Rising Sophomore Wishing to Network with Investment Banking Firms?

I'm a rising sophomore at a non-target and I was hoping to start networking with investment banking analysts to associates at middle market banks in the city.

1) I'm afraid I'll mess up and that it'll hinder my hopes of building a solid connection with the IBD of the firm. Should I practice with local boutique banks by "networking" with their analysts and associates to better prepare for the big dogs in NYC? I live in Boston currently.
2) How do people end up finding a common interest prior to the meet up with the person they are networking with? Through LinkedIn? I can't really seem to think of any way besides the internet and Facebook but most of the time my searches end up failing.
3) Is it too early to start networking? Should I start in August or September instead? I heard that in the summer, firms tend to not like informational interviews or coffee outings with prospective analysts because they have their current interns to focus on and because it is almost time for bonuses.

 

1) Don't worry about how big they might seem right now. Reach out to people from analyst to MD at everything from micro-boutiques to bulges. You'll hit your stride in a few informational interviews and its cake from there.

2) You have a common interest with every single one of them. You're an aspiring banker, they are a banker. Be confident, be humble, and be courageous. Get them on the phone with you and go from there. How I attack it is names off of linkedin, email formats, and then sending personalized emails about their backgrounds.

3) No, it is not too early in my opinion. If they don't reply then they don't reply but if you manage to make 5 contacts over the course of the next month then that's five you wouldn't have had otherwise.

 

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