What would happen if I just walk into another schools information session?

http://www.olin.wustl.edu/wcc/students/calendar.c…

See that calendar list? What would happen if I just showed up to a Bear Stearns, Deutsche Bank, A.G. Edwards, Citigroup etc On-Campus Interview? Could I somehow go counter strike and land an interview for an internship?

 

It doesn't work that way.

Info session - no one would check or care what school you were from. If you tell someone they still won't care.

On-Campus Interviews - these are set up through the school's recruiting office. You won't have access to whatever system they use to apply for and book interviews. If you just show up 1) there willbe no one free to interview you and 2) even if there were the university wouldn't let it happen. Unless this is seriously divergent from anything I've ever heard ofbefore, those interviews aren't open casting calls.

 

You could, however, try to get the name / email of the person handling resumes from that particular school, and email them directly saying "the school's recruiting tools don't seem to be working for me", and if they like you they'll put you onto a slot.

but yeah, seriously sketch. Information sessions are a different thing though, nobody would care.

 

Just a wolverine.

Sketch(y) is a very MI term.

So is the term "guff" which is used to mean that something is free or up for grabs.

What IS gay is calling pop "soda".....nothing screams out east limp wristed you know what like the word "soda"...

 

[You could, however, try to get the name / email of the person handling resumes from that particular school, and email them directly saying "the school's recruiting tools don't seem to be working for me", and if they like you they'll put you onto a slot.]

That's pretty good, I think I'm going to have to do that.

I think I'll show up to all the investment banking information sessions at WashU and see what goes on from there. I guess it sucks for all those people paying 40k+ for some prestigious private college and have their jobs snatched away from some kid at a shitty unheard of public university.

Also, whoever calls soda "pop" must be some faggot from Minnesota.

 

"shut the fuck up zala."

are you hurt because you use "sketch" as an adjective?

first of all, it's "sketchy." not "sketch." second of all, i know nothing about MI people saying that. the people i know who say that are still in high school, smoke too much pot, and don't do anything to justify their existence other than be average at everything.

 

you are irking everyone on this forum with your posts...why don't you shaft your comments up your ass and give everybody some peace at the same time

 

Info sessions are a waste IMO, some feel like its useful, but just thinking about the atmosphere at an info session... never again. I'd spend more time with your contacts and with alumni since you graduated from a target. That being said, I guess if you're not doing anything then going to an info session might be something to do, just don't expect anything positive.

'Before you enter... be willing to pay the price'
 

I'm guessing they just don't want the place over-crowded with warm bodies looking for a job. BB comes to town, wants to meet the people who are serious, not have to explain that they aren't tellers at the local bank. Employees won't care as long as you aren't wasting their time or the time of someone who might be serious about investment banking.

Banks hire lots of smart people who aren't finance majors.

I don't think anyone will be upset nor impressed that you broke the "finance major only" rule.

 
fahmed:
Please dont do it- its not appreciated. They will ask you to simply go to the website and apply and "all details are on the website."
Don't listen to this person. If you could get details on the website, you wouldn't be going to some other school's info session, now would you. Go and just be inconspicuous.
Get busy living
 

Bingo. Go to the session. You'll look hungry and a lot of hiring managers- at least in trading- like that. Ideally try to find a recruiter who doesn't have an alumni pin on his suit and make sure he gets your resume. The school probably won't like it, but the real reason banks have these recruiting sessions at only certain schools is that we're lazy and can't hit everyone- not that we want to exclude people.

 

"Please dont do it- its not appreciated. They will ask you to simply go to the website and apply and "all details are on the website."

Totally wrong. Keep quiet at first, look inconspicuous. Don't talk to alumni until the end because it makes the atmosphere awkward if you out yourself (in front of other students) that soon. Wait till they are packing up, etc. Who really remembers faces at these events unless 1. You're annoying as hell. 2. You're a hot girl, and I want to sleep with you to give you that SA interview.

Website's full of bullshit compliance/legal wrote up. It's a blackhole in the USA.

Here's how it works at the BB, because I tried to refer another BB's candidate to us:

  1. We have an Internal job bank.
  2. Employees apply, put how long we've worked (sometimes 18 mo. minimum), our BB employee ID, Supervisor, etc. HR's email is listed.
  3. If we refer our friends to internal jobs, we have to wait for internal candidates first (response from HR).
  4. The jobs you see online are leftovers from our internal job bank.
  5. The MD favor pile is already full, and we probably found someone already, or some employee gave a passionate speech about a friend he knows.
  6. Doubt there's a girl whose job it is to doublecheck to see if jobs posted are actually still active, and updates this on her spare time, so you can sleep well at night.
  7. For EOE purposes, a channel to the public has to be made available. Sometimes SMBs post jobs that don't even exist (happened while I was an intern for a medium sized firm).
  8. By the time someone sees your resume 1-2 months later, job is already filled. Jobs are filled sometimes even before a post, as a position is created behind closed doors.

