an offer but you can't "accept" a rejection.

 
take a peach:

But from my knowledge I should do 80% of the talking during the phone call.

No, this is an informational interview. THEY do the majority of the talking. You ask easy, open-ended questions and they respond.

MD is probably busy and handed you off, this is good. If he didn't like you he wouldn't have introduced you to an analyst. Now you have 2 contacts. Think of some good questions, there are plenty around on the site (look at the interviews).

 

Definitely let them do most of the talking, and have questions ready to minimize any awkward silences. Although they'll do most of the talking (definitely don't talk 80% of the time) be prepared to answer any questions just like you would in a real interview. Also schedule it for when you have some free time- I've had multiple conversations that were supposed to be 5-15 minutes end up lasting well over an hour.

 

I've done a lot of these over last summer and the semester.
Tips: -Have a list of questions prepared, about 15 minutes worth. But don't read them straight from the page, make it a conversation (get them to like you). -Don't be late -Start of an informational interview with something like "I am interested in the industry and I am trying to learn more about what professionals do in the real world" or some variation. This says, I have an interest in the opportunites available, but I would rather learn than network at this point. -Some will go terribly, don't worry. -Ask to take notes if in person, or just do it if it is on the phone. -Also, ask them if there is anyone else in the field that you could contact for a "different perspective" or something, to keep it going. -Follow up with a thank you note and ask a decently constructed question based on the conversation you had. -Last tip: Make them like you, thats the only way they will help you. Don't ask for an interview, at least not right away.

Oh yeah, don't let your boss see you make these calls if you decide to do them from work (I found out they don't really like their employees networking on the job, so they can leave and get a better job)

 

just posted on a thread yesterday on this:

"Great job Boreed. To add to Oeros, I think after a quick chat, you need to very focused on getting your story right and be specific about it like:

Hi my name is XZY. I am reaching out to you when I saw your contact info on the alumn database. I am currently (insert background information, what you are studying). I am interested in working at (XYZ group at ABC and EFG banks). I have been doing (ABC: investment club, trading stocks, researching, networking) so far. "What can I do to position myself to interview with a (XYZ) group like this?"

It is important to engage in small talk. But it is more important to get your story straight and also what you want out from the conversation. If you were more direct (but polite) with your requests and specify on where you need help the most, it usually works out well.

Make sure that your pitch is natural and very smooth. Try to practice story telling. You need to summarize what is it that you are trying to get out from a conversation without sounding like a robot or sounding too casual. I think it is a balance.

Good luck and do keep me posted."

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."
 

Is it bad if I asked?

After about 20-25 mins after I ran out of questions, I said do you have any suggestions for someone in my position going forward in the recruiting process.

And she said stuff about the website, cleaning up the resume, etc. and then also mentioned I could also put in a referral for you, and I said, thanks, I saw this and that on the website, and if while I'm filling out the application form if I see a spot for a referral would it be okay to put your name down and she said yeah, she'd done it for many people before, she explained how it works and then said she's also not afraid to pester the HR person if necessary.

 

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