Networking with multiple people in the same company/niche industry advice?

Hey guys,

I'm looking to break into a role in the tech innovation department in a bank or digital marketing consulting (eg. Accenture interactive). Here's a few things about me:

  • graduating senior, major in finance, minor in writing
  • summer internships were: marketing at a magazine, finance analyst in public sector
  • extra curricular activities: marketing exec for a high profile multinational non-profit (outside of uni), business case competition team for uni, represented school in national competition
  • last year I secured a grant to start my own digital marketing company
  • tech freelance writer at well known publication, well connected in the startup community in my city, interviewed C-Suite multinational tech execs, founders, etc - good knowledge of fintech, healthtech, funding processes, etc

I've interviewed with a few startups in San Francisco but with these big banks opening up "innovation research centers" for their partnerships with startups I think this would be a great fit, but it's kind of hard to find the right people to network with because what I'm looking for is somewhat "niche".

Also, if I find multiple people who work in the innovation branch, should I reach out to multiple people or just pick one? I imagine there's not a lot of people who work on startup partnership strategy in the office, so they are probably all sitting together and I don't want to look dumb by emailing everyone. lol

also, any general career advice/networking for someone with my background would help - this isn't really "finance" but it's bank related so I'll take what I can get

 
Best Response

I don't know about this specific industry but some industries/firms are more open about networking than others. Generally I would say networking with a few different people at the same group/firm should be fine (can just frame it as you're very interested in the sector and wanted to see how other people got there and hear about their experiences), but if the sector is super super concentrated, I might start off with just a few people and then see how it goes - if no one replies then obviously you shouldn't feel bad about contacting more people.

 

No, it's not too much. Once you know that in your consideration your goal now becomes to build alliances at the firm prior to the actual interview day.

The unlikely but ideal state of affairs that you should strive for is to have the interview be little more than a formality where you get to drop by and catch up with everyone you know at the firm. In most places this will go a lot further than actually stunning during the interview provided you manage not to fuck up any easy questions.

 

I think it is OK -- are you a summer right now? Are offers given out as group-specific or firm-specific? Usually the latter, and I'll assume you're a summer, soooo -- YES. No guarantee if you get an offer you'll be able to go back to your group. Plus even if you do get an offer, what if people leave and go to another bank before you come back? Plus, for a summer, usually group placement is arbitrary. If bankers are really being professional, the goal is to get you back to the bank. Practically speaking, some of them will be offended, or try to quash your outreach -- but that is a warning sign that these guys might not be someone you want to work with.

If you are just applying to bank (i.e., not a summer) again totally cool to talk to different groups. How can you know what is the best fit for you if you don't?

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between he does what he wants to do." - Bob Dylan
 
bankerbooey:
I think it is OK -- are you a summer right now? Are offers given out as group-specific or firm-specific? Usually the latter, and I'll assume you're a summer, soooo -- YES. No guarantee if you get an offer you'll be able to go back to your group. Plus even if you do get an offer, what if people leave and go to another bank before you come back? Plus, for a summer, usually group placement is arbitrary. If bankers are really being professional, the goal is to get you back to the bank. Practically speaking, some of them will be offended, or try to quash your outreach -- but that is a warning sign that these guys might not be someone you want to work with.

If you are just applying to bank (i.e., not a summer) again totally cool to talk to different groups. How can you know what is the best fit for you if you don't?

Hey man, I was a summer (2 months) at a ib. But I meant with other banks. I'm not a junior yet, so I'm definitely not talking about return offers.

Just wanted to say thanks for the reply, haven't checked this thread in a while. Appreciate your response man. I guess you gave me a green light to go ahead and contact these guys. I would actually SB you if i had the credit.

 

I think its pretty simple: talk to those people who you believe will be able to push the needle. If you don't have any desire to be in Equity Sales (with an MBA and PHD i'd hope not) then no need to talk to that person. The exception would be if you are certain that person is well connected to the the MD running the group/division you want to be in.

On another note - Is it me or is saying that " I am a good talker" kind of a strange way to describe oneself?

 

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