8a. When some dickwad college grad is shuffling resumes and throwing out all the guys' names, because he wants hot girls only (saw this as a status update from high school friend on Facebook--I called him a dick on his status, defriended) -- you're gone.

  1. Blackhole -- you just wasted all this time, waiting for nothing.
  2. You receive a rejection 6 months later.

Had you met a MD, a VP, or someone who makes a passionate speech about you, your resume will get passed around, that dickwad kid doesn't have the balls to throw out a MD's friend, etc. There are exceptions, but the above is the usual process.

Go to the session to multiply your chances. Worse comes to worse, years later, when you are a target or semi, you can mention what you did years ago, who you met, etc.

Definitely go.

*If this was the UK: info sessions are a formality, and you indeed do apply on the website and take those SHL exams. They actually read apps in the UK.

*If this was Asia: If you didn't hustle/get it backdoor, you'd be doing manual labor, kicking yourself for not going 30 years ago. It is ALL backdoor. How my friend got a DB SA and a Bain Capital SA in 1 summer -- Dad is rich, has friends, done.

 

It didn't help you in this case, but on balance it CAN help you, and it often can't hurt.

If I were an undergrad at Illinois all over again, my plan would have been to drive out to NYC, wear a suit, show up outside of Morgan Stanley's main building in Times Square, and hand out resumes indicating an interest in Equities or Fixed Income Sales. No info session crashing necessary, and freedom of speech in the public square means it's fair game as long as you're not chasing people into the building.

I might have tried crashing UChicago's recruiting, but a more direct approach would have been better.

 
IlliniProgrammer:
It didn't help you in this case, but on balance it CAN help you, and it often can't hurt.

If I were an undergrad at Illinois all over again, my plan would have been to drive out to NYC, wear a suit, show up outside of Morgan Stanley's main building in Times Square, and hand out resumes indicating an interest in Equities or Fixed Income Sales. No info session crashing necessary, and freedom of speech in the public square means it's fair game as long as you're not chasing people into the building.

I might have tried crashing UChicago's recruiting, but a more direct approach would have been better.

Didn't precisely do what you described but I flew to NY on my own volition as a junior trying to land a summer internship. Called every graduate of my school (also big ten) who was in NY and in banking/high finance and set up informational interviews.

Didn't pan out that summer but the next year one of the firms (good boutique that I ultimately went to) remembered and it paid off in an full-time offer.

I agree that informationals and cold calling will go way farther than attending any career fair/presentation. Sign up for them and go just in case they check to see who's showed up as an indication of interest (a la frat rush events). Like Illini said, it can't hurt unless you throw up during the presentation or something.

if you like it then you shoulda put a banana on it
 

Not really sure this is a good use of your time. The people they bring to information sessions are generally from the same school so why would they go out of their way to help some guy who just showed up at the info session from out of town? You're better off contacting people from your school or with a more similar background.

 

Don't know if you want to be like this guy as IP suggests: http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2012/08/24/on-our-radar-would-you-hire-this-man-2/ But the basic drill should be: 1. Go to Info Session 2. Listen/take notes 3. After the presentation, just tell the representatives who you are, etc. (without annoying them) and walk away with business cards (don't ask how can I work for you) 4. Follow up for informational call, then hope for a referral

 

Haven't read the other comments, but the answer is: yes you wasted your time, and yes the info sessions are a waste of time anyway.

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 

Haven't read the other comments, but the answer is: yes you wasted your time, and yes the info sessions are a waste of time anyway.

I hate victims who respect their executioners
 
BlackHat:
Haven't read the other comments, but the answer is: yes you wasted your time, and yes the info sessions are a waste of time anyway.

That's my opinion right now, as well. But my friends in senior year always stress how important it is to attend these sessions, meet people and send thank you e-mails. I guess you don't feel that way?

As of now, my personal belief is that individual networking (e.g. contacting people via LinkedIn/e-mail, meet up with them for coffee) is a lot more useful than the general info sessions. I'm probably going to do both anyways, but I wanted to hear your opinion.

 

It's worth if it you went up afterwards, made a favorable impression on someone after explaining your story, got a business card(s), and followed up to have more in-depth chat (like the guy above said, check out M&I). Which is unlikely, so your time would probably better spent focusing efforts elsewhere.

