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Such a thing as too much networking?
 

pedigreed monkey's picture
O
 
Points)
 on 7/30/12 at 1:00am
too much networking.jpg

hey all

so i have been aggressively networking throughout ibanks (BB and MM alike) since last spring, in an effort to get my name out there for SA recruitment.

one bank for example, i have sat down with 5 different analysts within the same group. they literally all sit near each other. is this overkill? im usually cautious of my body language (relaxed, laid-back) and make sure to talk about non-business things to show im a chill dude, but i can still imagine the analysts would get annoyed of the same kid going around and sucking up to everyone.

i guess this is directed to the analysts out there who are involved in recruitment. am i going overboard? i actually really enjoy networking and the conversations usually go well (i think), but im wondering if there can be too much of a good thing.

thanks

Tags:
Marcus_Halberstram's picture

Just keep doing what you're

PE
(Neanderthal, 3,438
 
Points)
 on 12/31/08 at 10:41am

Just keep doing what you're doing, there's no such thing as too much networking unless you're a pest. Your situation could be perceived as interest in the group. Just keep networking, and ask for referrals.

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junkbondswap's picture

I agree that you should

(King Kong, 1,724
 
Points)
 on 12/31/08 at 1:07pm

I agree that you should network as much as possible but do not become an annoyance. I had this one kid who would call or email me once a week to discuss headlines he read in the journal pertaining to our portfolio companies.

gomes3pc's picture

There is no such thing as

PE
(Gorilla, 652
 
Points)
 on 12/31/08 at 8:48pm

There is no such thing as overexpanding your network, but there is such a thing as overusing one contact within that network. Don't become a hindrance to them. Only call/see someone if you have some real questions lined up, and let them control the flow of the conversation. Ultimately, especially with analysts and associates, it's more a matter of getting them to like you so they think they could stand spending 100 hours a week around you.

Cornelius's picture

i couldnt resist

(King Kong, 1,707
 
Points)
 on 1/1/09 at 9:16am

call them everyday until they either agree to meet with you or give you a job offer. they tell you to fuck off, you tell them, fuck you! pay me! right to their face. u spam their inbox, do whatever you have to do.

i once called this big swingin dick over and over again. he wouldnt return my calls, his secretary kept cock blocking me. so i just showed up at his office on his birthday with a box of cuban cigars. believe me, they let me in. when i got into the office, this is what he said:

"This is the kid, calls me 59 days in a row, wants to be a player. There ought to be a picture of you in the dictionary under persistence kid."

..you know, in the end, life comes down to a few moments, this was one of them.

------------
We're about to enter a Great Depression.
Don't you want a president who's already dressed for it?

------------
I'm making it up as I go along.

