Is it naughty to begin networking for FT before you even start your SA stint???

Question

Title says it all! A little apprehensive to start networking before I start my SA - worried that someone I speak to might relay the info to the IB Im starting at in May or that I might just seem overly eager.. Kind of tough though given that I wont have time to network during my SA stint and FT recruitment starts in July/Aug

What are your thoughts on this??

HighlyClevered · Accepted Answer

You don't have to officially network "for" full-time. Just network. You've got no experience in the industry and you want to talk to people who do to learn about it. That's all your meetings should be about. Then once its time for FT recruiting, you've laid the groundwork and have a leg up.

HighlyClevered · Answer

Of course they know you want something. It's business and we're not here to make friends. But the overt agenda of the meeting shouldn't be about "how I can get a job here next summer?" It should be about introducing yourself, learning about the other person, their role,  and their company, and then allowing that connection to work for you as it will down the line. That might mean a referral for a job offer this summer, or it could mean inroads to a deal 5 years later when you're a VP and he's switched to corporate development.

xxx-ThrowAway-xxx · Answer

I say go for it tactfully - make sure by the end of the conversation they know your #1 priority is to do a good job this summer and get the return offer (which you should also convey you would be "elated to accept" and not going to use for leverage later), and that the conversation is merely about learning more about the industry, the contacts firm, and building another relationship in the industry,

If you could do these well you should be on the firms short list for FT candidates (provided you do actually get a return offer at your current firm)

AnalystMonkey2769 · Answer

i was at a no name boutique unpaid my SA and then got a top MM for FT. start networking i'd say around april, IMO at least.

this way you could say im in this position at X firm, what do you recommend i try and do to best position myself for FT at your firm? what type of deals should i try to be placed on etc...how many SAs are you taking? how many FT did you take this year (so you'll know if they usually overhire for SA or underhire etc) how many of your FTs were kids that did FT recruitment vs were summer kids?

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Is it naughty to begin networking for FT before you even start your SA stint???

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Is it naughty to begin networking for FT before you even start your SA stint???

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