Still, it only takes one. And maybe a former non-target happened to be at session and you two hit it off. It seems like you could improve your story/pitch a little bit in order to avoid the "just apply online" shrug-off. Good luck.

 

Talk to as many recruiters as you can. Gear the conversation towards their company and their job, and not about your situation. Hopefully you'll be able to establish rapport with a few of them to follow up later, and one of them might help with getting your resumes in. If you really want to get the job, you need to spend the time to network if you are from a non-target.

 
santajoeman:
Talk to as many recruiters as you can. Gear the conversation towards their company and their job, and not about your situation. Hopefully you'll be able to establish rapport with a few of them to follow up later, and one of them might help with getting your resumes in. If you really want to get the job, you need to spend the time to network if you are from a non-target.

ummmmmm no. recruiters arrange logistics. the only person with less pull is you. talk to the analysts/assocs.

 

Thanks for the comments everyone. I think I'm still going to go to this one other session, even though the school is kind of far away. I also did do a little bit of networking with my school's alumni over the summer, so I guess if nothing else the info session could give me a good story if the alumni are able to get me an interview.

Fuck I do wish my school was a target though haha

 

Because I didn't go to a target, I get sent to a bunch of random schools for recruiting - and while I've never come across someone in your position, I'd probably rather help you than the people I'm supposed to be there for, assuming you're not a jerk or whatever

Life, liberty and the pursuit of Starwood Points
 
petergibbons:
Because I didn't go to a target, I get sent to a bunch of random schools for recruiting - and while I've never come across someone in your position, I'd probably rather help you than the people I'm supposed to be there for, assuming you're not a jerk or whatever

Ok, thanks - that's encouraging and good to know

 

Some thoughts on a subject that is related, but not quite the same: My MBA program has had a fair number of undergrads crashing our banking events. It is highly frowned upon by the MBA students and the club hosting the events (obviously). I'm not sure how the bankers are reacting. That said, I've heard from numerous people that the undergrads look incredibly foolish at these events. They stand out in a bad way, primarily due to their lack of ability to make small-talk, ask intelligent questions, or perform in a group conversation. So I advise undergrads thinking about crashing MBA events to avoid doing it unless you're really polished.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

In undergrad, I had friends ask me if I would sign them in. I refused, simply because I saw it go poorly once.

A BB was on-campus holding its IBD presentation (the firmwide had already happened the week prior). Many students had already been networking in advance of the earlier presentation, so that fact coupled with the week's gap between the two presentations meant people were having some earnest conversation -- not much of the usual awkward circling around the bankers with no real discussion.

One guy stuck out like a sore thumb. I remember spotting him during the keynote speaker's presentation. This kid was sitting in his topcoat in the chair. Literally had his winter coat on over top of his suit and didn't take it off before sitting down. During the networking session he was bouncing around from group to group; maybe he couldn't find anyone willing to talk to him, I don't know. I looked down at his feet (he had the coat off at this point) and saw he had the thickest fucking socks I've ever seen (to this day), some real fuzzy, winter-weight, wear-them-in-a-rugby-match type shit.

He finally made his way into the group I was standing in; the group head of one of the bank's more prominent coverage groups was talking. After listening for half a minute, this fucking guy interrupted him mid-sentence to ask him about his tie. Where did he get it? It looked great. Just like the one from the "premium outlets" right by X-University.

Grizzled-Veteran-Group-Head starts turning red. Where the fuck are you from? How did you even get in here? The kid freezes like a deer in the headlights as the banker is bellowing into his face. "Who let this goofball in here?" shouts the guy to no one in particular, visibly aggravated at having his wardrobe questioned in such undignified fashion. Visibly sweating bullets, this nimrod was possessed with the destructive urge to ruin not only his own but also his generous (and gullible) friend's career prospects. Face whiter than a sheet, he raises an ashy hand to wordlessly point across the room at another mortified young man whose jaw was agape at the scene developing before his eyes.

Long story short, the intruder gets thrown out of the building (he showed a clean pair of heels down the hallway toward the door), the guy at my school gets his OCR access revoked and had to write a formal apology letter to the employer, and I became absolutely unwilling to ever help a friend from another school in similar fashion.

The best part of the whole thing is that after sitting through the whole presentation in that topcoat, the knucklehead leaves it when he runs from the room. He must've taken it off before the networking section started and hung it up in the closet. It was one of those closets that simply opens off the hall, it had no door. For that whole year, every time I walked in the building to sign in, I could see this big woolen monstrosity hanging there in forlorn abandon all by itself, a monument to the sins of some non-target kid who gamed his way into a campus presentation.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 
APAE:

In undergrad, I had friends ask me if I would sign them in. I refused, simply because I saw it go poorly once.

