Client reccomendations

I know the gist of this answer is self-explanatory, but curious to hear insight from those on the ground. I'm transferring industries (sales and trading to IB) via an MBA. I'm thinking through how I'm going to network and I think that my best bets are personal connections that are clients of banks (think CFOs or senior PE). 

My question is: how far do client recommendations go? I'm wondering if it is a bad look to have someone like those described above reach out because I don't want it to come off as forcing whoever at XYZ bank to do a favor. Have you had any experience with this? Is it bad form or pretty typical? 

I know that the people I ask will use their judgment, I just don't want to ask them for something that isn't really appropriate in the first place. 

Thanks in advance...also, not to be rude but I am not looking for answers from college students.