Most Helpful

The big ones that I see during networking chats, recruiting events and even interviews:

  • Being too pushy with your own objectives and only talking about yourself. Any networking email/meeting/phone call you engage in, you should be saying the word "You" often and saying the word "I" very seldom. It's fine to mention that you're a student and want to learn more about an industry, but you gotta make the other person feel special. Give them their soap box, let them spout their wisdom, etc. No finance professional wants to hear a student pitch his shitty credentials. They want to talk about what they do and brag to someone whose easily impressed.

  • Being too casual with the employees. We're trying to make you feel comfortable, but that doesn't mean you should be cursing and calling the Analysts "dude" during pre-superday dinner after having two beers. It makes you look like you lack polish and can't be trusted around investors/clients. Always be two notches less bro than the people you're trying to impress.

 

Don't dress weird. Gray or navy suit, blue or white shirt, regular tie that isn't super wide or super skinny. Shoes don't have to be nice at all but make them NORMAL, i.e. thin soles not those thick soles that look like a cross between a dress shoe an a hiking shoe. Can't believe someone tried to wear those.

Things I see too often: suits that don't fit (you don't need a great fit, just look normal . . anything off the rack with basic dept store alterations is more than good enough). Those big ass ugly shoes I mentioned above. Fat ties (always a trashy look). Those super skinny ties with the flat bottom. Shiny suits. Tan suits. Asshole collars. Collar bars.

I've never seen anyone dumb enough to wear a bowtie to networking, but I've seen a few people dumb enough to wear a bowtie to work. Don't do either.

It's actually pretty hard to mess up networking. Most mistakes are forgiven. If you're a little too pushy, people usually assume you're the nice awkward guy who will get the hang of it later. If you say something stupid, big deal we've all said something stupid. If you don't know a lot about markets/deals, just admit it and ask genuine questions and be a listener. Bankers appreciate that kids are taking time out of their youth, after a long day of classes, to stand around in a crowded room to get an edge in their career. They are on your side. But dressing like a clown is one of the few ways to screw the pooch.

 

I assume you're talking about in the US. Europe may be different.

I don't think you'd get dinged for it. But anything that looks like you're going out of your way for fashion feels a little odd, especially for a college kid.

 

My advice was for business attire events, i.e. on-campus recruiting events (presentations, coffee chats etc). I mostly visit MBA programs where everyone wears a suit to these. I had assumed that undergrad events are also suits (I did a few at Wharton and McIntire, thought they had suits on . . maybe I'm remembering wrong).

In any event, anything I said about suits, ties etc only applies when that's the expected attire. If your school has something else going on like an informal coffee chat or whatever, then dress down as appropriate.

 

Saw a kid walk up to the CEO of Tata, push his way through the crowd politely listening to the conversation, and loudly interrupt with a rushed line:

"Oh my god, I'm such a huge fan of your company [insert 2-3 random facts easily available off the website], you have to have a spot for someone like me in your company"

Response was actually quite polite, along the lines of: "At this stage, all I know about you is that you rudely interrupted my conversation, so no, I don't have to do anything"

 

Linkedin Networking Requests (had this happen multiple times from college students)

Dear Mr. John Doe,

I am very impressed by your career path at Deloitte and would love to speak to you regarding my experience and why I think I would be a great fit. I've read great things about BCG and can really see myself working there. Would you have time for a coffee chat or perhaps a phone call?

Best,

Student

Sayonara
 
Funniest

Saw someone at a bank presentation ask the presenting MD, in a fawning tone, "what is the secret behind your incredible success?"

Don't do that. But that wasn't the biggest mistake.

I was also a student in that audience, and I sort of rolled my eyes and snickered at the question a bit, thinking I wouldn't be the only one to find it ridiculous.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one to find it ridiculous, but I'm the only one who audibly laughed (and I was pretty quiet . . others just didn't say a peep). A couple people heard me and looked at me, including the recruiter who started right at me, angled her head a bit so she could get a better view of my nametag, and wrote my name down. I think I might've been the only person invited to that event who didn't end up making the closed list for interviews.

Never underestimate the potential of other people to be humorless stiffs. Including your own classmates.

 
PteroGonzalez:
Never underestimate the potential of other people to be humorless stiffs.

Classic acting like a douche then insisting all your peers are just humorless when it gets you in trouble. +1SB. Timeless maneuver.

 

People at my business school had told me to never message people from companies on LinkedIn.

I know one girl who was talking to some recruiters and was taking up way too much time and was interrupting other people when they started to try to talk to the recruiter.

I swear she actually said stuff like “My mother really wants me to get a job at your firm”

 

You know, even if you do some stupid things, the more networking you do, the better. Worst case scenario you get some humorous anecdotes for WSO (and hopefully learn something). Best case scenario you score a job and a rabbi to school you. Next thing you know you're on your way to a great career. I've heard many stories of incredibly successful executives who "lacked polish" or whatever at first, but through luck and pluck (ala Horatio Alger) fell into a golden opportunity. If you don't play, you can't lose... but you can't win either.

 

Most MDs would never take the time to talk to a college kid unless there's some sort of personal connection involved (i.e. relative, family friend etc.), and to be brutally honest he probably replied just to be polite and forgot about you the moment he hit "send." If he did indeed forward your resume, that gives you a huge leg up, but if you're serious about getting the position, assume he didn't moving forward.

That being said, I personally found networking with junior bankers to be extremely effective and since there are tons and tons of NYU alumni in IB, it'd probably be way more worth your time to get in touch with them as opposed to emailing random MDs.

If you're intent on pursuing this particular MD's help, you could definitely reply thanking him and asking if he can put you in touch with any junior bankers he works with for you to learn more about the firm/position

 

downside from doing so = a dude thinks you're weird upside = >0

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

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