A BB was on-campus holding its IBD presentation (the firmwide had already happened the week prior). Many students had already been networking in advance of the earlier presentation, so that fact coupled with the week's gap between the two presentations meant people were having some earnest conversation -- not much of the usual awkward circling around the bankers with no real discussion.

One guy stuck out like a sore thumb. I remember spotting him during the keynote speaker's presentation. This kid was sitting in his topcoat in the chair. Literally had his winter coat on over top of his suit and didn't take it off before sitting down. During the networking session he was bouncing around from group to group; maybe he couldn't find anyone willing to talk to him, I don't know. I looked down at his feet (he had the coat off at this point) and saw he had the thickest fucking socks I've ever seen (to this day), some real fuzzy, winter-weight, wear-them-in-a-rugby-match type shit.

He finally made his way into the group I was standing in; the group head of one of the bank's more prominent coverage groups was talking. After listening for half a minute, this fucking guy interrupted him mid-sentence to ask him about his tie. Where did he get it? It looked great. Just like the one from the "premium outlets" right by X-University.

Grizzled-Veteran-Group-Head starts turning red. Where the fuck are you from? How did you even get in here? The kid freezes like a deer in the headlights as the banker is bellowing into his face. "Who let this goofball in here?" shouts the guy to no one in particular, visibly aggravated at having his wardrobe questioned in such undignified fashion. Visibly sweating bullets, this nimrod was possessed with the destructive urge to ruin not only his own but also his generous (and gullible) friend's career prospects. Face whiter than a sheet, he raises an ashy hand to wordlessly point across the room at another mortified young man whose jaw was agape at the scene developing before his eyes.

Long story short, the intruder gets thrown out of the building (he showed a clean pair of heels down the hallway toward the door), the guy at my school gets his OCR access revoked and had to write a formal apology letter to the employer, and I became absolutely unwilling to ever help a friend from another school in similar fashion.

The best part of the whole thing is that after sitting through the whole presentation in that topcoat, the knucklehead leaves it when he runs from the room. He must've taken it off before the networking section started and hung it up in the closet. It was one of those closets that simply opens off the hall, it had no door. For that whole year, every time I walked in the building to sign in, I could see this big woolen monstrosity hanging there in forlorn abandon all by itself, a monument to the sins of some non-target kid who gamed his way into a campus presentation.

Epic. SB to you for sharing that.

 

I've done it before and it works pretty well. I went to a much bigger school events and nobody even noticed I did not go there. Once I got the list of bankers that were there I contacted them and keep in touch with them. It did not matter what school I went to as long as I asked the right questions and had great conversations with them during the events. They appreciated how far I was willing to travel for an event.

 

Drove 4 hours to go to a rival school's (they were target) networking event with a top MM bank. Highly frowned upon. 2 main mishaps from my experience -

1) I had the head of the finance program Director pretty much interrogate me - asked me why I was there and who told me about the event. She even tried to question my credentials (asked me about my grades etc.; indirectly ofcourse)

2) During a conversation with a VP he found out that I go to another school and flat out told me - "You're wasting your time here, we are not going to hire students from your school." He then proceeded to ask me for my resume and introduced me to an HR lady and handed over my resume to her. I thought this was absurd since 1. banks don't usually accept resumes at these types of events and 2. the VP just told me I won't be hired at his bank.

The event ended at ~7pm and I drove back home (4hrs) thinking positive. Next morning ~11am, the HR lady emails me with the generic "Thank you for your interest in XYZ bank..." Dinged - I don't know if the A**HOLE VP asked her to reject me or what, but my 11~hour journey was fruitless.

Not trying to shoot down your hopes friend - its just like networking; get rejected by some, accepted by others. At the event I did however meet a few other bankers (2 Directors and an Analyst) that commended me on my commitment.

 

I am in the process of doing this now for SA positions; I go to a northeast school that is relatively close to Wharton/Princeton. I attended an informal BB networking session meant for these individuals and got some really good contacts (who didn't seem to mind that I go to another school.) I think the key is to dominate the conversation. Act like your a big shot. Ask question after question, laugh, eye contact, lean in intently, etc. and get a business card at all costs. Just gotta ball up, be personable, and act like this is your house. Who gives a shit about the bad looks; gotta do what you gotta do.

You gotta know your game though -- I snuck into a BB event but didn't know it was for MBA students, and immediately left. Know what you are getting in to. I guess it helps if you have a friend who goes to the target school.

Array
 

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