CompBanker's picture

Try not to over-do it. It

PE
(Almost Human, 8,507
 
Points)
 on 1/1/09 at 11:30am

Try not to over-do it. It is not uncommon for a bunch of analysts to joke around and make fun of the kid who sends a stock email to each analyst looking for info or an interview. You're far better off picking your spots rather than trying a blitz approach within a single company.

~~~~~~~~~~~
CompBanker

CompBanker

IBnutz's picture

you're doing it exactly

IB
(Orangutan, 263
 
Points)
 on 1/1/09 at 11:34am

you're doing it exactly right. keep it up.

IBchimp's picture

In this job market I don't

(Orangutan, 260
 
Points)
 on 1/3/09 at 12:29am

In this job market I don't think you can network "too much". Be persistent and keep in touch with everyone you meet. Good luck!

consultant09's picture

keep it goin man, as long as

CO
(Baboon, 156
 
Points)
 on 1/3/09 at 2:19am

keep it goin man, as long as you stay in tune to what other people are thinking of you and you know you aren't bugging them, you're doing what's necessary to at least guarantee an interview come recruiting season.

gogetter's picture

networking is the key! as

IB
 
Points)
 on 1/3/09 at 3:04pm

networking is the key! as long as you've proven yourself to the contacts in your network in the past, they won't mind helping you out because i've found that most understand how hard the recruiting process is on us these days. nowadays being recommended is also such a big part of having even the slightest chance of being looked at... for me, networking was a HUGE part and one of the primary reasons I got as far as I did, especially since I wasnt from a target school and the competition pool this year is much larger since college grads are competing directly with experienced professionals as well... I say network your heart out!

mcds's picture

you have to keep a good

CO
(Baboon, 115
 
Points)
 on 1/3/09 at 3:10pm

you have to keep a good balance of staying in touch, but not getting on their nerves. which is hard to do. but i think its really important not to over due it

hoodinternet's picture

Did you ever make the

(Baboon, 123
 
Points)
 on 7/30/12 at 9:11am

Did you ever make the analysts aware that you have been talking to all of them? So if you talked to Jack and John last week, and you meet Jim this week, do you say something like "Oh hey do you know Jack and John at your bank?"

melvvvar's picture

that depends entirely on

(King Kong, 1,693
 
Points)
 on 7/30/12 at 9:18am

that depends entirely on whether you are charming/funny/bro enough such that the analysts actually like spending time with you. and only you know that.

juniormistmaker's picture

CompBanker: Try not to

IB
(Baboon, 131
 
Points)
 on 7/30/12 at 10:13am
CompBanker:

Try not to over-do it. It is not uncommon for a bunch of analysts to joke around and make fun of the kid who sends a stock email to each analyst looking for info or an interview. You're far better off picking your spots rather than trying a blitz approach within a single company.

~~~~~~~~~~~
CompBanker

Hit the nail on the head. We all talk and if some guy it blasting everyone in the group to meet up for coffee it can be seen as a bit annoying / too keen. Sounds like your conversations are going well so keep up those relationships but mix up your networking unless you are very set on that particular group and you've expressed as such.

Dreamgazing's picture

juniormistmaker: CompBanker

(Baboon, 162
 
Points)
 on 7/30/12 at 1:24pm
juniormistmaker:
CompBanker:

Try not to over-do it. It is not uncommon for a bunch of analysts to joke around and make fun of the kid who sends a stock email to each analyst looking for info or an interview. You're far better off picking your spots rather than trying a blitz approach within a single company.

~~~~~~~~~~~
CompBanker

Hit the nail on the head. We all talk and if some guy it blasting everyone in the group to meet up for coffee it can be seen as a bit annoying / too keen. Sounds like your conversations are going well so keep up those relationships but mix up your networking unless you are very set on that particular group and you've expressed as such.

In OPs case, isn't it unusual in the sense that his aggressive networking with one group didn't backfire? I have multiple contacts within one group that I'm really interested in, but just don't know if contacting both of them would be ideal.

juniormistmaker's picture

Dreamgazing: juniormistmake

IB
(Baboon, 131
 
Points)
 on 7/30/12 at 2:31pm
Dreamgazing:
juniormistmaker:
CompBanker:

Try not to over-do it. It is not uncommon for a bunch of analysts to joke around and make fun of the kid who sends a stock email to each analyst looking for info or an interview. You're far better off picking your spots rather than trying a blitz approach within a single company.

~~~~~~~~~~~
CompBanker

Hit the nail on the head. We all talk and if some guy it blasting everyone in the group to meet up for coffee it can be seen as a bit annoying / too keen. Sounds like your conversations are going well so keep up those relationships but mix up your networking unless you are very set on that particular group and you've expressed as such.

In OPs case, isn't it unusual in the sense that his aggressive networking with one group didn't backfire? I have multiple contacts within one group that I'm really interested in, but just don't know if contacting both of them would be ideal.

I wouldn't say it's unusual but typically around here we just pass around coffee meetings to whoever is willing to go as we're not looking for people right now. In terms of your multiple contacts it depends if you know them or if you know their name. I'd meet up with one person first and see how that goes. They might ask you if you know anyone and then you can mention the other person on the team. Honestly though, in this market, unless your connection is better than "we were part of the same graduating class of 10,000 people" people aren't generally looking to go to bat for random people. Could be different at different spots though.

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